Volunteer Opportunities

Our 1,400 elders need a friend like you. 

We give elders vital support and the chance to develop the meaningful friendships missing in their lives. Elders receive support and companionship from our volunteers. By volunteering you can discover a wealth of wisdom, humor, guidance and inspiration.

In the city of Chicago, 1 in 3 householders age 65 and older lives alone (Census Bureau, 2010). Research shows that the mere presence of another individual can alleviate stress (Cohen & Williamson, 1991). As a volunteer you can help a senior with just five hours a year.  Volunteer opportunities are varied and flexible and each volunteer makes a difference in the life of an isolated or lonely elder.

Browse our volunteer opportunities to find one (or more) that appeals to you!

• Visiting

  Visiting volunteer

  The most flexible volunteer opportunity – you work with staff to create a lasting friendship with an elder and visit with the elder twice a month.  You commit to visiting an elder twice a month (generally for an hour at a time) to form a friendship that an elder can look forward to and count on. By listening and sharing stories, you create a bond that grows in strength and deepens the friendship over time.  You update staff about your visits, providing essential feedback that helps staff coordinate programs for “your” elder. Time commitment is two flexible hours a month and we ask that you commit to at least one year visiting an elder.

  Family Visiting Program

  This is a great opportunity for parents that are looking for fun, meaningful activities they can do with their children.  Introducing children to volunteering when they are young has been proven to promote healthy lifestyle, enhance development, teach life skills, improve the community, and encourage a lifelong service ethic. 

  You can choose an option to fit your schedule:

  • Bring treat bags or festive meals to elders on birthdays or holidays.
  • Deliver monthly food bags.
  • Drop off Holiday Gifts to isolated elders at Christmas.
  • Be matched with one elder visiting or spending time together twice a month.

  Please contact Christine Bertrand for more information or start visiting with your family today (312) 604-7262 or email Christine.

  In-home celebrations

  Some elders do not venture away from home but that doesn’t mean they are left out!  You can bring the celebration to our elders in their homes.  We provide a special decorated bag filled with a treat and a gift to share, you provide the friendly visit that brightens an elder’s day. Your time commitment is one hour a visit and can be flexible to fit your schedule.

  In-home birthdays

  Every elder’s birthday is celebrated – either at a party or during an in-home visit.  You pick up a festive celebration bag containing a special gift, cupcakes, and party favors to enhance the birthday visit  Your time commitment is about one hour per visit and opportunities exist throughout the year.

  Holiday Gifts

  During the month of December you can brighten the holiday season by visiting an elder and delivering a special gift selected just for that elder.  You pick up the gifts at 355 N. Ashland, and deliver in a neighborhood convenient for you.  This opportunity is as flexible and fun!  Your time commitment is about one hour per visit and you can deliver one or more gifts throughout the month of December.

  Phone visits

  Brighten an elder’s day with a phone call, you can even chat while sitting in traffic (on your blue tooth of course). Your time commitment is half hour to an hour per visit and you can reach out to one or many elders once a day or once a year.

  Program Assistant (internship)

  Your one year, full-time or part-time commitment helps ensure that every elder has a relationship with a compassionate person. This is a unique experience to to potentially make a transition to a new career.

  Visiting Intern

  Your 4-12 month commitment, 5-10 hours per week establishes meaningful relationships with two or more elders. You can gain experience in the field of aging and make new friends by participating in social activities for elders.

  Sign up to Volunteer

• Hospitality

  Party Server

  You will help create a festive atmosphere with decorations and table settings. You help serve drinks and a three-course meal to elders and their volunteer drivers and help bus tables.  This is a great opportunity for individuals who enjoy throwing parties and being social. Your time commitment is about six hours per luncheon.

  Greeter

  A luncheon at Little Brothers is just like having a party at your place – we greet each of our elders and volunteers as they arrive and usher them into the party room.  Greeters also help keep traffic moving and lend a hand to elders who might need assistance entering and exiting vehicles.  Your time commitment is about five hours per luncheon.

  Cook

  If you can cook for 25, 65, or 120 people – then we have a wonderful industrial kitchen that can use your talent.  Cooks work with staff to coordinate a menu, prepare the meal and oversee servers during meal preparation. Your time commitment is about six hours per luncheon.

  Social club assistant

  Movie Club and Creative Café provide elders an opportunity to enjoy lunch and an activity with a group.  These social clubs happen year-round at LBFE and you can help at one or more of these gatherings. Your time commitment is about three hours per gathering – dates and times vary by social club.

  Food pantry crew

  You can help assemble fresh produce bags and non-perishable items for more than 100 food bags a month.  Food pantry volunteers come in just before the third Saturday of the month to assemble bags.  Your time commitment is about three hours.

  Vacation 

  Everyone needs a little respite from time to time.  We provide fun vacation experiences for elders in and out of the city, with various volunteer opportunities.  Contact us to learn more.

  Sign up to Volunteer

• Driving

  Food bag delivery

  Starting on the third Saturday of the month food bag volunteers pick-up two large grocery bags at Little Brothers and deliver to an elder at a convenient time, often as part of a friendly visit.  We will help you select a geographic area convenient for delivery.  Your time commitment is about two hours per elder..

  Luncheon driver

  Volunteer drivers bring elders out of isolation to celebrate together at Wednesday and Saturday luncheons.  We will coordinate a convenient route so you can pick-up one or more elders at their homes and bring them to the luncheon.  You will sit with your elders, enjoying a meal, entertainment and conversation together.  After the celebration you transport elders home with a fuller heart.  Your time commitment is about five hours per luncheon.

