Café Ark brings clients together for dinner and socializing. We welcome you to get to know our clients and other volunteers as you help to set up, plate the meals, and serve dinner restaurant-style.

Time Commitment: 2-3 hours

Location: F.R.E.E. Synagogue, Chicago

Grocery prices are rising, and our pantry needs are at an all-time high. Start a collection drive on your porch, in your apartment building, at your synagogue, or at your school. The Ark will provide all materials needed.

Deliver orders from our Food Pantry to clients at their homes. Spend a couple of minutes with clients at their door when you are delivering their orders. Must be able to lift and deliver packages up to 25 lbs. and occasionally climb stairs.

Time Commitment: 2 hours, Monday-Thursday at 12:30 p.m.

Location: Pick-up at 3100 W. Dundee Rd., Northbrook – deliveries throughout Chicagoland and North and Northwest suburbs.

Fill pantry orders for clients coming to our Chicago Food Pantry. This is an active, high-energy volunteer job. Volunteers must have a desire to interact with clients who are waiting when they arrive for their pick-up and are able to adapt to changing situations quickly. Must be able to lift and move packages up to 25 lbs.

Time Commitment: 2 hours

Location: The Ark’s temporary facility

Support our Outreach Initiatives by going to camps, schools and other youth-serving organizations to facilitate an interactive educational session. Training, curriculum and materials will be provided for all educators. Work with children and youth inside and outside.

Time Commitment: 1-2 hour shifts, scheduled as-needed

Location: Off-site

This is a “volunteer from anywhere, anytime” opportunity. Make friendly calls to clients who are isolated or in need of a friendly conversation partner. There is a required work Zoom training for this program. 

Time Commitment: 1 hour, access to phone and Zoom

Location: Off-site

Help launch our new Grocery Shopper program. By shopping for homebound clients, or those without access to transportation, you will provide support by shopping for clients, and delivering groceries directly to their door. Volunteers must be able to lift and deliver packages up to 25 lbs. and climb stairs, as needed. Requires ability to call clients, shop for, deliver and carry groceries, may require climbing stairs for delivery.

Time Commitment: 2 hours

Location: Off-site 

Work with our clinical team to learn about our pantry ordering process, and help clients place their order over the phone. Initial training sessions will be in our office, then calls can be made from home at your convenience.

Time Commitment: 1 hour 

Location: Off-site

Bring your friends, family, work or school group to our new remote storage facility in Lincolnwood to help unpack, organize and shelve items that have been donated to our Food Pantry.

Time Commitment: 2-hour shifts

Location: 7001 N. Central Park Avenue, Lincolnwood, IL 60712

We welcome those who are willing to share their time and talent with our clients, as a way to increase the capacity of programming and services that we offer.

If you’d like to get involved, but need more flexibility with your volunteer schedule, consider becoming an On Call Volunteer. We’ll reach out if we need help with short notice, and you’ll have the opportunity to volunteer with many different programs if you are available.