Our Volunteer Department Vision Statement
To connect the community with rewarding volunteer opportunities at Marklund and to support our staff in its mission to make Everyday Life possible for our clients with profound disabilities.
Are you looking to make a difference in someone’s life, while adding a new meaning to your own?
Be a Marklund volunteer. Volunteers are an important part of our service to individuals with developmental disabilities. Whether you provide support to our residents, community clients or students on site at our Geneva, Elgin and Bloomingdale campuses, help with office duties or work at a fundraising event, you are an integral part of the Marklund team. Through our volunteers, we are able to enhance the care of our residents, community clients and students, and help Marklund make everyday life possible for them. They provide many daily life experiences while freeing up staff to provide 24-hour specialized care.
Marklund began with many dedicated and compassionate volunteers helping to care for Mark William Lund, our first resident, back in the 1950s, and the many others since then.
Read about the volunteer experience of first graders from Grace McWayne Elementary School in their letters to Marklund below.
Therapeutic, recreational and educational activities
Doing art projects
Reading a favorite story
Community outing assistants
Special events
Speakers Bureau
Support services
All of our volunteers can find a place for themselves, no matter what their interests, where they live or how much time they can donate.
If you are interested in volunteering, but are not sure in what capacity, Marklund’s Volunteer Department staff can help you learn about the many options. No matter what your gift, talent or skill…no matter what your age, Marklund’s staff needs you, and those we serve need you too.
“Hi, I’m Nikki! I live in Yorkville where I have 3 awesome kids and in my free time I like to attend as many concerts as possible. I’ve been working with nonprofits for over 6 years and volunteering for nonprofits my entire life. It’s my passion to connect community members who like to help and volunteer to the people who need help the most. Working at Marklund as the Manager of Volunteer Engagement is so much fun and I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the most kind volunteers so far. We have a lot of great volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups, so make sure to check them out. If any of these things interest you, please fill out an application and I will be in touch to set up an orientation. We can’t wait to meet you!”
For more information about volunteering at any one of our sites, please contact:
Nikki Osterloh, Manager of Volunteer Engagement
nosterloh@marklund.org | Phone: 630.593.5468
