Upcoming Service Opportunities
VOLUNTEER TODAY!
Saint Clement offers periodic and ongoing opportunities for parishioners to live their call to stewardship and justice by generously sharing their time, gifts, and talents in service with and for others. Please see below for upcoming opportunities!
For more information, or to sign up for any of these opportunities, please contact the staff member listed.
Sign up for our monthly Service Opportunities e-newsletter here. See past issues of this newsletter here.
Friday Sack Lunches & Hospitality
For many years, Saint Clement parishioners have generously prepared sack lunches for the hungry, which are distributed from the parish every Friday morning.
Before we distribute the lunches, we provide breakfast and hospitality to our brothers and sisters in need as they wait in line.
Please note, we have expanded our sack lunch opportunities! In addition to our usual Friday sack lunch distribution, we are committing to providing lunch once a week to each of the homeless shelters run by Lincoln Park Community Services (LPCS). We value your dedication to those in need by preparing sack lunches regularly.
Monthly Food Drive
Help feed the hungry in our community! Saint Clement will continue its monthly food drive on the last weekend of every month. Donations of nonperishable food items can be placed in the labeled bin in the parish office during open hours. Donations will be distributed to local food pantries in need. Thank you for your support!
DECEMBER —
No Food Drive this month, please donate directly to the organizations listed below or our Jesse Tree
For December, in lieu of our typical monthly food drive, we invite you to please donate directly to local organizations helping to feed the hungry in Chicago. The need has grown dramatically! While donated items are a tremendous help, monetary contributions make a significant difference as well by enabling the organization to purchase staple goods wholesale and in bulk.
Here are some organizations you can donate directly to this month to help feed the hungry:
Additionally, we invite you to please participate in our Jesse Tree!
Thank you for your continued generosity and support of those struggling during this time of increased need!
Giving through the Jesse Tree!
Nov. 22/23 marks the beginning of this beloved parish Advent tradition! We invite you to take a tag after Mass or stop by the parish office during office hours. Gifts are due back to the parish by Saturday, December 13. You can find details on how to return your gifts in-person or by mail/direct delivery at clement.org/jessetree.
Jesse Tree is a ministry in conjunction with Advent that provides parishioners an opportunity to support 13 local organizations with clothing, toys, gift cards, and other needed items in the spirit of Christmas giving.
We continue to rely on the generosity of our parishioners to make this holiday joyful and hopeful for those we serve. Thank you!
Volunteers Needed at Upcoming Saint Clement Events
Can you offer a bit of time in support of your parish family? Consider volunteering at any of the following events:
Dec. 7 - Jingle & Mingle - Volunteer to help at brunch or volunteer for the gym activities
Dec. 7 - Liturgical Minister Training (Hospitality, Lector, Eucharistic Minister) - at 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Walk-ins welcome. Contact Caroline Jaros for more information.
Dec. 13 - Handel’s Messiah concerts (11am or 3pm) - register to Volunteer here
Dec. 24 / 25 - Serve as a Liturgical Minister at our Christmas Masses and help spread Christmas cheer! Contact Caroline Jaros for more information.
Together for Our Immigrant Neighbors
Letter from Christa Kingsley, Manager of Social Justice & Outreach
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Wednesday 11/12’s Mass of Solidarity and the Immigrant Support Resource Night. We hope you found meaningful ways to connect with the organizations doing vital work in neighborhoods across our city.
The evening was truly beautiful—full of energy, compassion, and a shared commitment to justice.
Each of the organizations that presented offers tangible ways to get involved, and I’d be glad to talk with you about how your interests and skills might align. Many of them are also in need of pro bono legal support, among other forms of engagement.
Please feel free to reach out directly using this list of key contacts for the organizations that participated:
National Immigrant Justice Center:
Mary Meg McCarthy, Executive Director
Iskali
Vicente Del Real, Founder
The Resurrection Project
Raul Raymundo, CEO and Co-Founder
Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
Rebekah A. Rashidfarokhi, Dir. Of Guardianship and Immigration Programs for Children
If you have any difficulty connecting with these contacts, feel free to reach out to me (Christa Kingsley)—I’m happy to provide additional connections. Thank you for your generous spirit and commitment to supporting our fellow Chicagoans.
