Checkexpress currency exchange is a family owned business. We love celebrating the holidays by giving back to the Chicagoland communities where our customers reside.
Through donations and contributions we offer support to a broad range of organizations and programs including the American Red Cross, Illinois Fire Safety Education, YMCA, and many other worthwhile causes.
We strongly believe that the holidays should represent more than just buying gifts and shopping. Do you feel the same way? Are you trying to set positive examples for your children? Here are some great local charities and volunteer opportunities to show some love to the community!
Thrillist Magazine
Thrillist is a local magazine focused on connecting its readers to all types of experiences in Chicago! They have a spectacular list of different ways to volunteer or donate while meeting other locals with similar interests. “‘Tis the season for endlessly flowing cocktails, a calendar packed with holiday parties, out-of-control online shopping, and seasonal affective disorder. But nothing cures the winter blues and stress of the gift giving season like giving back to others. It’s easier than ever to find a cause you care about thanks to sites like Chicago Cares, One Good Deed Chicago, VolunteerMatch, and HandsOn Suburban Chicago, but we’re highlighting a range of interesting volunteer opportunities across the city to get you started. Even a little bit of your time (or a small donation) can go a long way for a fellow Chicagoan in need.” Read the article here!
VolunteerMatch Chicago
Who needs the perfect date when you can be matched with the perfect volunteering experience? VolunteerMatch is a cool, simple way to connect with non profits and volunteering programs suited for your personal schedule. “We believe everyone should have the chance to make a difference. That’s why we make it easy for good people and good causes to connect. We’ve connected millions of people with a great place to volunteer and helped tens of thousands of organizations better leverage volunteers to create real impact. ” Search Chicago opportunities now!
Chicago Cares
“Chicago Cares envisions a city where we’re all active participants, fully invested in the city we call home and the success of all of our neighbors. Chicago Cares cultivates volunteer experiences to challenge Chicagoans’ pre-conceived notions while contributing directly to neighborhood revitalization plans. With 200 monthly volunteer programs, Chicago Cares bridges divides and helps all of us see that every neighborhood has assets and challenges. Volunteers from diverse communities come together to meet critical community needs while learning about each other and the neighborhood.” Browse upcoming events!
Meetup Chicago
“Meetup is a platform for finding and building local communities. People use Meetup to meet new people, learn new things, find support, get out of their comfort zones, and pursue their passions, together.” Chicago Fun Volunteers is a unique & open forum thru which all altruistic activity within the area can be monitored. Join and help our large and active community of members keep tabs on opportunities in: Fests, Park Districts, United Way, Food Pantries, Tutoring, After school Programs, Local Cleanups, Senior Centers, Animal Shelters, and more… The unique MEETUP layout is ideal for this type of group concept since we’ve made it easy for ANY MEMBER TO POST volunteer events online, similar to putting up a flier in a coffee house for people to see. Checkout this group’s upcoming opportunities!
Streetwise
“The StreetWise mission is to empower the entrepreneurial spirit through the dignity of self-employment by providing Chicagoans facing homelessness with a combination of supportive services, workforce development resources and immediate access to gainful employment. StreetWise magazine is among the largest “street papers” in the United States and serves as a model for street papers across North America.” Streetwise offers various opportunities for volunteering. One of the reasons that StreetWise has been so successful in helping men and women in crisis achieve is because of the great network of volunteers who share their time, energy, and expertise. There are many ways you can get involved in StreetWise. Look over their Volunteer Opportunities list, then fill out the Volunteer Form to let them know how you would like to be involved!
The Kindness Connection
“The Kindness Connection (TKC) is a nonprofit that fosters the next generation of volunteers by making meaningful service learning opportunities accessible to youth in the Chicago metropolitan area. We believe that positive volunteer experiences early in life have the power to inspire individuals to make the practice of giving their time and resources to charitable and civic causes an intrinsic part of their lives.” TKC is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to support them in several ways. View the list of opportunities and fill out the form on their website!
Last but not least…Checkexpress Currency Exchange
Through out the year, we highlight ways to volunteer locally. Read some of our previous blog posts to find additional volunteering ideas.
- Special Ways to Volunteer in Chicago!
- Organizations Checkexpress Supports & Where To Find Them in 2019!
- Fun Ways to Give Back During the Holiday Season
