Puente del Pueblo
Volunteer Opportunities
The mission of Puente del Pueblo is to transform lives in West Chicago by engaging families in case management services, adult literacy programs, and supportive academic programs for children and youth. If you have a heart for serving the vulnerable and empowering others, especially youth, Puente is a great place for you to volunteer!
See below for ways you can serve with Puente del Pueblo!
Volunteers DO NOT have to speak Spanish to participate!
Our after-school programs help students succeed in school, learn important life skills, and have a lot of fun. Volunteers that mentor students through the program are making a lasting difference in their academic and occupational opportunities.
Spanish-language skills are NOT necessary
Puente del Niño Tutor
Helps 1st through 5th-grade students with homework, reading, and academic skill-building. Program runs Mondays through Thursdays 4:30pm-6pm, Fridays 3:30pm-6pm
Puente del Futuro Tutor
Helps 6th through 8th-grade students with homework, language arts and math, preparation for exams, and life-skills development. Program runs M-F 3pm-6:30pm
High School Tutor
Helps high school students with homework, language arts and math, preparation for exams, and other college prep activities. Program runs M-F 3pm-6pm
Could you join our Puente del Pueblo team this summer as we serve kids and teens from our community? Our Puente Summer Program is an awesome opportunity to mentor students of all grades. This program helps students succeed in school, learn important life skills, and have a lot of fun.
Many of these kids face challenges related to learning the English language, growing up in an under-resourced household, and navigating the American educational system as immigrants. You can make a difference as you contribute to their academic success, coach them in life skills, and shepherd their faith development. We also need volunteers who will share their athletic abilities and other unique interests! Bring along your passion for basketball, soccer, ultimate Frisbee, art, music, and more.
Spanish-language skills are NOT necessary.
The Puente del Pueblo Summer Program, held on the WBC campus, will meet Mondays through Fridays from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. The 2024 Summer Program dates are Monday, June 17 – Thursday, August 8.
Ways you can get involved:
Elementary Classroom Tutor
Tutor elementary students in various subjects throughout summer and assist the classroom teacher.
Middle School Classroom Tutor
Tutor middle school students in various subjects throughout summer and assist the classroom teacher.
Food Management Volunteer
Help organize, count, store, and serve the food for both breakfast and lunch.
Youth Development Unpaid Summer Internship
(40hrs/week)
Job Description | Apply
Every December, our Puente del Pueblo ministry invites under-resourced families in our community to the Christmas Store, providing parents the ability to stretch their hard-earned dollars to purchase affordable gifts for their children. At the Christmas Store, parents are able to shop for gifts for their children, enjoy Christmas music and treats in a festively decorated space, and have their gifts wrapped for them by a friendly team of volunteers.
You can help show Christ’s love this Christmas by contributing a gift to the Christmas store which will provide parents a dignity-giving shopping experience where they are able to buy gifts for their children at a reduced cost (75% or more off of retail price!).
Puente del Pueblo, in partnership with Literacy DuPage, equips volunteers to teach adults how to speak, read, and write in English. Upon completion of a fifteen-hour ESL (English as a Second Language) training course, Puente’s volunteer ESL tutors are scheduled to meet every week for two hours in small groups (1:1 to 1:4) with adults in the community.
Our volunteer staff then teaches adult learners how to speak, read, and write in English. They meet at a time that fits the schedule of both the adult learner and the volunteer tutor, with some lessons taking place in the morning, and others in the evening or on weekends.
The individualized instruction allows us to serve students at many levels of English proficiency, but limits the number of openings for new adult learners. For that reason, most English literacy adult learners must be placed on a waiting list before they are able to join the program and adult learners who make a determined commitment to learning are given priority.
Office Support Volunteer
Provide Puente Staff with essential logistical support, including bookkeeping, managing finances, reporting, correspondence, and much more!
Time Commitment:
Office Support volunteers serve at least one 4-hour shift per week. The morning shift is from 10am-2pm and the afternoon shift is from 2pm-6pm, Mondays through Fridays.
Special Services Volunteer
Provide Puente Staff with essential logistical support, such as planning events, managing food preparation, shopping, decorating, one-time projects, handyman jobs, and much more!
Time Commitment:
Varies per month and depends on the event. Flexible hours. Special Service volunteers will be contacted by coordinators as needs arise and as events are planned.
Questions?
Reach out to our staff or volunteer supervisors responsible for overseeing this service team.
Chelsea Kesavadhana-Carrillo
Director of Local Outreach
630-876-6684
ccarrillo@wheatonbible.org