Intro The Rogers Park & West Ridge Issue

History Borders and Boundaries From Indian treaties to the Cabbage Wars to World War II, the forces that shaped Rogers Park and West Ridge. By Bill Savage

Memoir The Savages of Time Sex columnist Dan Savage and his brother Bill on the lost landmarks of their childhood. By Dan Savage and Bill Savage

Memoir The Shovelers of North Mozart The West Ridge way: rest on Saturday, help your neighbor on Sunday. By Adam Langer

Politics MVP or Mope? Alderman Joe Moore, whipping boy for the 49th Ward Ben Joravsky Plus: Where Bloggers Dodge Beers By Mick Dumke

Street Level What to do and where to do it: Architecture, bars, classes, GLBTQ, music, parks and beaches, theater and dance, dining, shopping, art, and volunteering

More Neighborhood Guides Ukrainian Village/East Village South Loop Logan Square Uptown

Volunteering

February 5, 2009

CJE SeniorLife Volunteer opportunities include helping feed residents, visiting with the elderly, and possibly bringing your dog by for some pet therapy (pending CJE SeniorLife approval). Minimum time commitment varies for each activity.  3003 W. Touhy, 773-508-1064, cje.net.

Cuentos Foundation This entirely volunteer-based program, which aims to “combat prejudice and discrimination through artistic and educational intergenerational projects and programs promoting mutual understanding,” is looking for volunteers in many different areas, including accounting, business planning, fund raising and special events planning and grant-writing. 6321 North Clark, 773-761-2500, cuentosfoundation.org.

Felines, Inc. This cageless, no-kill cat shelter houses over 100 cats on two floors. Volunteers help with upkeep, fund raising, special projects, hosting a monthly info table at local pet and grocery stores, and of course playing with the kitties. 6379 N Paulina, 773-465-4132, felinesinc.org.

Good News Community Kitchen Begun as a ministry of the ministry of the Good News Community Church, GNCK claims to be the highest capacity community kitchen in the metro area, serving dinner 365 days a year to about 120 patrons a night from all over Chicago. They ask that anyone who volunteers be at least 12 years old and stay through the service, dinner, and clean-up. They also have a community organizing group you can volunteer for, Northside P.O.W.E.R.(People Organized to Work, Educate, and Restore), which works to address hunger and poverty issues in the neighborhood. 7649 N. Paulina, 773-262-2297, gnck.org.

Lakeside Community Development Corporation This nonprofit, which works to create and preserve affordable housing, needs volunteers to help with rental housing advocacy, fund raising, workshops, community activities, and other special events. 1652 W Wallen, 773-381-5253, lakesidecdc.org.

Misericordia At Misericordia, which houses and supports children and adults with developmental disabilities, the volunteer possibilities are endless: you can assist with everything from Sunday brunch to sports activities and even help chaperone the Misericordia contingent in the annual South Side Irish Parade. Misericordia asks most volunteers to give a minimum of two or three hours a week over a six-to-twelve-month term. 6300 N. Ridge, 773-273-4161, misericordia.org.

Red Door Animal Shelter This no-kill shelter handles rabbits as well as cats and dogs. Volunteers can help with care and feeding, laundry, the phones, errands, transportation, fostering, and adoptions. A commitment of at least one morning or evening per month is preferred.  2410 W Lunt, 773-764-2242, reddoorshelter.org.

Rogers Park Community Council The community council, whose goal is to “improve the quality of life in Rogers Park through social, civic, and educational initiatives,” is looking for volunteers to help with everything from writing articles for the Rogers Park 2000 newspaper to tutoring and mentoring middle schoolers in its Youth Intervention Program. 1530 W. Morse, 773-338-7722, rogerspark.org.

Compiled by Hal Conick

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