Becoming a volunteer at Anixter Center allows you
to use your talents to make a positive impact on someone else’s
life... and your own.
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Create your own
opportunity!
Do you have a special skill or talent? Do have an idea on how
you can help that you
don’t see listed here? E-mail Amy Laboy at
alaboy@anixter.org or call her at
(773) 929-8200 ext. 270 to talk about your suggestions. We are
open to new ideas!
Our community is very diverse and we
are always looking for volunteers who are fluent in American Sign Language or
Spanish to help in the provision of services throughout our agency. Contact Amy Laboy to learn
about specific opportunities.
Click here
for the online volunteer application!
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Supporting Individuals with Disabilities |
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Adult Literacy Tutor – With
the support of volunteers, Anixter Center’s Literacy Program
works on strengthening the reading, writing, math and
computer skills of adults with disabilities, thus improving
their quality of life, as well as expanding their
opportunities for better paying jobs and career advancement.
Literacy Program volunteers are matched with individuals or
small groups based on their interest and availability. No
experience needed. We will provide training and ongoing
support. To become a tutor, volunteers must be at least 18
years of age and commit to tutoring for at least one hour per week for
at least 3 months.
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Mike and his Literacy
volunteer tutor Sara were honored in Springfield on May 25, 2006. Click
here to
read more about the event. |
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Mentor
– Mentors help support individuals with disabilities to
engage in healthy, active lifestyles and utilize their
communities. Mentors are matched with individuals based on
their interests, skills and availability. Become exercise
partners, go to sporting events, share a hobby, take a class
together, go to the movies – Be an advocate for an
individual with a disability to be a full and equal member
of their community. |
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Darnell and Anna
meet to work on independent living
skills |
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| Life Skills Instructor–
Facilitate independence and inclusion by teaching,
encouraging and supporting life skills. This role can be an
ongoing commitment working with one individual or a
short-term commitment such as teaching a small class. Life
Skills include communication, activities of daily living
such as cooking, learning public transportation, money
skills, job skills and more. |
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| Lekotek Volunteer – Lekotek
uses interactive play experiences, and the learning that
results, to promote the inclusion of children with
disabilities into family and community life. Lekotek volunteers help
facilitate play groups, provide support for special events
and assist in the repair of broken of toys.
Click here to learn
about more specific Lekotek opportunities. |
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Tax Preparation Volunteer
– Support individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing by
assisting in the preparation of federal, state ad local
income tax forms for low-income families, senior citizens
and students. Volunteer Tax Preparers need to have strong
math skills and have knowledge of tax preparation.
Volunteers must attend a one time E-Filing training session
and commit to one 4-hour or 8-hour shift for 3 Saturdays in
March. Knowledge of sign language is not required. |
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Tax Preparation Volunteer Interpreter –
Support individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing by
interpreting during tax preparation sessions. Volunteer
interpreters must be trained and experienced (at least 7
years beyond ITP levels) and commit to at least one 4 hour
session on a Saturday in March. |
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ARMED (Adult Role Models in Education of the Deaf) Volunteer – What do you want to be when you
grow up? Children are asked this question all the time. A
great way for kids to learn about the many opportunities we
have in life is to learn about what adults have achieved.
The ARMED Program is looking for professionals who are Deaf
or Hard of Hearing to share their employment and life
experiences with elementary, junior high and high school
students who are deaf or hard of hearing in the Chicago area
schools. |
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Administrative Support
Administrative
Assistant – Volunteers help us run more
effectively by providing much needed support with filing,
data entry, photocopying, mailings and other office duties. |
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Short-Term or Special Event |
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Norm and Chad meet to
work on improving job-related skills |
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Annual Golf Outing Volunteer
– Enjoy a beautiful June day and support Anixter Center by
helping out at the Lester J. Memorial Golf Outing,
Play-A-Round for the Kids, on Tuesday, June 18, 2007. Help
is needed to plan, organize and run this annual event. |
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Abbe
(right)
helps distribute t-shirts to golf outing
participants. |
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| Clean it up and Fix it up
Projects – We can use groups of all sizes to help with
maintenance related projects. We will work with your group
to develop a project that meets your groups needs, abilities
and availability. |
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| UnumProvident staff participated in a
United Way, Day of Caring event at Anixter Center helping
program participants and staff move, paint
and clean their service areas. |
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Volunteers are a vital part of our
community. Volunteers contribute time, wisdom
and unique talents which help to make our community stronger and
further our mission of supporting the independence and inclusion
of people with disabilities.