About

Volunteer Opportunities

This list encompasses many of the volunteer opportunities and organizations to which Department of Surgery employees regularly devote their time and effort. You will find a description and a website link for each organization below, should you be interested in getting involved as well.

Please email DEI@bsd.uchicago.edu for further information, to partner with a DoS employee or to let us know of a connection you may already have to a community organization. We welcome additional organizations or events which may benefit from the DoS volunteer services. Request this organization to be added to the list through emailing us directly.

While we can make a significant difference by volunteering our time, we also welcome you to learn about the various ways to contribute through networking, donating or champion a fundraiser.
  • “The ACLU of Illinois has been the principal protector of constitutional rights in the state since its founding in 1926.”
  • “The ACLU of Illinois (ACLU), and its affiliated Roger Baldwin Foundation (RBF), are non-partisan, non-profit organizations dedicated to protecting the liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, the state Constitution, and state/federal human rights laws. The ACLU accomplishes its goals through litigating, lobbying and educating the public on a broad array of civil liberties issues.”
  •  https://www.aclu-il.org/
  • “The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. Our Global Headquarters are located in Atlanta, Georgia, and we have regional and local offices throughout the country to ensure we have a presence in every community.”
  • https://www.cancer.org/about-us/local/illinois.html
  • "Mission: To be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives."
  • “From humble beginnings, the AHA has grown into the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. A shared focus on cardiovascular health unites our more than 40 million volunteers and supporters as well as our more than 2,800 employees.”
  • https://www.heart.org/en/affiliates/illinois/chicago
  • “Name With the help of more than 4,000 passionate, dedicated volunteers just like you, the Illinois Region of the American Red Cross serves more than 12.4 million people in 88 counties in Illinois.”
  • “The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help our neighbors – Down the street, across the country, and around the world – in emergencies.”
  • “The Red Cross provides vital services including disaster relief, health, and safety classes, blood collection and services to the Armed Forces across the Illinois region.”
  • https://www.redcross.org/local/illinois/volunteer.html
  • “Americans for Medical Progress (AMP) works to protect society’s investment in research by nurturing public understanding of and support for the humane, necessary and valuable use of animals in medicine.”
  • https://www.amprogress.org/
  • “Black Girls Break Bread (BGBB) is a Chicago-based 501c3 non-profit organization founded by Chicago natives, Jessica Davenport-Williams, Khadija Warfield and Jazzy Davenport-Russ, with a mission to empower, uplift and inspire Black women and girls through the creation of safe spaces for intergenerational discourse and engagement. Black Girls Break Bread believes in advocating on behalf of our community and amplifying the voices of our people.”
  • http://blackgirlsbreakbread.org/about/
  • "Blackstone Bicycle Works (BBW) is a community-based youth advocacy program that uses a retail bike shop setting to support and engage youth from some of Chicago’s most underserved neighborhoods, where they acquire problem-solving, leadership, and vocational skills that encourage confidence and independence."
  • "Our youth program uses bicycle advocacy, mechanics, cycling, and business operations to create an inclusive community centering Black youth from Woodlawn and surrounding neighborhoods on Chicago's South Side."
  • https://experimentalstation.org/blackstone 
  • "Mission: Brave Space Alliance is the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ+ Center located on the South Side of Chicago, dedicated to creating and providing affirming, culturally competent, for-us by-us resources, programming, and services for LGBTQ+ individuals on the South and West sides of the city. We strive to empower, embolden, and educate each other through mutual aid, knowledge-sharing, and the creation of community-sourced resources as we build toward the liberation of all oppressed peoples."
  • https://www.bravespacealliance.org/volunteer
  • “Chicago’s Food Bank currently accepts volunteers aged 16 and older. You can visit their website to view the volunteer calendar and start affecting our community today!”
  • “The Food Depository is part of a united community effort working to bring food, dignity and hope to our Cook County neighbors. We act as the hub for a network of more than 700 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other programs. These programs provide food where it’s most needed. We also address the root causes of hunger. Public benefits outreach and job training programs offer support for our neighbors to overcome poverty.”
