The initiatives in this section, Supported Causes, are opportunities which can be accessed online all throughout October, allowing volunteers to contribute in ways and at times which work best for them. Once you have participated in a Supported Cause, please use the Attendance Survey so we know the extent of our impact!
Click here to fill out the Attendance form
(please fill out after you have attended the event(s))
Transcribe Historical Documents Online
Organization: The Smithsonian Institute
Location: Virtual
Time Commitment: At Will
Equipment Required: Email, Internet connection
Where to Begin: https://transcription.si.edu/tips
Overview: The Smithsonian Transcription Center possesses thousands of historical documents in need of digital transcription. These documents range from pre-Civil War Georgia soliciting a new schoolteacher to an instructional pamphlet for selling airplanes in the 1940’s. Signup only requires a working email and a ten-minute introduction covering specific formatting guidelines. Work is automatically saved and can be accessed from any platform with an internet connection. An excellent opportunity for those with variable schedules and a keen eye for detail. Help bring history to life today!
Answer Questions from Prospective/Current College Students
Organization: Career Village
Location: Virtual
Time Commitment: At Will
Equipment Required: Email, Internet connection
Where to Begin: https://www.careervillage.org
Overview: Answering career questions can take the uncertainty out of major employment and schooling decisions faced by the coming generation. Varying from “Day to Day Operations” to “Viability of Future Careers,” personal experience and honesty are all that are required to assist hundreds of students looking to understand the next stage of their lives. Once you’ve made a simple account, you can begin guiding the students of the future one question at a time!
Virtually Instruct Students with Medical Conditions
Organization: Coach Art
Location: Virtual
Time Commitment: 8 one hour Sessions
Equipment Required: Video Streaming Capability, Creative Expertise
Where to Begin: https://coachart.org/volunteer/
Overview: Coach Art is an excellent way to make a fun impact from the security of your own home. Serving more than 10,000 kids over 19 years, Coach Art seeks to remove the isolation which children with prolonged medical conditions often experience. Pairing volunteers with children based on mutual interests, Coach Art is looking for backgrounds in creative writing, dance, cooking, and more! You will forge a relationship, provide a new skill, and help shape the life of a child who is eager to learn!
Assist the Visually-Impaired with Everyday Tasks
Organization: Be My Eyes
Location: Virtual
Time Commitment: At Will
Equipment Required: Mobile Phone with Internet Connection
Where to Begin: https://www.bemyeyes.com/
Overview: More than 2 million volunteers across 180 languages have served with this initiative since it was launched in 2015. Once the app is downloaded, Be My Eyes connects volunteers with the visually-impaired to assist with simple sight-based tasks. From locating items at the grocery store to reading a digital display, Be My Eyes allows instant assistance from across the world. Take a look today!
Walk to Support the National Alliance on Mental Illness
Organization: National Alliance on Mental Illness
Location: Remote
Time Commitment: At Will
Equipment Required: None
Where to Begin: https://www.namiwalks.org/
Overview: By engaging with the community and encouraging volunteers to get out and move, NAMIWalks raises awareness and funds through organized walks. Check out their list of pre-determined events to sign up, create a personal show of support, or even just watch their livestreams to increase online interaction!
Support Chicago Through a Variety of Activities
Organization: Chicago Cares
Location: Virtual/Remote
Time Commitment: At Will
Equipment Required: Internet Access
Where to Begin: https://www.chicagocares.org/volunteers
Overview: Support Chicago from all across the nation! Build connections, deepen your knowledge, and champion your cause through a host of virtual opportunities, including online job coaching and a motivational texting campaign!
Mask Making
With the spread of COVID-19, facemasks are a highly-desired commodity needed by many groups of people, especially in the medical field. The following are resources for folks who wish to create and distribute these lifesaving items.
Information/Resources
More Supported Causes
