Within every neighborhood, there are individuals and families facing challenges such as food insecurity, financial hardship, and isolation. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Chicago offers an opportunity for compassionate people to step forward and make a real difference through volunteer service.

Whether you have a few hours to spare each month or are looking for a long-term way to give back, volunteering with St. Vincent de Paul Chicago is a rewarding way to support neighbors in need while building meaningful connections within your community. The organization welcomes volunteers of all ages, backgrounds, and faith traditions who share a desire to help others.

What makes volunteering with St. Vincent de Paul Chicago unique is the focus on treating every person with dignity, respect, and compassion. Volunteers are not simply completing tasks but also helping create a more caring and connected community. Through service, volunteers become part of a network dedicated to offering hope and practical assistance where it is needed most. One place this starts is at our thrift stores.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, thousands of donated items arrive at our thrift stores every day. Each item must be sorted, priced, tagged, and placed on our shelves before it can find a new home. Volunteers play a vital role in this process, helping us turn donations into opportunities that benefit the people we serve.

Libertyville Thrift Store
168 Peterson Road / Libertyville, IL
847.367.4700

Orland Park Thrift Store
7010 W. 159th Street / Orland Park, IL
708.263.0834

Thrift Store Volunteer Opportunities

• Customer Service: Help maintain an organized and welcoming store environment for all
• Merchandising Sorting and Processing: Sort, inspect, clean, and prepare donated items to go onto the shelves for sale.
• Pricing/Tagging: Help price items to ensure affordability to shoppers and those with Care Card Vouchers
• Support on the Sales Floor: Merchandising, restocking, and help keep the store floor clean and safe
• Donation Intake: Help receive and sort donations that come from those in the community

Who Can Volunteer?

• We welcome all individuals who are compassionate, reliable, and eager to make a difference in their community.
• All volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
• No prior experience is necessary! We provide training, guidance, and the opportunity to be part of a team that makes a meaningful difference every day.

Time Commmitment

Volunteer as much or as little as you would like. Your schedule can be flexible and based off your availability. Whether it is a few hours a week or helping cover someone’s shift, every hour you volunteer makes a difference.

Ready to Volunteer? Fill out our volunteer form and someone will contact you!

Volunteer at Our Thrift Store – Contact Form

Conferences are an essential part of our mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. A Conference is an organizational unit of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, typically formed at a local Church. Conference members, known as Vincentians, work together to provide support to neighbors in need through special works such as:

• Running a food pantry
• Home visits
• Hosting a Community Dinner
• Holiday food drives
• Fundraising

Interested in joining a Conference? Click here to find a Conference near you. 

Home Visits

Home visits are at the heart of our mission, providing Vincentian volunteers with the opportunity to meet invidduals and families in need within the comfort of their own homes, gaining a firsthand understanding of their circumstances. Through these visits, we offer financial, practical, and emotional support tailored to each person’s situation. Assistance can include help with rental and utility payments to help prevent homelessness, food assistance, Care Card Vouchers, and compassionate support during challenging times.

Food Pantries and Food Drives

Many families struggle with food insecurity. Through our Conference food pantries, we can serve neighbors in need throughout Cook and Lake counties, providing fresh produce, nutritious foods, and non-perishable essentials. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Chicago has partnered with the Northern Illinois Food Bank and the Greater Chicago Food Depository to ensure those who need food can receive what they need during a challenging time.

Community Dinners

Dedicated Vincentians in several of our Conferences run Community Dinners for those within their Parish community. Not only do Vincentians provide a hot meal, but they also provide spiritual support to local friends in need. Our hope is that through these dinners, people leave with full bellies and full hearts, knowing they will always have a place to come home to.

Fundraising

If fundraising is more your style, there is always something happening to volunteer at. While every Conference has their own events, some fun ones include:

• Giving Tuesday
• Community Get Togethers such as a Golf Outing, Rib Cookout, or 5k
• Toy Drive for the Magic of Christmas
• Thanksgiving Turkey and Food Drives
• Galas and Banquets
• Custom SVdP Merchandise

If you enjoy running a fundraiser or want to work behind the scenes to make it happen, we promise these is a place for you here!

Why Start a St. Vincent de Paul Conference at your Parish?

“Go to the Poor and you Will Find God” -St. Vincent de Paul

If you feel a call to make a difference within your own Parish and want to start a St. Vincent de Paul Conference, we are here to help! We will provide you the tools to be successful and fruitful as you begin this new chapter at your Chruch.

For more information on how to get started, please contact Myron Hubbard at myron@svdpchicago.org for more information.