40 volunteers will help clean up Osterman/Hollywood Beach.

• Date: Saturday, August 9

• Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

• Location: Kathy Osterman Beach (exact location coming soon)

• Afterparty: Randall's Pub (6341 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660). Outside food allowed. Nearest buses are the #22 Clark, #36 Broadway, and #151 Sheridan.

Transit

• Parking: Street parking and SP+ Parking garage

• Transit: Thorndale Red Line station, #151 Sheridan bus, #36 Broadway bus

20 volunteers will be participating in a gardening event at one of HOW's housing sites. Activities will include gardening, landscaping, and staining a fence.

• Date: Saturday, August 9, 2025

• Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

• Location: 1405 Pitner Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

• Afterparty: Randall's Pub (6341 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660). Outside food allowed. Nearest buses are the #22 Clark, #36 Broadway, and #151 Sheridan.

Transit

• Parking: Small on-site parking lot

• Transit: Davis Purple Line station, #250 Pace bus

15 volunteers will be assisting with oudoor food distribution.

• Date: Saturday, August 9, 2025

• Time: 8:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m.

• Location: Care for Real (5840 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60660)

• Afterparty: Randall's Pub (6341 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660). Outside food allowed. Nearest buses are the #22 Clark, #36 Broadway, and #151 Sheridan.

Transit

• Parking: There is on-site parking. Street parking is available but limited.

• Transit: Thorndale Red Line station, #36 Broadway bus, #151 Sheridan bus

Special instructions

Volunteers will need tofill out a waiver no later than 3 days priorto the volunteer event, or else their spot will be released to be taken by a member of the public.

30 volunteers will be turning plastic bags into pillows and mats for the unhoused. During the event, groups will be cutting, weaving, crocheting, and winding the bags.

• Date: Saturday, July 12

• Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

• Location: Chicago Bee Library (3647 S State St, Chicago, IL 60609)

• Afterparty: The Embassy Public House (1435 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607) Food and street parking are available. The nearest transit is #9/X9 Ashland bus and the #157 Streeterville/Taylor bus.

Transit

• Parking: Street parking and various lots

• Transit: Sox-35th Red Line station, #29 State bus

30 volunteers will be working with the Pullman Trash Trekkers program to help clean up the beautiful Pullman National Historical Park.

• Date: Saturday, July 12, 2025

• Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

• Location: Pullman National Historical Park (610 E 111th Street, Chicago, IL 60628)

• Afterparty: The Embassy Public House (1435 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607) Food and street parking are available. The nearest transit is #9/X9 Ashland bus and the #157 Streeterville/Taylor bus.

Transit

• Parking: The park has ample parking available on site.

• Transit: #4 Cottage Grove bus, #111A Pullman Shuttle, #115 Pullman/115th bus, Metra Electric 111th St (Pullman) station

Special instructions

We will meet outside the National Park Service visitor center. 

30 volunteers will be doing garden cleaning, transplanting trees, and harvesting the gardens.

• Date: Saturday, July 12

• Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

• Location: Homan Rails Farm (910 S Homan Ave, Chicago, IL, 60624)

• Afterparty: The Embassy Public House (1435 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607) Food and street parking are available. The nearest transit is #9/X9 Ashland bus and the #157 Streeterville/Taylor bus.

Transit

• Parking: There is a large parking lot at Holy Family Ministries and the YMCA across from the school.

• Transit: Kedzie-Homan Blue Line station

Special instructions
The garden will be south of the parking lot. To get to the garden, you will walk to the southern middle part of the parking lot, then take a left up the incline.

​Come join fellow volunteers and community members for some unforgettable fun, an opportunity to win prizes, and a chance to connect with fellow volunteers! Having a blast is guaranteed.

​Bingo starts at 1:30 PM! Tickets are optional and do not guarantee seating. If the event is 'Sold Out', please still come join us! Tickets are for reminder purposes only.

