Additional Service Opportunities
Additional Service Opportunities
These volunteer opportunities are in addition to the ones found in the NHS Service Booklet . Non-profits often reach out to us with these time-sensitive events in the near future and ongoing opportunities. If you still have questions about service hours after checking here and in the other menu tabs, contact Mrs. Alessia (jalessia@bcsd5.org) or Mrs. Barnes (lbarnes@bcsd5.org).
Don't forget to take an NHS Service Hour form with you (click HERE for a copy, or pick one up from room 240). Scan it and email it ASAP to Mrs. Alessia (jalessia@bcsd5.org). Be safe when volunteering! Student and parent/guardian assumes all liability.
Time sensitive opportunities:
Carve for the Carillon
Please come help get pumpkins ready to carve on either October 11th or October 12th! You will be helping to get pumpkins ready for the community to carve for display at the Jack-O-Lantern event the following weekend. As a thank you for volunteering, after you complete your shift, you will receive one (1) free entry ticket for Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular!
There are three available shifts:
All Day Shift: 9:00am-4:00pm
Morning Shift: 9:00am-12:00pm
Afternoon Shift: 12:00pm-4:00pm
You will meet at the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon (1740 W Fayette Ave Springfield, IL 62704) at the time of your shift. Check in at the table by the tent.
Please fill out the form below to sign up! If you have any questions, please email jols.pumpkins@gmail.com or call Connie at 217-306-1838.
https://forms.gle/CC9VHm3HXeKFRqct9
Don't forget to take an NHS Service Hour Form with you.
Lincoln Land Down Syndrome
The Lincoln Land Down Syndrome organization is looking for volunteers to help at their monthly meetings. The meetings generally run from 5:30-7:30 PM and food is provided. The volunteers are needed to watch children, supervise crafts, dance, etc so the parents can attend speakers/training. Children range from toddler to adult, most being pre-K to elementary age.
The dates for the remainder of the year are:
October 16, 2025
Halloween Party
Erin's Pavilion
5:30pm-7:30pm
4965 S 2nd St
Springfield, IL 62703
November 20, 2025
Friendsgiving
Erin's Pavilion
5:30pm-7:30pm
4965 S 2nd St
Springfield, IL 62703
If you can help at any of the above dates, please contact Amanda Workman at chase2202@yahoo.com or 217-416-8009.
Don't forget to take an NHS Service Hour Form with you.
BCG PTO Parents Night Out
The BCG PTO is looking for high school volunteers to help with their Parents Night Out event on Friday, October 10th from 5:00-8:30pm. Pizza and snacks will be provided for all volunteers. If you can help, sign up below!
Don't forget to take an NHS Service Hour Form with you.
Volunteer at the Kidzeum
Address: 412 E Adams Street, Springfield, IL 62701
It’s been wonderful to have so many amazing volunteers join us at Kidzeum throughout the month of September. Thank you for your dedication to brightening the days of our guests – having you here really does make a huge difference.
Now that September is just about over, it’s time to sign up to volunteer at Kidzeum in October! This month, we’re making one change to the hours available to volunteers. Instead of having a 12:30-3:00 PM time slot available on Sundays, we’ll instead have 1:30-4:00 PM time slot available to ensure that Kidzeum is in good shape when we begin to close at the end of the day.
Regardless, we’d love to see you here soon! To volunteer with us in October, please click here.
Please note that we have our Hallowpalooza event on October 25th, which is always a blast! At this event, you can certainly join us for general volunteering, but we also have openings for volunteers to lead some spooky hands-on crafts and activities – plus, we’re looking for one volunteer to be an assistant in our brand new Sinister Sorcery Science Show!
If you’re interested in facilitating an activity and/or helping with our science show, please sign up for a time slot and email me at Benjamin.Lash@Kidzeum.org.
Don't forget to take an NHS Service Hour Form with you.
Fall Harvest Festival at Lincoln Memorial Gardens
Volunteers are needed on Saturday, October 11th and Sunday, October 12th to help with games and activities for children in the Family Activity area, as well as parking help. If you are interested, sign up using the link below.
Fall Harvest Festival Student Volunteer Sign up
Don't forget to take an NHS Service Hour Form with you.
American Cancer Society Walk
The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk for the American Cancer Society is October 12th at Erin Pavilion in Southwind park. Volunteers are needed for walker registration and check-in, kid's zone, route direction and many other areas. The time and length varies by area. This link provides more detail of each shift's time commitment and for sign up. If you have questions, contact Tamra Holland at hollandrph1@yahoo.com or 217-652-7016.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4BAEAB2DA7F8C34-57919009-volunteering
Don't forget to take an NHS Service Hour Form with you.
