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Treehouse Animal Foundation

March 30, 2007

Apna Ghar
Apna Ghar, which means “our home” in Hindi and Urdu, provides services to immigrant women and children fleeing domestic abuse. The clients come primarily from South Asia, the Middle East, and eastern Europe. The organization runs a shelter and offers a range of services to meet its clients’ legal, housing, employment, and counseling needs. Volunteers work in the administrative office or in its store, NeUsed Closet (4820 N. Broadway), which sells donated items as well as client-made items—saris, purses, wine bottle bags, runners—comprising “everything other than electronics,” according to executive director Aparna Sen. The profits go to help abused women and children. Volunteers who have the state-mandated 40 hours of domestic violence training can also work directly with the women and children, leading groups and workshops in such subjects as writing, dance, art, exercise, and computers. | 4753 N. Broadway, suite 632 | 773-334-0173

Chinese Mutual Aid Association
This nonprofit provides social services to immigrants and refugees. Volunteer opportunities include teaching ESL classes after-school tutoring, and accompanying kids on field trips to museums and concerts. | 1016 W. Argyle | Paul Lappin, 773-784-2900

Ginkgo Organic Gardens
Where a six-flat once stood a garden now yields 1,500 pounds of fruits and vegetables a year. On Saturday mornings from April through October, volunteer community gardeners work the 25 raised beds and deliver the fresh produce to an organization called Vital Bridges, which provides groceries to low-income people living with HIV and AIDS. | 4055 N. Kenmore | Dave Short, 773-404-7114 or info@ginkgogardens.org

Heartland Alliance
This human-rights organization offers many volunteer opportunities in Uptown through its refugee and immigrant community services program. Volunteers teach a variety of resettlement skills, like how to buy food and find housing. Volunteers also mentor and tutor children and to assist with career training, language acquisition, and cultural orientation. | Emily Samoska, 773-728-5960, ext. 6314

Inspiration Corporation
Inspiration provides social services to the homeless. Volunteers serve meals to its clients at Inspiration Cafe and help them prepare to enter the workforce by teaching resumé-writing and computer skills and by conducting mock job interviews. | 4554 N. Broadway, suite 207 | Kirsten Broughton, 773-878-0981, ext. 231, or volunteer@inspirationcorp.org

JUF Uptown Café
The Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago runs this cafe, serving three dinners a week and Sunday brunch to the low-income, multifaith clientele of the Dina and Eli Field EZRA Multiservice Center. Volunteers 12 and older wait tables and socialize with the customers. | 909 W. Wilson | 312-357-4762 or tov@juf.org

Sarah’s Circle
A drop-in center for women who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, Sarah’s Circle needs volunteers to serve meals Monday through Friday starting at 4 PM. The center also provides supportive services for the women, and volunteers lead groups and workshops in their areas of interest or expertise. Previous classes have included creative writing, stress management, yoga, and computer skills. | 4750 N. Sheridan, suite 220 | Ella Phillips, 773-728-1991 or ephillips@sarahs-circle.org

Tree House Animal Foundation
A no-kill shelter for stray and abandoned cats. Volunteers play with the cats, help with adoptions, assist clinic technicians, and work at fund-raisers. | 1212 W. Carmen | Ollie Davidson, 773-784-5488, ext. 228, or programs@treehouseanimals.org

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