  Social club driver

  Movie Club and Creative Café provide elders an opportunity to enjoy lunch and an activity with a group.  You can work with staff to transport one or more elders to and from one of our social clubs.  Your time commitment is about three hours per gathering – dates and times vary by social club.

  Outings

  You can drive elders to outings year round, like fishing in the park, visiting Navy Pier, touring a museum, lunch out, or even a lucky trip to the casino.  Your time commitment is about four hours per outing – dates and times vary.

  Intergenerational events

  You can help our elders give back by sharing their life experiences with younger people from kindergarten to college.  Events to bring elders and youth together happen throughout the year and can occur at Little Brothers or in schools.  You will transport elders to Intergenerational events from their homes.  You will help facilitate the program and ensure a fulfilling experience for everyone.  Your time commitment is about four hours per event – dates and times vary.

  Vacation driver

  You pick up an elder eagerly awaiting a wonderful vacation away, transporting the elder and their luggage to our office so the elder can travel with a group on vacation.  You can also drive elders to their homes from our office after the vacation is over.  Lively conversation in the car is almost guaranteed!  Your time commitment is about an hour depending on route.

  Sign up to Volunteer

• Holiday Helpers: Thanksgiving, Christmas & Spring

  Pre-holiday prep team

  You will help with a variety of tasks prior to Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter , preparing homebound meals and nursing home packages. Your time commitment is about four hours.

  Thanksgiving Set-up team

  You help physically set-up tables and help decorate prior to the one of our three big Thanksgiving Celebrations!  Your time commitment is about three hours – locations vary.

  Thanksgiving Hospitality Crew

  Help at one of three party sites by setting tables, serving food, pouring beverages, greeting guests, busing tables, washing dishes, or helping with kitchen duties.  Your Thanksgiving Day commitment is about six hours.

  Holiday drivers

  Volunteer drivers bring elders out of isolation to celebrate together on Thanksgiving & Christmas.  We coordinate your route to pick up elders from their homes and bring them to one of three parties.  You will sit with your elders to enjoy the meal, entertainment and conversation together.  After the celebration you transport elders back home with a fuller heart.  Your time commitment is about five hours.

  Holiday home visits

  You bring flowers, a meal and joy to elders unable to come out to one of our festive parties.  This is a special visit for our elders who would otherwise spend Thanksgiving, Easter or Christmas Day alone.  You may also bring a “treat bag” to elders in nursing homes the week of the holiday.  Your time commitment is about four hours.

  Holiday Party Cook

  You help cook for 120 to 175 guests and orchestrate the timely serving of a three-course meal.  We need your skills on Thanksgiving and for our Spring Celebration!  We’ll provide the support and the guests, you provide the kitchen know-how.  Your time commitment is about six hours.

  Home Delivered Meals Cook

  You help staff plan a menu for home delivered meals and orchestrate proper food preparation and packaging, working in our kitchen the morning of the Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas. Your time commitment is about four hours.

  Home Delivered Meals Assistants

  You help at LBFE's office with distributing meals to volunteer drivers for home delivered meals and treat bags on Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas.  Your time commitment is about four hours.

  Sign up to Volunteer

• Committees, Office & Special Events

  Lloyd Walding Brain Fitness Center committee

  You provide guidance and input to support brain fitness programing for elders and promote the brain fitness center. 

  Lloyd Walding Brain Fitness Center tutor

  You can use your knowledge of computers, Wii or Ancestry.com to help our elders learn new skills and improve memory. Your time commitment is about four hours .

  Office worker

  You help with mailings, filing, and other necessary tasks. Flexible hours and dates.

  Volunteer recruitment assistant

  You can be an ambassador and help recruit new volunteers and promote awareness in the community by representing LBFE at community events and volunteer fairs.  Your time commitment is about four hours.

  Event planning committee

  You can help plan and carry out an event.

  Special events & fundraising

  Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly is privately funded. Your help with an event here or in the community can help generate increased awareness and make a difference for elders.

  Young Professionals Advisory Board

  If you are between 24 and 40 years old and would like to make a difference for isolated elders, email us to learn more about the Young Professionals Advisory Board.

  Sign up to Volunteer

• Looking for Something Else?

  If you have skills or ideas that aren’t listed above and would like to do something else to help us with our mission, by all means, contact us. We love new ideas!

  Internships

  If you are a student or changing exploring a career change, you can choose from a variety of opportunities to serve while gaining valuable hands-on experience. We offer many options in a variety of disciplines:  one-year fulltime, school-year requirements, summer and work-study.  For example, during our summer vacation program nursing student interns assist our more frail seniors so they can enjoy vacation get-aways. Find out more.

  Young Professionals Advisory Board

  You can support seniors and connect friends through the fundraising and volunteer opportunities on the Young Professionals Advisory Board. Find out more.

  We have so many programs at Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly and all of them depend on volunteers. If you’d like to help out for a specific program, sign up to volunteer and mark the program that interests you. We’ll help you find a way to make a difference in the life of an elder. 

  Visiting Programs

  You can bring friendship to an elder with one-on-one visits.

  Year-Round & Holiday Celebrations

  You can help elders to get out and enjoy a party or make a Celebration visit to an elder's home. Thanksgiving and Christmas events ensure that elders have someone to celebrate the day with.

  Vacation Programs

  You can help an elder enjoy a warm day with a friend.  A variety of vacation experiences provide elders the opportunity to explore the city or relax with a few days away.

  Intergenerational Program

  You can help students of all ages share experiences and stories with our elders. A variety of activities foster healthy interactions and create greater understanding among generations.

  Elder Volunteering Program

  If you are an elder involved in LBFE and want to volunteer in the community, contact us about the the Elder Volunteering Program which provides an opportunity to participate in volunteer activities in the community.

  Sign up to Volunteer