  • https://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/volunteer/
  • “Why we exist: Chicago wouldn’t be Chicago without its artists. Painters, filmmakers, sculptors, dancers, musicians, theater makers, writers: artists help us tap into our own creativity, to see the world in new ways, to share experiences in communal spaces. But as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, these communal spaces remain shut down. And too many artists aren’t sure how they’re going to make rent this month. Or next.”
  • https://www.gofundme.com/f/chicago-artists-relief-fund
  • “The Chicago Park District owns more than 8,800 acres of green space, making it the largest municipal park manager in the nation. The Chicago Park District’s more than 600 parks offer thousands of sports and physical activities as well as cultural and environmental programs for youth, adults, and seniors. The Chicago Park District is also responsible for 28 indoor pools, 50 outdoor pools, and 28 miles of lakefront including 23 swimming beaches plus one inland beach. From canoeing to soccer fields to arts and crafts, there is never a shortage of activities to participate in Chicago’s parks.”
  • https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/
  • “We believe a stronger Chicago begins by expanding equitable opportunities for students through education because a college degree is the surest pathway out of poverty and the key to community and economic vitality.”
  • “We work to fight Chicago’s educational inequity: a reported 69% of CPS freshmen aspire to go to college but only 19% are projected to earn their bachelor’s degree within six years of enrolling in college. This translates to over 21,700 CPS students each year who will not earn their bachelor’s degree, creating an opportunity gap in a system where nearly 76% of students come from an economically disadvantaged background.”
  • https://collegepossible.org/chicago/
  • “Deborah’s Place opens doors of opportunity for women who are homeless in Chicago. Supportive housing and services offer women their key to healing, achieving their goals and moving on from the experience of homelessness.”
  • https://www.deborahsplace.org/
  • "Mission: Protect the rights of children by ensuring rights to proper education, rights to healthcare, and ensure access to opportunities and family support. Protect the eyesight of children with particular emphasis on elimination of preventable blindness."
  • "Vision: We look forward to the day in which child poverty is eliminated globally and all children have equal access to opportunities for a secure and prosperous life. We look forward to a day when no child is left behind because of lack of resources and opportunities to develop his/her full potential. We look forward to a day when no person will be discriminated due to disability.  We look forward to a day when preventable blindness is eliminated."
  • https://distressedchildren.org/volunteer/
  • "Vision: Our vision is a world where women do not live in poverty. We strive for a world where all women are financially independent, are treated with dignity and respect and are directly impacting their lives and those of their families. We aspire to a world that fully harnesses the power of women and recognizes their role in economic sustainability."
  • "Purpose: Our purpose is to offer long-lasting solutions that enable women to break the cycle of poverty. Dress for Success is part of a global movement for change, empowering women to obtain safer and better futures. We provide each client with professional attire to secure employment, but we are about much more than simply a new outfit. Besides physically equipping the client with apparel and accessories, our programs furnish her with a confidence that she carries forever and the knowledge"
  • https://worldwidecentral.dressforsuccess.org/
  • “Equal Hope’s mission is to save women’s lives by eliminating health disparities in Illinois, originally through the lens of breast cancer and now expanded to cervical cancer and other women’s cancers. We address women’s health holistically by helping women establish medical homes with the goal of eliminating inequities in prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship for all women.”
  • https://equalhope.org/volunteer/
  • “Chicago Lights is the community outreach arm of Fourth Church. Its programs provide hope and opportunity to our city’s children, youth, and adults who face the challenges of poverty.”
  • https://www.fourthchurch.org/chicagolights/
  • “Mission: The Frances Xavier Warde School is a Catholic elementary school in downtown Chicago that provides an academically excellent, values-oriented education to students of all ethnic, religious, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds in a child-centered urban environment. As a keystone of its diverse community, The School provides need-based scholarships to 30 percent of its students, partners with its families, nurtures faith development for its Catholic students, and engages all students to learn about and respect other faith traditions. FXW follows a rigorous curriculum that enables students to grow, clarify their values, and develop decision-making skills and a sense of responsibility for themselves and the world they will inherit.”
