Needs From: United Way of Rock River Valley

Join us for a neighborhood cleanup across the communities where we work, live, and play.

How it works: You choose your location and time, or we'll assign you one — whatever works best for you. If you have a preference, note it in the Notes field when you sign up.

Supplies are provided. Pick up yours at the United Way Rock River Valley Office (612 N Main St, 3rd Floor – Associated Bank Building) on:

Each volunteer receives: 2 yellow bags, a grabber, and a vest. Please bring your own gloves.

Supplies generously provided by Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful and Winnebago County.

Team sign-up deadline: April 16

Volunteer opportunities include, but aren’t limited to:

Rescue: Assist staff in the procurement of donated goods.

Warehouse: Sort, inspect, package, restock shelves.

Registration: Greeters, registrars, shopping list reviewers.

Distribution: Shoppers, food stations, assisting clients with groceries.

Special Projects: Includes various duties, such as landscaping projects, painting, prize solicitation, raffle and auction assistance, event greeters.

Please visit our website and complete our interest form: www.rrvp.org

Reading volunteers help us raise the county's literacy rate by developing a meaningful relationship with a child, fostering a love of reading, and building the confidence children need to succeed in school. There are multiple ways to get involved throughout the school year: Volunteer as a 1st grade reading mentor or a kindergarten classroom helper.

Typical time commitment is one hour per week; time of day will vary based upon school schedule. Upon signing up, you will be contacted by United Way for placement in the reading program that is the best fit for you. 

Court Watch was developed to capture data around what survivors in our community are experiencing in their engagement with the court system. We are committed to providing data-driven and timeline-driven solutions to enhance offender accountability, survivor safety, and judicial efficiency.

The Family Peace Center is looking for individuals who love working with children to serve in our children's space during business hours (Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm) as well as select weekday evenings (5pm - 8pm) for wellness offerings such as support groups, journaling workshops, yoga classes, etc. offered to our clients. There are occasional Saturday morning opportunities as well.

Ensure survivors’ spiritual needs are met and provide holistic spiritual support to guests of all faith backgrounds. Volunteers need not be ordained and may come from many spiritual traditions. Volunteers must:

Assist our members during after-school or summer programming. Work alongside tutors to help our members with basic academic skills (literacy and mathematics). The Boys & Girls Club of Rockford provides area youth a building-centered program where they can go to feel safe and at the same time be exposed to positive, caring adult role models. Our clubs offer diverse program activities in three areas: Academic Success, Good Character and Leadership Development, and Healthy and Life Styles. Our motto "great futures start here" is a true representation of what we strive for at our clubs.

All individuals must complete a background check, in person onboarding, and complete a video safety module prior to volunteering. All volunteers must be 16 years or older.

Learn more about our clubs and apply to volunteer online at our website: https://www.rgreatfutures.org/s/volunteer-page 

Sign up to placed as a volunteer to assist city officials and disaster relief organizations. Roles and responsibilities will be communicated at the time of the event in which you are needed. If you have a specific skill set that relates to an area of disaster support (ex. medical, organizational, physical labor) please include details in the notes section. 

Many kids who come to Rock House Kids live in areas prone to crime and other unsafe activities. Our drivers must be able and willing to pick up in inner-city areas and housing projects. We use large passenger vans to pick up and drop off kids each night.

You will need a current driver’s license to be one of our van drivers. A firm, influential approach is ideal.

As with our other Rock House Kids volunteers, our drivers share our vision of providing a safe place, in this case, transportation, while being a positive and godly role model for the children.

Drivers:

All Rock House Kids Volunteers:

A large part of our mission at Rock House Kids is to provide a safe place for inner-city kids. Security volunteers share in this mission and play a vital role in our evening programming.

Security Volunteers:

All Rock House Kids Volunteers:

Programming Info:

At the beginning of each evening program, we feed the kids a hot meal. Meals are often provided by an outside group, church, or individual.

Our Boulders (Teens) small groups are structured with volunteers who serve as Co-Leads (multiple leaders who share the lead responsibilities) and Assistants. The Co-Leads play a vital role at Rock House Kids.

Boulders Co-Leads:

·         Share a meal with the teens

·         Sit with the teens during chapel & the Bible lesson

·         Keep the teens engaged

·         Lead discussions in the small group setting, using the provided curriculum

·         Help the teens apply the Bible lesson to their lives

·         Create a safe and manageable small group environment

All Rock House Kids Volunteers:

·         Provide a consistent & strong presence for our kids

·         Build trust-based relationships

·         Demonstrate a strong faith walk

Programming Info:

·         The Teen Program runs from 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays

·         Boulders Mentors can choose either Tuesdays or Thursdays to volunteer.

·         Teaching experience is not required. 

Our Boulders (Teens) small groups are structured with volunteers who serve as Co-Leads (multiple leaders who share the lead responsibilities) and Assistants. The Assistants play a vital role at Rock House Kids.

