Puente del Pueblo
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!
Volunteer Opportunities
After-School Program
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.
Elementary School Tutor – Help elementary students (1st – 5th grade) with homework, reading, and academic skill-building. Program runs 3:25 pm-6:00 pm Mondays-Fridays
Middle/High School Tutor – Help middle school and high school (6th – 12th grade) students with homework, language arts and math, preparation for exams, and life-skills development. Program runs M-F 3pm-6:30pm
Spanish-language skills are NOT necessary
Summer Program
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.
The Puente del Pueblo Summer Program, held on the WBC campus, meet Mondays through Fridays from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.
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.
Classroom Tutor – Tutor students in various subjects throughout summer and assist the classroom teacher.
Food Management – Help organize, count, store, and serve food for both breakfast and lunch.
Youth Development (Unpaid summer internship) – 40hrs/week
Spanish-language skills are NOT necessary
The Christmas Store Gift Drive
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!).
ESL Program
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 and Special Services
Office Support Volunteer – Provide Puente Staff with essential logistical support, including bookkeeping, managing finances, reporting, correspondence, and much more!
Office Support volunteers serve at least one 4-hour shift per week. The morning shift is from 10:00 am-2:00 pm and the afternoon shift is from 2:00 pm-6:00 pm, 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!
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 the service team.
For more information, contact our Local Missions Team