  • https://www.fxw.org/service-fxw/
  • “Goodwill Industries of Metropolitan Chicago, Inc, part of the largest of more than 158 Goodwill organizations in the world, has been providing services since 1919. Our mission is to provide training, employment and supportive services for people with disabilities or disadvantages who seek greater independence. Employment and training are Goodwill’s primary focus, assisting men and women to develop their job skills and secure work opportunities that fulfill their personal and professional goals.”
  • https://www.goodwillchicago.com/how-you-can-help/ways-to-donate
  • “Our vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. No matter who we are or where we come from, we all deserve to have a decent life. We deserve to feel strength and stability day after day. We deserve to know we have the power to take care of ourselves and build our own futures. At Habitat for Humanity, this is what unites us. Our shared vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Because you, me, we – we’re all humans. And every single one of us deserves the opportunity for a better future.”
  • https://www.habitatchicago.org/
  • “We are driven to: decrease shootings and homicides among those at highest risk of gun violence; create new opportunities for these same individuals to change their life trajectory and decrease their involvement with the criminal justice system; and help build an infrastructure at the community level to promote long-term safety and opportunity in Chicago's most impoverished communities.”
  • How do I become a volunteer/intern? Let’s get to know each other a bit! Simply complete the application below, so that we can pair you with a great opportunity that fits your skills and interests.
    • Step 1: Complete the online application to tell us about yourself             
    • Step 2: Participate in a phone and/or in-person interview to discuss your interests
    • Step 3: Attend the required Heartland Alliance orientations and trainings
  • https://www.heartlandalliance.org/readi/about/
  • “Hyde Park Art Center is a hub for contemporary arts in Chicago, serving as a gathering and production space for artists and the broader community to cultivate ideas, impact social change, and connect with new networks. The Art Center functions as an amplifier for today and tomorrow’s creative voices, providing the space to cultivate and create new work and connections.”
  • https://www.hydeparkart.org/
  • “JUF amplifies our collective strength to make the world a better place – for everyone. Community powered, we consider the totality of local and global Jewish needs and how to address them. From generation to generation, we help people connect to Jewish life and values, fueling a dynamic, enduring community that comes together for good.”
  • https://www.juf.org/guide/detail.aspx?id=425420
  • “Junior Council is a group of young professionals living in and around the Chicago area. Our membership ranges from a variety of backgrounds, pooling our resources and talents to support our jointed interest in helping to raise awareness and funds to support our cause. To date, Junior Council has donated over $2,000,000 to the Pediatric & Adolescent HIV/AID Program.”
  • http://juniorcouncil.org/
  • “Intro Health Professionals” Monthly Lecture Series
  • “Mission Statement: Kenwood Academy aims to develop critical readers, writers, and thinkers, who will strive within competitive academic institutions, as well as the global market place.”
  • “Vision Statement: Kenwood Academy graduates will become influential contributors and leaders in their local communities.”
  • https://www.kenwoodacademy.org/index.jsp
  • "Making healthy, local, farm-fresh foods more affordable and accessible by doubling the value of Link purchases at farmers markets, farm stands, food co-ops, and independent grocery and corner stores across Illinois."
  • https://experimentalstation.org/linkup-overview
  • “Mission: The mission of Meals on Wheels Chicago is to ensure that Chicago seniors and individuals with disabilities benefit from nutritious meal programs that improve their quality of life and maximize independence.”
  • https://www.mealsonwheelschicago.org/take-action/
  • "My Block, My Hood, My City provides underprivileged youth with an awareness of the world and opportunities beyond their neighborhood.  We take students on explorations focused on STEM, Arts & Culture, Citizenry & Volunteerism, Health, Community Development, Culinary Arts, and Entrepreneurism."
  • https://www.formyblock.org/m3volunteer-signup
  • “If you are interested in volunteer opportunities at MSE, please send an email to dmorel@tmsoe.org with a short bio, your available volunteer days/times, and what you would be interested in working on. We would love to have you!”
  • “At the Montessori School of Englewood, we focus on the interests and curiosity of the child so that learning comes naturally to every student.  When you walk into one of our Montessori classrooms, you will be struck by children of all ages moving purposefully through an environment that is prepared for them to explore with both their senses and minds.  Exploration is tangible in each of our classroom communities.  The connection between the head, the heart, and the hand is critical to the development of the whole child.  The children use their heart to love learning, their hands to work with concrete materials, and when ready, our student’s learning moves from concrete to abstraction.”