​VU has reserved 44 seats across 4 tables. If you'd like to secure your seat through us, you must email us at contactus@volunteeringuntappedchi.org! After that, tables are first come, first serve or you can reserve on your own.

​Your first time hearing about us? Come along and learn about our organization with some food, drinks, and fun! The more, the merrier :)

​Suggested donation costs $10 per person. Feel free to contribute more or less but know that your hard-earned cash will go towards volunteer appreciation events, the cost of tools & supplies, coffee, donuts, and more. We appreciate it all!

​Questions? Send a note to Jill Duffy (contactus@volunteeringuntappedchi.com). If you'd like to learn more

60 volunteers will be remulching paths throughout Wooded Island (part of Jackson Park) and completing other grounds maintenance and cleanup tasks.

• Date: Saturday, June 14

• Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

• Location: Wooded Island (1686 E Hayes Dr, Chicago, IL 60649)

• Afterparty: Reggies Chicago (2105 S State St, Chicago, IL 60616)

Transit

• Parking: Garden of the Phoenix parking (1686 E Hayes Dr parking lot)

• Transit: Red Line 63rd station, then #63 bus eastward to 63rd & Stony Island

Special Instructions
Please go to the south entrance of Wooded Island, as otherwise it can be a long walk. We recommend sunscreen and a hat as well as clothes that you don't mind getting dirty!

40 volunteers will be organizing children's clothing donations with Cradles to Crayons and creating and organizing homemade cards with Cardz For Kidz.

• Date: Saturday, June 14

• Time: 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

• Location: Cradles to Crayons Chicago (2500 W Bradley Pl, Chicago, IL 60618)

• Afterparty: Roscoe Village Pub (2159 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60618)

Transit

• Parking: There is parking in front of the Cradles to Crayons building.

• Transit: #152 Addison bus, #80 Irving Park bus, #94 California bus

60 volunteers will be repacking donated foods into portions that can be distributed to local partner agencies. Activities include inspecting fresh produce to pick out any that have spoiled and scooping dry pasta into bags for families.

• Date: Saturday, June 14

• Time: 9:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

• Location: 4100 W Ann Lurie Place, Chicago, IL 60632

• Afterparty: Reggies Chicago (2105 S State St, Chicago, IL 60616)

Transit

• Parking: Free parking is available along Karlov Avenue and Ann Laurie Place.

• Transit: Pulaski Orange Line station, then #53A South Pulaski bus northbound to Pulaski & 41st Street

Special Instructions
Volunteers will need to fill out a registration form and sign a waiver prior to arriving at the event. The link will be sent to those who successfully sign up on Eventbrite.

Fully enclosed shoes are required. Long pants and shirts that cover the shoulders are also recommended.

Our 4th annual Gala will be held on Saturday May 31 from 7-10pm in the Barrel Loft at Dovetail Brewery! Tickets start at $75 and your attendance helps support VU’s mission and grant program. Hope to see you there!

Click the link below for additional details and to purchase tickets.

Special thanks to our generous sponsors:

• Studio W.I.P.

• Zen Garage Yoga

• Neo-Futurist Theater

• Joffrey Ballet of Chicago

• Fox in a Box Chicago

• First Ascent Climbing

• F45 Training

• Chicago Symphony Orchestra

• Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier

• Chicago Food & City Tours

• Bark Box

• Chicago Stars

• Sofar Sounds

• Rooftop Cinema Club

• Lillstreet Art Center

• Lasco/NN/NC

• IO Theater

• Egg Harbor

50 volunteers will be cleaning up a garden, weeding, and completing other outdoor activities. Volunteers should bring sunscreen and long pants.

• Date: Saturday, May 10

• Time: 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

• Location: 1500 N Washtenaw Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Extra details

• Parking: Street parking

• Transit: Western Blue Line station, #76 Damen bus, #72 North Ave bus

• Afterparty: Boulevard Sports Lounge (2645 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647)

30 volunteers will be completing gardening tasks with Gardeneers at Homan Rails Farm. Come prepared to get your hands dirty! Volunteers should bring sunscreen and long pants for gardening activities.

