Volunteer Opportunities

 

 

Board of Directors: The Board of Directors is the governing body of the organization, and is responsible for financial and legal oversight, selection and support of the President and CEO, and actively participating in the fundraising efforts of the organization.

 

Mailing, Research, and Clerical Volunteers: Volunteer helping with fundraising, office work, and mailings.

 

For more information about these and other volunteer opportunities call (708) 524-1050.

 

Other Volunteer Opportunities:  Oak-Leyden is pleased to identify other volunteer opportunities, particularly for students in need of service hours.  See below for recent volunteer activities hosted by Oak-Leyden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Concordia University Students Help Beautify Oak-Leyden

On Sunday, November 2, 2008, Oak-Leyden Developmental Services’ house in residential Westchester, IL - home for four adults with developmental disabilities - was the destination of 11 students from Concordia University Chicago in River Forest, IL.   The students, most of them part of Concordia University’s athletic programs, wielded hedge trimmers, rakes, saws, and shovels, setting to work to clear out a dozen bushes and plant overgrowth in the home’s backyard. 

The students’ volunteerism is a requirement for graduation as part of the school’s academic service learning curricula which extends beyond the boundaries of the traditional classroom.  Academic service learning is intended to engage students in building relationships with their communities.  Established over 140 years ago, Concordia University has provided liberal arts education in River Forest since 1913.  Oak-Leyden was the fortunate benefactor of the University’s efforts to teach students to embrace philanthropy in their communities.

The students’ hard work in the home’s backyard is just the first step in the development of a horticulture therapy program for the adults with disabilities served by Oak-Leyden.  In the spring, Oak-Leyden hopes to partner with Concordia University again to secure student volunteers to plant low-maintenance flowers, foliage, and other plant life whose care will provide horticulture therapy activities for people with disabilities.  “The students were happy to volunteer for Oak-Leyden in an activity where they accomplished much through hard work and could end the day knowing they had made an impact on their community,” commented Dr. Mary Goetting of Concordia University.