Throughout the year, Youth Services provides meals and snacks for our groups and programs. One way to make a difference for the children who participate in our programs is to help provide food, as well as prepare and/or serve our larger groups.

Having donors provide these necessary meals and snacks, allows Youth Services to divert funds where it is most impactful and ultimately serve more families each year. It also allows for wonderful and rewarding volunteer opportunities!

Study Buddies Dinner – Our Study Buddies program provides children in 1st-8th grade with free homework and academic support during the school year. We all know how difficult it is to concentrate on an empty stomach, so volunteer groups generously provide, prepare, and serve dinner to more than 100 school-aged children. If you would like to provide a dinner, please contact us about dates and meal options.

  • Dinners are served Monday and Wednesday evenings
  • Time commitment is normally 5:30 – 7:00pm
  • Volunteers needed ranges from 3 to 8 adults
  • Youth Services has an on-site full, working kitchen for minimal preparation
  • Youth Services will provide paper and plastic ware

Summer Lunches – Youth Services offers free summer programming that gives children from lower income households an opportunity to participate in positive educational and recreational activities in the community from mid-June through July. Volunteers generously provide lunches for the children participating in these programs (number varies by program). If you would like to prepare a lunch, please contact us about dates.

Snacks are in high demand at Youth Services throughout the week. Many children arrive directly from school so we often incorporate group snacks as part of our social programs. Providing a healthy and delicious snack is a great, hands-on opportunity with a limited commitment of time. If you would like to prepare a healthy snack for one of our groups, please contact us about dates and quantities.

Snack suggestions (not limited to):

  • Veggie sticks with hummus and/or ranch dressing
  • Yogurt parfaits
  • Cheese sticks, apples, and crackers
  • Tortilla chips with salsa
  • Crackers with cheese
  • Cut up veggies and dip
  • Veggie or fruit muffins
  • Celery sticks with nut butter
  • Fruit kebabs or cut fruit

For more information, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Jennifer Fitch, at 847-724-2620 or Jennifer.fitch@ysgn.org.