Lincoln Park Community Services
Twice a month, Saint Clement volunteers serve dinner for the Guests at LPCS! Volunteers can participate by cooking onsite at LPCS or by preparing part of a meal at home and dropping it off. Contact Christa Kingsley to sign up!
The listings below are the next available date.
New to this ministry? Fill out the interest form here.
Thank you!
1521 N. Sedgwick location (6:00 - 8:00 p.m.)
DATE/TIME: 2026 dates coming soon!
SIGN UP: coming soon
600 W. Fullerton location (6:00 - 8:00 p.m.)
DATE/TIME: Friday, Dec. 19
SIGN UP: Sign up HERE
Help keep our 40 year partnership with LPCS strong by getting involved with this ministry: Sign up HERE
40 Years of Faith in Action: LPCS Anniversary Soup Gathering
FEBRUARY 12, 2025: Heavy snow was falling that anniversary night, yet about 30 friends of LPCS came to the chapel for a cup of bean soup (the first meal offered to the homeless Guests), and to celebrate an ongoing and inspiring commitment to helping the most vulnerable among us.
Thank you to George Kuhlman for organizing this wonderful celebration. Thank you as well to all the LPCS Staff and volunteers who joined the celebration and rolled up your sleeves to get it done.
Catholic Charities Soup Kitchen
On the 3rd Friday of the month, Saint Clement volunteers assist Holy Name Cathedral's sponsored Supper Service Meal Ministry at Catholic Charities. They serve over 200 individuals and need help packaging meals and serving dine-in guests. Your service is greatly appreciated and has a strong impact on our neighbors in need of a meal and fellowship. Volunteers are to report to Catholic Charities (721 N. La Salle) by 3:30 p.m., will begin serving at 5:00 p.m., and be wrapping up by 6:30 at the latest. Contact Christa Kingsley to sign up!
Dates: Friday, December 19 | Friday, January 16
Time: 3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: Catholic Charities, 721 N. LaSalle (between Huron & Superior)
Parking: Free on site
The Shared Table at Catholic Charities
Saint Clement volunteers serve a hot meal and provide a high-quality, restaurant-style dining experience to 100+ individuals experiencing food insecurity. Your service is greatly appreciated and has a meaningful impact on our neighbors in need. This service experience is fast paced, high energy, with various roles. Participating in setup and cleanup is required. Volunteers should arrive to Catholic Charities (721 N. La Salle) by 4:30 p.m., will begin serving at 5:00 p.m., and wrap up by shortly after 6:00 p.m. Sign up online as an individual here or contact volunteer@catholiccharities.net to sign up as a group!
Date: Tuesdays, select Fridays
Time: 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: Catholic Charities, 721 N. LaSalle (between Huron & Superior)
Parking: Free on site
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago
Catholic Charities accompanies and serves those on the margins, partnering with mission-driven organizations and individuals every day. Charities provide volunteers with the opportunity to encounter those in need, make meaningful impact in our community and live their faith in the world. Help combat food insecurity in Chicago by volunteering at weekly Shared Table community meals, the Loaves and Fishes sack sandwich ministry or food pantries. Empower and uplift mothers and families who are economically vulnerable or escaping violence by supporting residents in Charities domestic violence transitional houses or host a diaper drive.
Sign up for these and other volunteer opportunities HERE
Love Your Neighbor Ministry
Love Your Neighbor is a ministry created especially for our parish family. We strive to fulfill the spiritual and material needs of our community and foster a sense of family support. We invite all members of our community to join us in growing together as a parish family. Opportunities include Ministry of Care and more.
St. Mary of the Lake service opportunity
Saint Mary of the Lake in Uptown runs a weekly soup kitchen on Wednesday nights. With the growing number of refugees from South and Central America, the needs of the pantry continue to grow. As a part of this program, volunteers also provide sack lunches to the guests at the soup kitchen. These sack lunches ensure each guest who comes to the soup kitchen for dinner may also have a meal to-go. Volunteers may signup to provide 5 sack lunches by emailing Joe Henry or signing up on St Mary’s website HERE.
Mission of Our Lady of the Angels
Our Lady of the Angels is located in the Humboldt Park area of the city providing resources to those who are materially poor and sharing the Gospel with those they encounter. Volunteer opportunities include working in the food pantries and after school programs. All volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone.