  • https://www.tmsoe.org/
  • “The National Kidney Foundation of Illinois works closely with community leaders, healthcare professionals, and civic-minded corporate partners to improve the lives of patients and families affected by kidney disease.”
  • “No organization supports kidney disease patients like we do. We provide patients access to resources and information, host numerous educational events, support innovative research, advocate for improvements in healthcare policy, and provide free kidney health screenings all across the state of Illinois.”
  • https://www.nkfi.org/
  • Email: adudt@rkfi.org
  • “Physicians for a National Health Program is a single issue organization advocating a universal, comprehensive single-payer national health program. PNHP has more than 20,000 members and chapters across the United States.”
  • https://pnhp.org/
  • “The Provident Foundation, located in Chicago, is dedicated to preserving the Provident Hospital and Training School legacy. The mission of the Provident Foundation is to preserve the living legacy of Provident Hospital and the contributions of Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, by promoting education for and providing scholarship opportunities to urban youth pursuing careers as doctors, nurses and health care professionals.”
  • https://provfound.org/
  • “Robert Crown Community Center and Library(RCCC) features two full sized ice rinks, a new branch of the Evanston Public Library,  a gymnasium with two full size basketball courts, an indoor running track, multipurpose rooms, a childcare and education facility for preschool and afterschool programs. The new Center is an indispensable part of the community offering programs that all Evanston residents can enjoy and appreciate.”
  • https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/departments/parks-recreation-community-services/robert-crown-center
  • “At The Salvation Army, we are dedicated to Doing the Most Good. We are made up of thousands of officers, soldiers, staff, volunteers, donors, and partners working together to holistically meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our most vulnerable neighbors. We do this through programs designed to combat homelessness and hunger, provide safe spaces for kids after school and on the weekends, achieve and maintain sobriety, and give hope to the hopeless. The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division provides these services to people in need throughout greater Chicagoland, Northern Illinois, and Northwest Indiana.”
  • “Mission Statement: The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.”
  • “Vision Statement: The Salvation Army is a fully equipped and empowered Army of Christ’s followers passionately and effectively engaged in holistic ministries that are restoring people spiritually, emotionally and physically.”
  • https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/metro/
  • “The University of Chicago Office of the Provost and UChicago Global provided a grant to Sonia Hernandez, PhD, Research Assistant Professor of Surgery; Oscar Pineda-Catalan, PhD, Senior Lecturer at Biological Sources Collegiate Division, University of Chicago; and a cohort of UChicago scientists to teach high school and college students about the scientific process through a program called STEM-OUT Mexico.”
  • “The goal of this program is to teach students how to actually generate science like we do in our labs, as opposed to working out of textbooks in a classroom,” said Hernandez. “We want to inspire them to pursue careers in STEM and to be advocates for science. As program coordinators and mentors, we also have the opportunity to learn from each other and share our own work.”
  • https://global.uchicago.edu/news/stem-out-mexico
  • “The SPLC is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people.”
  • https://www.splcenter.org/states/illinois
  • “Volunteer Requirements:
    • Prospective volunteers must be at least 12 years old, and any volunteer between 12-15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. Volunteers 16 and older may volunteer on their own.
    • Volunteers are required to make 6 month, 8 hour per month commitment.
    • Volunteers are require to pay a one-time, $25 volunteer training fee. Upon payment, you will receive a volunteer t-shirt and nametag.
    • Volunteers must fill out an application and complete an online orientation.”
  • “Mission Statement: The Mission of the South Suburban Humane Society is to protect and promote the well-being of pets and their people in our community and beyond.”
  • “Vision Statement: Creating a better world for pets and the people who love them."
  • https://www.southsuburbanhumane.org/volunteer
  • https://www.stjosephmissionschool.com/
  • “Since 1923, St. Joseph Mission School shares the gospel of hope through Faith, Academics, Culture, Environment, and Service. Through our Catholic Faith and local traditions we strive to encourage the love of learning, with respect and dignity for all, and help students develop their skills to become courageous in our local communities and beyond.”
  • “The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay.”
