Volunteer Season Dawns

Editor's Note: The Oak Park-River Forest Patch wants to connect those looking to donate their time with organizations looking for volunteers. You can find more information on our "Volunteers" page.

West Suburban PADS, the Maywood-based agency that aims to eradicate homelessness, is beginning its seasonal call for volunteer help at area shelters.

Shelter manager Emily Aker said there is plenty of ways to get involved, from donating food to spending time at one of the agency's emergency shelters, which are situated at religious institutions across the western suburbs, including several in Oak Park.

The group is also hoping to secure people to provide breakfasts, sack lunches and dinners, as well as staffing the shelters during one of three shifts: 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m. to  5 a.m. and 5 a.m. to  7:30 a.m..

Aker said the non-profit group relies heavily on citizen contributions as well as the efforts of AmeriCorps members and graduate students interning in social work.

West Suburban PADS draws about 1,000 volunteers annually.

Aker said volunteers have donated a total of roughly 19,000 hours each year, time that helps the agency fulfill its mission of offering shelter, counseling programs and a range of career services to the area's homeless, or near homeless, population.

"The people coming to our shelters are from your community," she said, adding that the Oak Park and River Forest area typically produces a hefty amount of volunteers. "That's how we've been able to get 1,000 volunteers [each year]."