Winter break is closer than ever, bringing the student body a much-needed break from school. The break is an opportunity to relax and unwind, but also provides free time to volunteer and gather service hours. 

For juniors interested in applying for the National Honors Society, the March 2023 deadline is approaching fast. For those scrambling to meet their 30-hour requirement or anyone just looking for ways to give back to the community, here are five local organizations that provide great volunteer opportunities.

Beacon Place:

Beacon Place in Waukegan is a fantastic place to volunteer. They are a community center that is devoted to providing children and their families opportunities for education, skill building, and more. This community center would be a great fit for anybody who likes to work with children and help them with their academics. Volunteer opportunities here include day camps in the summer and after-school academic tutoring throughout the school year. 

Bernie’s Book Bank:

Bernie’s Book Bank in Lake Bluff is a popular volunteer spot close by in the community. Their mission is to provide books to children around the Chicagoland area. As of now, Bernie’s has distributed over 22 million books to children in need. This organization would be an awesome volunteer choice, and something super fun to do with friends. The Lake Bluff location is always looking for volunteers to aid with book processing.

Gorton Community Center:

Gorton Community Center in Lake Forest is constantly hosting events and activities and is a great spot for volunteering. In the summertime, they host Dog Day, the End of Summer Block Party, and the Safety Town camp. In the wintertime, the Kids Only Holiday shop is a super fun volunteer opportunity. Gorton would be a great fit for anybody who would like to work these events and work with kids. 

Feed my Starving Children:

Feed my Starving Children is one of the most popular local volunteer spots. They have locations all over the country, with the closest one to Lake Forest in Libertyville. This organization works to fight world hunger and malnutrition. Volunteering here consists of packing nutritious meals such as rice, soy, vegetables, etc. which are then shipped to food distributors to give to those in need. Feed my Starving Children is a super fun volunteer spot that is great to do with family and friends. 

Fill a Heart 4 Kids:

Fill a Heart 4 Kids, located in Lake Forest is an organization devoted to providing donations to homeless children and foster children. They have monthly projects dedicated to providing children with school supplies, gift cards for food, holiday care packages, and so much more. This organization provides different volunteer opportunities year-round and is a great choice when looking for ways to give back.