If you have never volunteered at MOLA before, please sign up on the new volunteer form HERE first.
Please visit their volunteer page to learn more about ways to help!
Ignatian Spirituality Project
205 W. Monroe, Suite 317, Chicago, IL 60606 | info@ispretreats.org | ispretreats.org
Ignatian Spirituality Project (ISP) offers experiences of hope, healing, and belonging to individuals recovering from homelessness and addiction. Our spiritual programs create the reflective space for people to make real, transformative life changes.
ISP has various types of service opportunities, ranging from pastoral to logistical. Learn more via their flyer here or visit ispretreats.org/joinus
Marillac St. Vincent (MSV) Harvest Hub Food Pantry - Volunteers Needed!
At Marillac St. Vincent, we understand that food insecurity is a pressing issue for many families in Chicago. Our Harvest Hub food pantries serve as a vital resource, providing essential nourishment to individuals and families facing financial hardships. Help support your neighbors in need! Volunteers are needed at both locations:
Lincoln Park @ St. Vincent DePaul Center, 2145 N. Halsted St
Tuesday 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM Shop with Neighbors
Wednesday 1:00 – 3:00 PM Unload Food Rescue & Stock Warehouse
Thursday 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM Shop with Neighbors
Friday 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM Unload Delivery Truck & Sort, Store, and Restock
East Garfield Park @ Foglia Family & Youth Center, 2859 W. Jackson Blvd
Monday 1:00 – 3:00 PM Sort Food Rescue, Set-Up, & Prep Store Shelves
Tuesday 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM Set-Up & Prep Store Shelves
Wednesday 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Unload Trucks & Stock Warehouse
Wednesday 2:00 – 5:30 PM Shop with Neighbors
Thursday* 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Set-Up & Prep Store Shelves
Friday 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM Shop with Neighbors
* 1st & 3rd Thursdays @ 12:00 – 2:30 PM Older Adults Pantry & Shop with Neighbors
Ready to Volunteer? Click here to complete online Volunteer Application. Someone will be in touch with you soon!
Questions? Call (312) 943-6776 or email volunteers@marillacstvincent.org or contact
Marillac Volunteer Coordinator Inda Montes at inda.montes@msvchicago.org
Aquinas Literacy Center
English Literacy Volunteers Needed
Help adult immigrants learn English at Aquinas Literacy Center! Volunteer as a one-on-one ESL tutor for just 90 minutes a week at 1751 West 35th Street in Chicago. No need to speak another language; all tutoring is in English. Training is provided!
For more information, please contact Sabrina Poulin at sabrina@aquinasliteracycenter.org or (773) 927-0512. Aquinas Literacy Center is sponsored by the Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Volunteer with Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly!
Looking for a meaningful way to give back and connect with others in our community? Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly, located at 355 N. Ashland, offers several impactful volunteer opportunities to brighten the lives of isolated seniors in Chicago.
Food Bag Delivery (Monthly)
Help pack and deliver over 150 food bags each month to elderly neighbors in need.
Tech Support & Brain Fitness
Volunteer to assist in restarting the Brain Fitness Center—teach seniors basic technology skills and help them stay mentally active and connected.
Coffee and Conversation
Join us on the first and third Thursdays of each month for Coffee and Conversation. From 9:30am-11:00am volunteers are needed to serve a light breakfast and, most importantly, spend quality time chatting with the elderly guests.
Whether you're looking to lend a hand or lend an ear, there’s a place for you at Little Brothers.
Get involved today: lbfechicago.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer
Your time and presence can make a lasting impact.
Provide Tutoring & Mentorship for Boys through Midtown Metro Center
We invite you to consider supporting this opportunity to provide tutoring and mentorship through the Midtown Metro center for boys in Wicker Park. They are an after school and summer program that serves low-income minority students around Chicago in grade 3rd–12th through tutoring, test prep, character formation, and one-on-one mentorship. Micheil Pruni, Asst Director of the center reached out looking for a few more male volunteers as tutors this school year. For more information about the organization see this document.
When: Mondays or Wednesdays, 6:00–8:00 PM
Frequency: Once a week (choice of volunteer which night works better)
Location: 1510 N Claremont Ave
Season: Now through the 2nd week of December, then late January through the 1st week of May
Application link: Midtown Volunteer Link