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Volunteer Opportunities
Please check back to see what opportunities are available and sign up right here on this page!
Volunteers will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis. Once filled, the form and/or contacts will stop accepting responses.
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It is VERY important that if you sign up for an event you honor your commitment and SHOW UP!
If you have any questions, feel free to contact
Mrs. Tammy Campeotto at 630-766-8822 (office), 331-979-1562 (cell) or reoffice@stcbparish.org
Here are some of the opportunities coming up!
Scroll Down for more options
Click on the picture above to be taken to the website for more information and to sign your family up to volunteer.
Not a St. Charles Borromeo sponsored event
Create Positive Notecards
Create positive notecards with words of encouragement for children to take home over the weekend. These notecards will be attached to the bags of food for the children and will provide them with positive words of encouragement over the weekend. They can say anything from “Have a Great Day!” to “You are loved”, you can get creative! All notecards must be nondenominational and age appropriate.
Click here for Notecard Do’s and Don’ts!
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The notecards can be printed on any color paper you would like. We recommend printing on card stock or construction paper, that holds up a bit better. Here’s a link to some examples to get you inspired!
Click here for our printable notecard template to get started.
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Once you’re finished making the cards, please send them to the following address:
Blessings in a Backpack
Attn: Anita Knazze
135 S. LaSalle St.
Suite 1921
Chicago, IL 60603
Please print and complete this contact sheet and include it in the package when shipping your cards!
Questions? Please contact anitaknazze@blessingsinabackpack.org
Not a St. Charles Borromeo sponsored event
Bring Hope to our Friends with Cancer
1.8 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year according to cancer.org. Many of these people find themselves in hopeless situations in hospital rooms and homes across the country. Phil’s Friends provides faith-based practical, emotional, and spiritual support and hope through the distribution of our hand-assembled care packages to those affected by cancer, and consistent ongoing support through our Cards of Hope program and prayer. Our Hope Center is located in Roselle, Illinois. We'd love to have you join us to assemble care packages, decorate Cards of Hope and make blankets for our care packages. Join us during our walk-in sessions listed below or call us at 224-653-8315 to schedule a group serving opportunity.
Please complete a participation waiver here.
Mondays
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6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Thursdays
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9:30 am - 11:00 am
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1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
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4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
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6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Not a St. Charles Borromeo sponsored event
SEW A PILLOWCASE
We can’t get enough bright, cheery pillowcases. It is easy to do and only takes a few minutes. Click below for simple and fun instructions for creating your own whimsical pillowcase:
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Due to COVID-19 restrictions at our partner hospitals, at this time, we are asking for pillowcase donations to not be laundered and bagged when donated to our chapters.
How To Sew A Pillowcase Directions (click here)
***It is important to wash the fabric before sewing pillowcases and please do not use scented detergent or dryer sheets. *** Please be sure to include a note with your name and address so we can thank you properly.
What kind of fabric can I use to sew pillowcases?
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Fabric needs to be 100% cotton. Please do not use fabric with glitter.
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Remember to use fun, colorful novelty prints!
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We do not accept ‘No-sew pillowcases’.
MILES OF PILLOWCASE SMILES
Throughout the month of September each year, Ryan’s Case for Smiles hosts a Miles of Pillowcase Smiles campaign. The goal is to complete a minimum of 55,000 pillowcases, one for each child in treatment for cancer.
Not a St. Charles Borromeo sponsored event
Knit, crochet or make tied-fleece blankets for animal shelter pets!
If you know how to knit, crochet, sew, or just use scissors - why not start on a critter blanket today? They're fast to make, and lots of fun! Once you have a few done, you can send them to a participating shelter in your state, or to CFC headquarters in Glen Ellyn, IL for distribution to a shelter.
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* Knit or Crochet a Blanket - Knit or crochet a blanket using any pattern and any color of washable yarn. Feel free to mix and match colors, and even make up your own pattern! The finished blanket should be approximately 20 inches square. If it's not perfect (who is?) that's fine with us, and the critters! If you'd like some ideal patterns for blankets, just check out our "Volunteer Resources" page of our website.
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While most of the blankets we make and send are this size, we do love and support larger dogs and other "critters". So do feel free to make them doggie-sized if you like, or larger to accommodate larger pets. We gladly take ANY size blanket and will find the perfect animal to cuddle it!
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* Make a Fleece Blanket - Use two pieces of fleece (so that it's nice and thick) - at least one piece should have a pattern, if possible. You can sew them together or cut and tie them. If they do have ties, please try to make the center (untied) portion of the blanket about 20-inches square.
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Comfort for Critters website for more information