Boulders Assistants:

·         Share a meal with the teens

·         Sit with and help the teens engage during chapel & the Bible lesson  

·         Participate in the small group setting

·         Help the teens apply the Bible lesson to their lives

·         Assist the Co-Leads with classroom management and engagement

All Rock House Kids Volunteers:

·         Provide a consistent & strong presence for our kids

·         Build trust-based relationships

·         Demonstrate a strong faith walk

Programming Info:

·         The Teen Program runs from 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays

·         Boulders Mentors can choose either Tuesdays or Thursdays to volunteer.

·         Teaching experience is not required. 

Rocks Station Leaders play a vital role at Rock House Kids by helping our program nights run smoothly.

Rocks Station Leaders:

·         Share a meal with the kids

·         Lead one of four stations: Bible Story, Scripture Memory, Craft, or Game using the provided curriculum.

o   Children are divided into small groups that rotate every 15 minutes through the four stations.

All Rock House Kids Volunteers:

·         Provide a consistent & strong presence for our kids

·         Build trust-based relationships

·         Demonstrate a strong faith walk

Programming Info:

·         Rocks, 3rd through 5th grade-grade program runs from 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays

·         Rocks Station leaders can choose either Mondays or Wednesdays to volunteer.

·         Teaching experience is not required.

Our Rocks small groups are structured with volunteers who serve as Co-Leads (multiple leaders who share the lead responsibilities). The Co-Leads play a vital role at Rock House Kids. environment.

Rocks Co-Leads:

·         Share a meal with the kids

·         Lead the children through four interactive activity stations: Bible Story, Memory Verse, Craft, and Game

·         Encourage and support the kids through each station

·         Lead the small group time

·         Keep the children engaged during chapel, small group, and activity stations

·         Create a safe and manageable classroom environment

All Rock House Kids Volunteers:

·         Provide a consistent & strong presence for our kids

·         Build trust-based relationships

·         Demonstrate a strong faith walk

Programming Info

·         Rocks, 3rd through 5th grade program runs from 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. 

·         Rocks volunteers can choose either Mondays or Wednesdays to volunteer.

·         Teaching experience is not required.

Our Pebbles small groups are structured with volunteers who serve as Co-Leads (multiple leaders who share the lead responsibilities) and Assistants. The Co-Leads play a vital role at Rock House Kids.

Pebbles Co-Leads:

·         Share a meal with the kids

·         Introduce the Bible lesson through multimedia and other interactive activities

·         Lead the kids craft/other hands-on activities to help reinforce the Bible lesson

·         Keep the kids engaged during Bible lesson, chapel, and craft time

·         Create a safe and manageable classroom environment

All Rock House Kids Volunteers:

·         Provide a consistent & strong presence for our kids

·         Build trust-based relationships

·         Demonstrate a strong faith walk

Programming Info:

·         Pebbles, 1st through 2nd-grade program runs from 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays

·         Pebbles volunteers can choose either Mondays or Wednesdays to volunteer.

·         Teaching experience is not required. 

The Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) has partnered with the United Way to promote reading during early childhood. As part of this initiative the Winnebago County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) will have opportunities for MRC volunteers to read to children while they wait with their parents for their WIC appointment, a supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children.

Opportunities are for 1 hour shifts between: Mondays: 9AM-11AM & 1PM-4PM

                                                                                Tuesdays: 1PM-4PM

                                                                                Wednesdays: 9AM-11AM & 1PM-4PM (Late shift available 4:30PM-5:30PM                                                                                                             on the 1st & 3rd  Wednesday of the month)

                                                                                Thursdays: 10AM-11AM & 1PM-4PM

                                                                                Fridays: 9AM-11AM & 1PM-4PM

Note: WCHD is closed on federal holidays. 

Volunteers must pass a free background check and complete mandatory training before volunteering. To register with the Winnebago County MRC visit:

https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/84418090-53c2-4828-978c-6e93b5ae8d37/1

When completing the application indicate that you are interested in the “Reach Out and Read Program.” Once your application has been approved the Winnebago County MRC coordinator will reach out to you with next steps.

Make a difference in our community by volunteering at our Emergency Food Pantry. Register and fill out a volunteer application here. Various 2-hour shifts are available. 

For any questions, call 815-972-1135.

We offer a variety of flexible volunteer opportunities. From helping us out at events, helping out in different departments such as textiles, collections, workshop, historic gardens, and more!

Be part of our team of volunteers that assists with our book distribution program as we aim to distribute over 100,000 books this year into our community! Put stickers on books, count and organize book inventory and donations, pack boxes, and help with other various office related tasks. Volunteer with a group or as an individual and get to know someone new!

Conduct tours of the historic Tinker Swiss Cottage.

 Help maintain the Victorian Rose Garden and other flowerbeds at Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum.

Host Families voluntarily take in children for short periods of time. They are screened and approved by our staff.

Please go to this website to learn more.

https://safe-families.org/involvement/host-family/

Volunteers brainstorm, develop, and implement a variety of events, programs, and fundraisers for the Ethnic Heritage Museum & Graham-Ginestra House. Some of the events include: