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 (grades 1-8) with free homework and academic support during the school year. We all know how difficult it is to concentrate on an empty stomach, so groups provide, prepare, and serve dinner to more than 95 school-aged children. Contact Jennifer Fitch at 847-724-2620 for a list of available dates and food suggestions.
- Dinners are served Monday and Wednesday evenings
- Time commitment: 5:30 – 7:00pm
- Volunteers needed: 3-5 adults (more can be accommodated)
- 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 end of July.
Volunteers generously provide lunches for the children participating in these programs (number varies by program). Contact Jennifer Fitch at 847-724-2620 for a list of available dates and food suggestions.
- Lunches are provided on Mondays through Thursdays
- Drop off is requested by 11:00 am or the day prior
- Lunches are easiest to handle when delivered in bags or boxes
- Individually wrapped lunches are not necessary; lunches are served buffet style
- Please no tree nuts or peanuts
- Youth Services will provide drinks
Snacks
Snacks are in high demand at Youth Services throughout the week. Many children arrive directly from school and we often incorporate group snacks as part of our social programs. Providing a healthy and delicious snack is a great opportunity to help in a hands-on way with a limited commitment of time. If you would like to prepare a healthy snack for one of our groups, contact Jennifer Fitch at 847-724-2620.
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 cut up veggies or fruit
- Veggie or fruit muffins
- Celery sticks with nut butter
- Trail mix with nuts and fruit
- Fruit kebabs or cut fruit