Research has shown it takes the support of five adults (outside of family) to nurture a child into a healthy, productive adulthood.

Got an hour and want to give an hour or more of your precious time? There are many other volunteers that have supported us through the years in various capacities. Each has brought another arm in the support system that is so desperately needed to keep the center up and functioning. Please join us!

The first step is to contact the staff directly and express your interest. They will set up an appointment for you to come in while the center is in operation so that you can see us in action.

You’ll then have a conversation with staff and a couple of youth to help us to decide the best way we can utilize your skills and experiences. A background check will be completed and upon a favorable result you are all set to go! Simple and easy!

Contact us for more information about volunteer opportunities. We can’t wait to meet you!

Meet some of of our fabulously dedicated volunteer all-stars whose continued dedication to The CanTeen is making a difference in the lives of participants!

Don Bickel

Don Bickel

Don has been with the CanTeen since October 2002. He is a retired engineer that also volunteers with Meals on Wheels. He has made a wonderful bridge between the two efforts by bringing teens to MOW to make desserts and emergency kits. Don has chaperoned many a field trip and is our data entry “guru”. He is part of the fabric of the center, and we couldn’t picture the center without his presence.

Briana Echols

Briana Echols

Briana Echols began her journey with the CanTeen as a participant in 2005 and has continued her relationship with us as a very dedicated adult volunteer. She has given countless hours of her time and energy; building some very long lasting relationships with the teens. She has chaperoned field trips, spent many hours in the kitchen serving spaghetti for our world famous Spaghetti Dinner/Dessert Raffles, and has spent many, many hours at the center assisting the staff and making friends with the CanTeen kids. She is also the volunteer coordinator for the Annual Gus Macker Basketball Tournament.

Reba Spencer

Reba Spencer

Mrs. Spencer cooks monthly “family dinners” for the center.  She is an amazing cook and bakes the most delicious desserts.  She represents the Cicero Senior Center and is the secretary for the Greater Cicero Community Youth Board.