• Date: Saturday, May 10

• Time: 10:00 am - 12:30 p.m.

• Location: Homan Rails Farm (910 S Homan Ave Chicago, IL 60624)

Extra details

• Parking: There is a large parking lot at Holy Family Ministries across from the school. You will have to walk up the hill to reach the farm area.

• Transit: Kedzie-Homan Blue Line station

• Afterparty: Boulevard Sports Lounge (2645 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647)

20 volunteers will be building Fresh Start Kits for those who have previously experienced homelessness. The kits contain much-needed supplies like mops, soap, and laundry detergent.

• Date: Saturday, May 10

• Time: 8:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

• Location: Pioneer House Transitional Home (4458 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60624)

Extra details

• Parking: Street parking

• Transit: Cicero Blue Line station

• Afterparty: Boulevard Sports Lounge (2645 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647)

30 volunteers will be cleaning classrooms and the cafeteria, organizing the library, hanging pictures, and washing walls.

• Date: Saturday, April 12

• Time: 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

• Location: St. Frances of Rome Catholic School, 1401 S Austin Blvd, Cicero, IL 60804

Extra details

• Parking: School parking lot

• Transit: Austin Blue Line station, #315 Austin Boulevard Pace bus

• Afterparty: Brudder's Sports Bar, 3600 N Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60641

55 volunteers will be organizing and sorting a variety of kids clothing and toy donations.

• Date: Saturday, April 12

• Time: 10 a.m.

• Location: 3800 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60641

Extra details

• Parking: The parking lot and the entrance are on Milwaukee Ave. You will see the Tierra Encantada daycare at the front of the parking lot. Park in the Milwaukee Ave lot. Please DO NOT park in the Kilbourn Ave lot with the taxis. Your vehicle will be towed by the taxi company!

• Transit: #56 Milwaukee bus

• Afterparty: Brudder's Sports Bar, 3600 N Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60641

15 volunteers will be gardening, painting, and cleaning up for LYTE Collective's annual gardening/beautification event.

• Date: Saturday, April 12

• Time: 9:00 am - 1:00 p.m.

• Location: 549 E 76th St, Chicago, IL 60619

Extra details

• Parking: Street parking

• Transit: #75 74th-75th bus, #3 King Drive bus, 79th Street Red Line station

• Afterparty: Homeslice Pizza, 938 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

Volunteer with the Chicago Park District

60 volunteers will be cleaning up Humboldt Park. Supplies will be provided onsite.

• Date: Saturday, March 8

• Time: 10 a.m.

• Location: Humboldt Park Boathouse Parking Lot (1301 N Humboldt Dr, Chicago, IL 60622)

• Parking: Drivers can park directly in the Boathouse Parking Lot. This is a great event to VUber to, either as a volunteer driver or a passenger.

• Transit: The closest transit options are the #72 North bus and #70 Division bus.

• Afterparty location: TBD

Volunteer with SparkShop

20 volunteers will be packing manufacturing and industrial engineering kits. Our goal is 400-500 kits in two hours! Volunteers will help with the assembly line, quality control, replenishment, or shipping.

• Date: Saturday, March 8

• Time: 10:00 a.m.

• Location: 2023 W Carroll Ave, Suite C-206, Chicago, IL 60612

• Parking: Parking is available on Carroll Ave and nearby streets.

• Transit: Volunteers can get to this event via the Damen Green Line station or the Damen #50 bus.

• Afterparty location: TBD

60 volunteers will be counting, sorting and packaging cards to be shipped to children worldwide.

• Date: Saturday, February 8th

• Time: 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

• Location: West Loop Branch, Chicago Public Library, 122 N Aberdeen St, Chicago, IL 60607

• Parking: Street parking is available near the library.

• Transit: Morgan Green/Pink station and Halsted #8 bus

• Afterparty: Kaiser Tiger (1415 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607)