Become A Champion Volunteer

Cradles to Crayons invites committed community members to become Champion Volunteers! This program is an opportunity to engage adult volunteers who are looking for a way to give back and deepen their involvement beyond typical volunteer shifts. Join us in our mission to end clothing insecurity and help provide Chicagoland children with all the essentials they need to thrive—at home, at school and at play.

Champion Volunteer Roles

Production Support Champion

A Production Support Champion is responsible for working in an assigned station to help with production needs – i.e. doing the volunteer activity of our various stations such as Clothing Sort, Sizing, Outfits, SUPs (Socks, Underwear, Pajamas) and Bulk Bagging.
Available times:
Tuesday-Saturday, 10 am to 12 pm and 1:30-3:30 pm each day
Most needed shift times:
Tuesdays 1:30-3:30 pm, Wednesdays 1:30-3:30 pm, Thursdays 10 am to 12 pm, Fridays 10 am to 12 pm and 1:30-3:30 pm

Partner Order Specialist

A partner order specialist is responsible for being the first point of contact for agencies who have scheduled a pick-up of the order they have placed with Cradles to Crayons. In between pick-ups, the secondary responsibility will include packing orders in the queue to be ready for pick-up at a later date. This position may include these responsibilities:

• Answering the door as partners arrive for their orders, locating the orders in warehouse and helping to load the partner’s vehicles.
• Informing the partner that they can also browse and select items from the “partner shelf”, which is stocked with various essential items not found in the typical core product offerings at C2C.
• “Shopping” for our partner orders – preparing items for pickup by our partners.
• This job requires standing, bending, and lifting up to 20 pounds.

Available times:
Tuesday-Friday 10 am to 12 pm and 1:30-3:30 pm each day

Station Support Champion

A Station Support Champion is responsible for aiding the Group Volunteer Leader or other staff member at a volunteer station during a volunteer shift. The Station Support Champion position requires at least 4 completed shifts as a Champion volunteer and will require training by Cradles to Crayons staff. This position may include these responsibilities:

• Answering volunteer questions
• Getting station supplies during the shift
• Helping to change and replace red barrel bags (items that do not meet quality standards that will be recycled with Chicago Textile Recycling). This requires bending, lifting bags of up to 20 pounds, and placing them into a designated bin.
• Helping the staff member to reset the station at the end of the shift.

Available times:
Tuesday-Saturday, 10 am to 12 pm and 1:30-3:30 pm each day
Most needed shift times:
Saturdays 10 am-12:30 pm (includes 30 minutes of post-shift time to help reset station); Saturdays 1:30-4:00 pm (includes 30 minutes of post-shift time to help reset station)

Station Leader Champion

A Station Lead Champion conveys the Cradles to Crayons’ mission, quality standards, and provides an exceptional volunteer experience, before, during, and following the volunteer visit, to individuals and groups alike. This position would be responsible for running a specific volunteer station during a volunteer shift with support from C2C staff as needed. It also comes with the responsibility of ensuring their station is ‘volunteer ready’, efficient and safe by following work station guidelines and expectations. The Station Leader Champion position requires at least 4 completed shifts as a Station Supporter (see above) and will require training by Cradles to Crayons staff. This position will include these responsibilities:

• Giving the Station Orientation to as many as 30 people at once
• Answering volunteer questions
• Assigning auxiliary roles to volunteers as needed
• Ensuring the station is ready by the start of the shift and clean by the end of the shift
• This role requires bending, lifting bags and boxes of up to 20 pounds

Available times:
Tuesday-Saturday, 10 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30-4:00 pm each day
Most needed shift times:
Saturdays 10 am-12:30 pm (includes 30 minutes of post-shift time to help reset station); Saturdays 1:30-4:00 pm (includes 30 minutes of post-shift time to help reset station)

Requirements:

All Champion Volunteers are required to:

• • • Be at least 18 years old.
    • Commit to serving for at least 6 months; weekly or twice-monthly shifts.
    • Exceed 40 hours of service per year.
    • Attend 3 volunteer shifts at the Giving Factory within 6 months of inquiring to be a Champion.
    • Attend a new Champion volunteer orientation.
    • Be flexible to work in different stations and tasks in the warehouse.

     

  • If you are interested in becoming a Champion Volunteer, please contact the Volunteer Engagement Associate, Michele Kuhn, at mkuhn@cradlestocrayons.org.