Springfield Art Association
Assisting with Day-to-Day Operations - The Springfield Art Association could always use volunteers for their day-to-day operations. There is no sign-up for this event, but volunteers are welcome to come anytime throughout the year Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. If you would like more information about assisting with their day-to-day operations, please contact Ally Sharpe at manager@springfieldart.org.
Campus Beautification Days - The Springfield Art Association is looking for volunteers to assist with their upcoming campus beautification days. Volunteers are needed to help pull weeds, water plants, pick-up sticks and trash, etc. at Edwards Place on Saturday mornings. Volunteers will be needed from about 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. There is no sign-up for this event, students just need to call our office at 217-523-2631 on Friday to alert staff that they will be coming the following day.
Don't forget to take an NHS Service Hour Form with you.
Ongoing opportunities:
Volunteer at the Chatham Public Library throughout the year!
Click here to see all the details!
You MUST: submit an application, attend ONE training session (the first Saturday of the month), and then you will be scheduled to volunteer.
Contact: Lucy Nifong
Volunteer Coordinator
Pronouns: she/her
Chatham Area Public Library District
217-483-2713
Don't forget to take an NHS Service Hour Form with you.
Ever thought about helping out at the Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield? Here is your chance!
Students (and any interested adults) who are 16 and older can move through our orientation and training process to become a volunteer. This summer they piloted a new program called VolunTEENs which is for students ages 13-15 interested in volunteering. This program also highlights leadership and communication skills as well as different career paths that have brought many of our talented colleagues here to the museum.
Contact information: melissa.blankestyn@illinois.gov
Don't forget to take an NHS Service Hour Form with you.
Club Compass for Kids - ongoing opportunity
Details on the organization. Volunteer application.
If you are interested in volunteering please complete the attached Volunteer Application and return to me Shelly Kinner at shelly@compassforkids.org.
Don't forget to take an NHS Service Hour Form with you.
Safe Haven Hospice - ongoing opportunity
Safe Haven Hospice is a rewarding way to earn service hours throughout the year. Some of the things students may experience may include:
*Visiting local sites to sit and read with patients who may not have family members nearby
*Delivering supplies to various locations
*Assist staff in the office to learn the process involved with helping others through difficult times in their lives.
If you are interested in volunteering at Safe Haven Hospice, please contact Tim Huseman at thuseman@chliving.org.
Don't forget to take an NHS Service Hour Form with you.
Help support the needs of our local autism community.
The Autism Support of Central IL is seeking volunteers through the year.
Contact: John Hall at 217-416-0078 or John.m.hall86@gmail.com
Don't forget to take an NHS Service Hour Form with you.
Letters for Rose
Letters for Rose is a nonprofit organization that has different chapters (we created one based in Chatham), and you can hand write letters or make art for partnering nursing home residents!
1 art piece = 0.5 hr * (have this approved by an NHS Officer AND Ms. Brauer)
1 letter without art piece = 0.5 hr
1 letter with art piece = 1 hr
*For the single art piece, however, the service time can be more depending on the size and intricacy of the work.
Here is the website if you wanna know more!! https://www.lettersforrose.org
Don't forget to take an NHS Service Hour Form with you.
Always dreamed of help out a symphony orchestra? Well, here is your chance to help out the IL Symphony Orchestra and the Youth Orchestras.
Volunteering can include, but is not limited to, outreach activities and/or performances in the community for at-risk youth, elderly, and veterans, helping musicians in younger groups or at our Summer Strings camp, working with an instrument "petting zoo" at community events, setting up and breaking down for weekly rehearsals and performances, doing music library work...and more.
Contact Jackie Mitra at jmitra@ilsymphony.org or 217-522-2838 ext. 116
Don't forget to take an NHS Service Hour Form with you.
Help out at Concordia Village
Concordia Village (4101 West Iles Ave, Springfield, IL 62711) is a great place to get some volunteer hours completed.
You can help with any of the following:
Chalking the sidewalks with inspirational quotes or pics
Quotes on post its and putting around the building
Make sure common areas are clean, etc.
When safe to do so, playing games and interacting with residents
When they open completely they will need help with coordinating and running fun events
Helping departments prepare activities for the residents (this may just be prep and not actually working with residents) depending on COVID guidelines
If you would like to volunteer, you can contact the Director of Community Enrichment, Greta Huseman at Greta.Huseman@LSSLiving.org.
Don't forget to take an NHS Service Hour Form with you.