It’s back-to-school time for many families. And for many Chicago-area students, 2017-18 is the year to focus on the future; career choices are abundant, but sometimes jobs are hard to find. If you want to hone your skills and get experience that makes a difference to potential employers, volunteering is invaluable:
The hub of volunteer activity for Maot Chithim takes place at our warehouse, located about 20 minutes from our Northbrook office at 7100 N. McCormick, Lincolnwood, Illinois. Last year, we aided over 30,000 recipients – people who would have been unable to worship in the Jewish tradition.
One week before a holiday delivery, volunteers gather at our warehouse to assemble boxes of non-perishable food. Warehouse volunteers must be at least 12 years old and must wear closed-toe shoes (no sandals or flip-flops) for safety. Not only can you volunteer yourself, but you can also coordinate your own group of volunteers! Warehouse packaging can be a way to actively interact with your book club friends while providing a very needed service.
Deliveries have been made so much easier and faster, thanks to cellphone navigation apps! There are no age restrictions for delivery participants; drivers should have a valid driving license and auto insurance. Drivers are needed – especially drivers with SUVs, vans, and trucks – to deliver to multiple addresses in Chicago and nearby suburbs.
As a student or job-seeker, your volunteering activities are an important part of your resume! If you would like to organize a group of people to volunteer for warehouse packaging or package deliveries, please contact our group coordinator at volunteer@maotchitim.org. Even if you cannot volunteer in person, you can help Maot Chitim in many ways! Call 847-674-3224 or contact us today for more information.
“Maot Chitim” refers to the gathering of wheat, which was given to the poor for making matzo for Passover. Over 100 years ago, Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago began when Rabbis set up card tables in front of their synagogues to collect donations for the poor to assist with holiday meals. Because of the growing need, which included an increase in immigrants from the former Soviet Union, Maot Chitim evolved into a year-round, volunteer-driven organization that searches for kosher products at the best possible prices for Jewish holiday deliveries.
Chicago is home to the fifth largest Jewish population in the United States, and the need for our services is very real.
Thanks to you, Rosh Hashanah 2017 will feed more people than last year! As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, your monetary donation to Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago is tax-deductible.
There are many organizations that help feed, clothe, and house Chicago’s needy. But most of them cannot offer the specialized foods and items needed for our way of worship. Your donation to Maot Chitim goes beyond the basics; it restores dignity to our neighbors when they need it most.
In the U.S., one-third of Holocaust survivors live at or below the poverty level. While we celebrate the centrality of Jewish life during Simchat Torah, let us not forget those who need to be reassured they are not alone.
Your children and grandchildren look to you to set an example of giving, and that includes time. About three weeks before, we need volunteers to package foods for those who otherwise would not be able to observe our holidays in a dignified, traditional manner.
Maot Chitim of Greater Chicago needs you! Whether you donate money now or leave a legacy for future generations, your help goes beyond today.
Helping a person will not necessarily change the world,
but it will change the world for one person.
Contact us or call 847-674-3224 to help!