  • https://www.stjude.org/
  • “Sweet Water Foundation practices Regenerative Neighborhood Development, a creative and regenerative social justice method, that creates safe and inspiring spaces and curates healthy, intergenerational communities that transform the ecology of so-called ”blighted” neighborhoods.”
  • “Sweet Water Foundation utilizes a blend of urban agriculture, art, and education to transform vacant spaces and abandoned buildings into economically and ecologically productive and sustainable community assets that produce engaged youth, art, locally-grown food, and affordable housing.”
  • https://www.sweetwaterfoundation.com/
  • “Every year, thousands of children and families travel to receive care at one of Chicago’s world-renowned hospitals. Through our Ronald McDonald House® and Family Room® programs, we have been by their side since 1977, providing a caring and compassionate environment where families can rest and find support while remaining close to their hospitalized child. In addition, our Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program, in partnership with Advocate Children’s Hospital, provides medical care to children in under-served areas throughout the Chicago area.”
  • “We believe when a  child is sick, a family is sick”
  • https://rmhccni.org/
  • “Ujimaa was founded in 2009 with the purpose of empowering youths to assume responsibility for themselves and their community. Ujimaa provides structured after school programs that promote social development, civic values and create opportunities for self-improvement through academic support.”
  • http://www.ujimaafoundation.org/
  • “Over eight decades, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has built an unprecedented global support system for the world’s children. UNICEF relentlessly works day in and day out to deliver the essentials that give every child an equitable chance in life: health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. UNICEF USA advances the global mission of UNICEF by rallying the American public to support the world’s most vulnerable children. Together, we have helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization.”
  • https://www.unicefusa.org/supporters/regional/chicago
  • “United Way of Metro Chicago brings together businesses, government, nonprofits, and community leaders to deliver funding, resources, and expertise to nonprofit organizations across greater Chicago. We are working alongside our partners at the neighborhood level to tackle the systemic issues that have plagued our region, creating communities where children and families can thrive. United, we’re building stronger neighborhoods for a stronger Chicago region.”
  • https://liveunitedchicago.org/volunteers/
  • “Mission: Upwardly Global’s mission is to eliminate employment barriers for skilled immigrants and refugees, and integrate this population into the professional U.S. workforce.”
  • “Vision: We envision a United States where skilled immigrants are seamlessly integrated into the professional workforce and the fabric of American life, and are recognized for the value they add to both.”
  • https://www.upwardlyglobal.org/support-us/become-a-volunteer/
  • “Variety of Illinois is a volunteer-driven organization committed to providing kids with disabilities the adaptive equipment and opportunities needed for activity and inclusion. At the heart of Variety’s achievements are the remarkable contributions of people in the community, and it is only through your time and effort that Variety is able to do so much for children and families right here at home.”
  • https://varietyofillinois.org/
  • "Since founding the Market in 2008, Experimental Station has worked to increase access to and affordability of fresh and healthy food for all residents in Chicago's Woodlawn, Hyde Park and surrounding neighborhoods. All our farmers and food artisans are local (Illinois, Wisconsin and Michigan) and grow, raise and produce their food following sustainable practices, with many being certified organic. Now, with almost 30 farmers and vendors, the 61st Street Farmers Market offers our community fresh fruit and vegetables, meats, poultry, eggs, cheeses, breads and baked goods, mushrooms, preserves, salsas, prepared food items, flowers and plants, and many specialty items."
  • "To ensure all our neighbors have access to the broad selection of high-quality Market products, the 61st Street Farmers Market accepts LINK (or 'SNAP,' formerly known as 'food stamps') and has become the leader in Illinois in the acceptance and promotion of LINK at farmers markets. With the implementation of the state’s first Double Value Coupon Program, first undertaken in partnership with Wholesome Wave in 2009, our Market has seen LINK sales grow from $1,000 in 2008 to over $21,000 2016. Through our Double Value Coupon Program, we match LINK purchases up to $25 per market day, per cardholder.
  • "We also realize that creating a rich food culture is about more than just providing access to food. Since the inception of the Market, Experimental Station has launched a variety of educational programs to share our passion for local seasonal food products, sustainability and the joy of cooking with friends and family."
  • https://experimentalstation.org/mission