The Village of Oak Park is seeking volunteers to support its Warming and Cooling Center for unhoused residents. This important resource ensures that community members facing housing insecurity have a safe, welcoming place during periods of extreme weather. We are looking for individuals who are compassionate, dependable, and committed to serving others. Volunteer opportunities include:

• Shelter Manager – Serving as an on-site lead to coordinate operations, oversee guest check-in, support health and safety needs, and guide other volunteers.
• General Volunteers – Assisting with guest support, food and beverage service, cleanliness of the space, set-up and tear-down, and ensuring a respectful and safe environment for all.

Shelter Manager

• Coordinate with Housing Forward, in partnership with Village E.C.H.O staff, to serve as on-site shelter manager during operations.
• Create and maintain registration database to establish and maintain data on guests.
• Coordinate the transportation, if available, of people unable to get to the warming center site
• Provide guidelines for client check-in, health and safety, set-up and use of space, caring for persons in physical or mental distress, and checkout
• Provide on-site guidance and supervision to other volunteers/staff supporting operation
• Coordinate care with individuals that are not part of the program(s)

General Volunteers

• Report to shelter on-time for scheduled shift
• Support the needs of shelter clients in an attentive and compassionate manner
• Report any issues or concerns to on-site shelter manager
• Follow all health, safety and other operational procedures established by the host site, Housing Forward shelter manager and Village staff
• Help to maintain cleanliness of shelter such as sweeping, clearing any garbage from floors or tables, and emptying trash as needed
• Support food and beverage service as needed
• Assist in the setup and tear down of shelter site

Sign up to volunteer 

Oak Parkers are encouraged to look for opportunities to help neighbors who may need assistance. With one option for discarding leaves being to place them in yard waste bags and/or rigid containers in the parkway, property owners can tap into their neighborly instincts by helping those in need of support.

Throughout the six-week fall leaf collection program (Oct. 27 – Dec. 5), community volunteers can sign up for weekend leaf cleanups with supplies provided by the Village.

Saturday cleanups will be focused on the north side of town, while Sunday cleanups will assist residents on the south side. 

Saturdays - Nov. 1, Nov. 8, Nov. 15, Nov. 29

Sundays -Nov. 2, Nov. 9, Nov. 16, Nov. 30

• Weekend cleanups are to be completed between the hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Volunteers will receive a list of the addresses in need in advance of their scheduled cleanup. 
• Supplies will be delivered to volunteers the Thursday before their scheduled cleanup.
• Borrowed tools must be returned to the Village and will be collected on Monday following the cleanup.
• Yard waste bags must weigh less than 50 pounds when filled with leaves and shall be placed in the parkway following the cleanup for collection (no green stickers required).

Available Supplies:

• Up to 50 30-gallon paper yard waste bags.
• Up to 10 pairs or coated safety gloves.
• Up to 10 rakes.
• Up to 10 shovels.
• Up to five leaf chutes for filling bags.
• Up to five leaf scoops.

Sign up to volunteer