Show Your Love This Valentine’s Season by Volunteering

Sometimes showing your love is more than about money. It can also be about the time you spend together.

Consider volunteering with your significant other and work together to serve meals to the homeless; walk a dog; or help build a home through Habitat for Humanity.

Here’s a list of volunteer ideas in Chicago, good any time of the year.

PAWS Chicago (1997 N. Clybourn Ave.; map it; 773-935-PAWS) – the city’s largest no-kill shelter for dogs and cats. Volunteer opportunities include walking dogs and taking care of the cats. You can also be a Humane Education Presenter to schools and large adult groups and can volunteer at community outreach events.

Habitat for Humanity (2201 South Halsted St.; map it; 312-563-0296) – help build or renovate houses for Chicagoland families. Tasks can include painting; cleaning up garbage and construction debris; flooring; hammering; and more. Go here for a list of current projects.

LaSalle Street Senior Center (for the location call 312-573-8800)– Help Chicago’s older adults by preparing and serving them meals, including breakfast and lunch, and playing games with them like Bingo.

Greater Chicago Food Depository (4100 W. Ann Lurie Place; 773-247-FOOD) – help distribute food every weekday morning when “volunteer teams of two head out into the community in Food Depository vehicles to either deliver fresh produce to member agencies or pick up food.” You can also volunteer by helping to repackage bulk products to individual/family size; assemble boxes with assorted foods; check expiration dates, and label products.

The Anti-Cruelty Society (157 W. Grand Ave.; map it; 312-644-8338) – besides helping to care for the dogs (including cleaning and walking them) and cats, you can also volunteer by assisting in the adoption process and interviewing perspective customers wishing to adopt a dog or cat and educating them about good pet care, or you can help sew fleece beds for cats in the adoption room.

For more volunteer opportunities in Chicago, check out http://www.chicagovolunteer.net/.

Photo credit: SXC