Opportunity:Family Essentials Care Package Initiative!
Date:09/18/2026 - 09/18/2026
Agency:Big Brothers Big Sisters Metro Chicago and Northwest Indiana
The Family Essentials Care Package Initiative will mobilize volunteers to assemble care packages containing household necessities such as paper towels, laundry detergent, dish soap, toilet paper, and other essential items that have become increasingly expensive for many families. These care packages will provide practical support to families while helping alleviate some of the financial pressures associated with everyday household expenses. Volunteers will sort, organize, and package supplies while creating personalized notes of encouragement for recipient families.
Connection to the Big Brothers Big Sisters Mission and Family Recruitment
This project serves as both a community support initiative and a strategic family recruitment opportunity. Each care package will include information about Big Brothers Big Sisters services, the benefits of youth mentoring, and clear instructions on how families can enroll their children in the program. QR codes and contact information will provide easy access to enrollment resources and staff support. During the assembly process, volunteers will learn about the challenges facing local youth and families, the impact of mentoring relationships, and opportunities to become Bigs or advocates for the organization. By combining direct support with outreach and education, the project creates meaningful connections with families who may benefit from mentoring services while increasing awareness of Big Brothers Big Sisters throughout the community.
Opportunity:J's Breakfast Club-Community Beautification Project!
Date:09/18/2026 - 09/18/2026
Agency:Big Brothers Big Sisters Metro Chicago and Northwest Indiana
The J's Breakfast Club Community Beautification Project will bring volunteers together to enhance and maintain the exterior spaces surrounding a beloved local business that serves as a gathering place within the community. Volunteers will participate in landscaping, litter removal, planting flowers, mulching, and general beautification efforts to create a more welcoming and vibrant environment for customers, employees, and neighborhood residents. This project demonstrates how collective action can strengthen communities and create spaces where individuals and families feel connected and valued.
Connection to the Big Brothers Big Sisters Mission
Throughout the project, volunteers will learn how Big Brothers Big Sisters creates and supports life-changing mentoring relationships that help young people reach their full potential. Staff and current volunteers will share stories of impact and discuss the role that caring adults play in building stronger communities. By participating in a hands-on service project, volunteers will experience firsthand how small acts of service can create meaningful change, while also learning about opportunities to become mentors, advocates, and supporters of the Big Brothers Big Sisters mission. Informational materials and volunteer recruitment opportunities will be available throughout the event to encourage deeper engagement with the organization.