Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are a vital part of Good News Partners. Each year, over 1000 volunteers help us individually or in groups. Volunteers can choose from a one-time project or longer-term activities.

Immediate Volunteer Needs:
-Spanish-speaking interpreter for our Esperanza Latina Co-op - New Life Shelter assistance for resdients and staff - Bunk Beds

Immediate Volunteer Needs:

-Spanish-speaking interpreter for our Esperanza Latina Co-op

- New Life Shelter assistance for resdients and staff

- Bunk Beds

Saturday Morning Kids Time Description: Spend time hanging out with students from the Jonquil Hotel; playing games, cooking, crafting, taking field trips, etc. Time commitment: Saturdays 10-12pm Location: Jonquil Hotel Learning Center Contact: Shane Tytenicz, shane@goodnewspartners.org
Drivers: Description: Drive neighborhood residents to medical or other appointments. Time commitment: 1x/month (or more) Contact: Shane Tytenicz, shane@goodnewspartners.org
Building Rehab Workers: Description: Scrape, sand, paint; clean, organize, move, do light carpentry, light gardening. Time commitment: Anytime, or once a month on scheduled Saturdays to work on a crew Location: Meet at GNP offices, 7230 N. Paulina Contact: Shane Tytenicz, shane@goodnewspartners.org
Tutors: Description 1: Work with two professional educators at Gale Elementary School (CPS) to tutor 1st and 2nd graders in reading. 1x/week (or more), 9:15-11:15 am (M-F) Location: Gale Elementary School, 1631 W. Jonquil Terrace, Rm. 302 Contact: Ann Lerman, ann@goodnewspartners.org Description 2: Provide after-school homework help to school children in neighborhood. Time Commitment: Monday and Tuesdays, 4-5:15 pm; Thursdays, 6-7 pm, during the school year Location: 1st floor of Jonquil Hotel,1600 W. Jonquil Terrace Contact: Gayle Anderson, gayleevanston@comcast.net
Administrative Assistants: Description: Help with one-time mailing “parties,” special events, office work, and data entry. Time commitment: once, or whenever you can come Location: GNP offices, 7230 N. Paulina Contact: Shane Tytenicz, shane@goodnewspartners.org
Church Collaborative Family Partner Committee: Description: Our Family Partner Committee explores various ways to help families transition from interim to more permanent housing. Specifically, provide welcome packages, donate furniture and/or household items, “adopt a family” (work with family to address specific needs). Most importantly you will be building relationships with your neighbors in the North of Howard community. Time commitment: once or on-going Location: Jonquil Hotel, 1600 W. Jonquil Terrace, and neighboring rental units Contact: Jan Hubbard, jan@goodnewspartners.org
Boys’ & Girls’ Club Leaders: Description: Take neighborhood kids on outings. If you can drive, that’s great. In warm weather, visit parks, forest preserves or the lakefront. In cold weather, visit the gym at First Presbyterian Church, Evanston Library, Lincoln Park Zoo, sledding hills, or downtown Chicago. Open to kids 3 years and up. Mothers with younger children may come along. Time commitment: Saturday mornings, 9 am – 12 noon Location: Meet at New Life Interim Housing, 7230 N. Paulina Contact: Tom Alrich, talrich@hotmail.com
Music Club Helpers: Description: Assist Leslie Pruitt, a Lake Forest elementary school music teacher, in leading neighborhood kids in songs, playing instruments, and teaching some basic music theory. Geared toward younger children (average age of kids in shelter is 5). Kids also move and dance as part of club. Time commitment: Tuesdays, 6-7 pm Location: New Life Interim Housing, 7230 N. Paulina Contact: Tom Alrich, talrich@hotmail.com
“Creative Hanging Out” Leaders: Description: Lead neighborhood kids in various activities, including reading, arts and crafts, and games. In warm weather, we gather in the outdoor play area in back of the shelter. In cold weather, we meet in the shelter playroom, using the many toys, books, and games there. Time commitment: Mondays, 6-7:30 pm Location: New Life Interim Housing, 7230 N. Paulina Contact: Catherine Potts, catherinepotts@sbcglobal.net
Family Trip Volunteers: Description: Take families on special outings, such as trips to Brookfield and Lincoln Park Zoos, Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry, Sears Tower, Chicago Botanic Garden, Indiana Dunes, or Wagner Farm. The First Presbyterian Church bus (capacity: 24) is enlisted for transportation, but we usually need extra drivers as well. Time commitment: Saturdays, once every 6 weeks (on average), 9 am – @4 pm. Location: Meet at GNP offices, 7230 N. Paulina Contact: Tom Alrich, talrich@hotmail.com
Professionals: Description: Share your expertise. We need accountants, business professionals, photographers, carpenters, computer experts, dentists, electricians, family counselors, lawyers, photographers, physicians, plumbers, and telephone technicians. Time commitment: When your schedule allows Contact: Shane Tytenicz, shane@goodnewspartners.org
Camp Counselors: Description: Travel with GNP staff and youth to Tennessee for week-long camping trips in June and August. Time commitment: one week in June or August Location: Tennessee Contact: Shane Tytenicz, shane@goodnewspartners.org
Board Members: Description: Become a member of our Board of Directors. Time commitment: bi-monthly Saturday meetings, 10am – noon. Location: A Just Harvest meeting room, 7200 block of Paulina St. Contact: Ronn Frantz, ronn@goodnewspartners.org

Join the Good News Partners e-mail prayer network and pray with Good News Partners residents, sharing their concerns, joys, and hopes. This is a great way to stay informed about Good News Partners’ ministry. If you would like to be part or the GNP Prayer Chain, please contact Ronn Frantz, ronn@goodnewspartners.org or call him at 773 764-4998.

For more information on the volunteer opportunities listed above, or if you have ideas or questions, please contact:
 Shane Tytenicz, shane@goodnewspartners.org

 1600 W. Jonquil Terrace
Chicago, IL 60626
773-764-4998