Give Help Now

Become A Volunteer
	Direct Service Opportunities
	Indirect Service Opportunities
	Work With The C.C.C. As A Group Or Organization
Annual Benefit Auction
	Make A Financial Contribution
Legacy Of Caring Society
	Donate Goods Or Services
	Donate Items To Reruns Our Re-Sale Shop
	Donate a Cell phone You No Longer Need
	Fundraising Through eBay

Direct service positions provide opportunities for volunteers to interact directly with clients. The amount of training required depends on the position, but all volunteers in direct service positions must sign confidentiality agreements and agree to abide by applicable CCC policies. Direct service volunteers participate in required screening, background checks and interviews as appropriate. Both volunteers and CCC staff members commit a significant amount of time in preparing for these positions. Because of this, we ask that volunteers consider a long-term commitment (several weeks to several months) to their volunteer role. The following represent current direct service opportunities:

1. Hospital Advocates respond to area emergency departments when a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault presents there. Advocates provide information, support, and crisis intervention to victims of crime. Advocates may choose their “on-call” times, and are asked to commit to a minimum of three 12-hour “on-call” shifts per month. This program requires approximately 56 hours of special training. This training is offered as an evening class at Elgin Community College each fall, listed as FMV 150. Registration for the fall class is done through ECC. Those taking the ECC class who wish to become volunteer advocates must participate in an additional session with CCC staff members. This class is also offered at the Community Crisis Center on Saturdays during January and February. Professionals may take either class to receive 40 hours of domestic violence training. Call the Community Crisis Center for more information.
   
2. Children’s Program Volunteers provide developmentally appropriate individual and group activities for children who are living in shelter or participating as walk-in clients while their mothers are attending support group. After-school tutoring, homework help and computer lab sessions are offered to school-aged children. Some volunteers read with the children. Others engage children in art and music activities. Volunteers must submit to a background check and are always supervised by a staff member. Volunteers who have completed the training for hospital advocacy are also eligible to volunteer in the Children’s Room, pending their interview with the Children’s Program Coordinator.
   
3. Volunteer interpreters assist our staff in providing counseling and case management to clients who have limited English proficiency. Interpreters must speak English and the other language fluently. Spanish is the most requested language, but we have required assistance in many languages. Interpretation occurs on the phone or in person at the Community Crisis Center. Translation of written materials is also helpful and can be done in or out of the building.
   
4. Volunteer receptionists answer our phones during the week when our full-time receptionist is away. Greeting clients, accepting donations, monitoring visitors in the building and forwarding in-person and phone inquiries to the appropriate staff member are responsibilities associated with this role. Training is provided and staff members are always available to provide assistance.
   
5. Lobby volunteers greet and speak with clients, help tidy the donations on our “Community Table” located in the entrance foyer and move other donated items to storage areas as directed. Lobby volunteers often assist during the week, but case managers appreciate help on the weekends as well, especially during November and December when we receive so many wonderful donations from community members. We are especially interested in recruiting lobby volunteers who speak Spanish with a least a minimal degree of fluency.
   
6. Shelter volunteers provide a range of services to women and children living in our shelter. These volunteers often have a particular skill or ability that they wish to share with or offer to shelter residents. This might include preparing a meal either off-site or in our kitchen, offering hairstyling or makeup and personal care services, teaching and sharing a craft project or planning and conducting a family-friendly activity. Positive interactions such as these can be beneficial to clients and bolster their self-esteem, which is a critical component of healing and working toward change in their lives.