Our Mission & History
Who is HOSC?
HOSC partners with nonprofits, schools, and government bodies to provide services to vulnerable populations, including victims of violence, the specially-abled, veterans, older adults, youth, and those needing food, shelter, mental health services, and other vital assistance. These organizations are crucial in addressing substantial community needs for underserved and marginalized individuals and families. Increasing access to resources can help to level the playing field for those who face disparities.
Mission
HandsOn Suburban Chicago’s mission is to positively impact communities by connecting people to enriching volunteer experiences.
Vision
Our vision is to be a premier resource and community leader for volunteerism and effective volunteer management while driving change to address substantial community needs for underserved and marginalized individuals and families.
HOSC is a proud affiliate of Points of Light and a grantee of AmeriCorps; both provide support, resources, and networking so we can equip people and organizations with the inspiration, creativity, and sustained energy to make change.
Our Commitment to Our Mission
Since 1969, HandsOn Suburban Chicago (HOSC) has fulfilled its mission “to positively impact communities by connecting people to enriching volunteer experiences.” HOSC mobilizes people to lend their time, talents, and voices to increase the capacity of nonprofits and schools and drive change in 44 suburban communities. HOSC refers volunteers to 100+ community partners and harnesses the power of volunteerism to benefit at-risk students, enable vulnerable populations to age in their homes, improve communities by providing critical resources to high-needs people, and provide meaningful social impact programs.
HandsOn Suburban Chicago’s Primary Focus Areas
Civic Engagement
HOSC enriches volunteer experiences through its 24/7 searchable user-friendly database, outreach, and education enabling volunteers to be matched with opportunities that best fit their interests, schedules, and location.
Capacity Building
HOSC builds capacity for 100+ nonprofits, schools, and government organizations that provide vital services to the community and underserved populations, including victims of violence, the specially-abled, veterans, older adults, youth, and those in need of food, shelter, mental health services, and other vital assistance. to successfully match them with volunteers far beyond what their budgets would typically allow.
Older Adults
HOSC engages those 55 and better to serve in the AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP program as community resources and pairs them with organizations, people, and programs to help them successfully age in place by assisting with meal delivery, provide transportation to medical appointments, offer financial literacy through tax-aide to low-income individuals, and make an impact serving organizations, people, and programs that need their vital assistance.
Education
HOSC School Programs provide equitable opportunities to succeed in high school for low-income, high-risk elementary and middle school students, many of whom have limited English proficiency and receive special education. The Programs improve students’ grades, attendance, and social and emotional well-being by addressing student and family needs holistically with an integrated multi-tier system of support combining tutoring, mentoring, behavioral health services, and case management in collaboration with community partners.
Social Equity
HOSC embodies the values, policies, and practices that ensure that all people—including but not limited to those who have been historically underrepresented based on race/ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, citizenship status, or religion—are represented and have access to the fair distribution of programmatic, financial, and informational resources.
Our Service Areas
We serve 44 towns and villages in the Chicago Northern Suburbs, between both HandsOn Suburban Chicago and AmeriCorps Senior RSVP.
Communities Included
Addison
Arlington Heights
Barrington
Barrington Hills
Bartlett
Bensenville
Bloomingdale
Buffalo Grove
Carol Stream
Chicago O’Hare Fld
Des Plaines
Elgin
Elk Grove Village
Elmhurst
Evanston
Glencoe
Glendale Heights
Glenview
Hanover Park
Hoffman Estates
Inverness
Itasca
Kenilworth
Lincolnwood
Morton Grove
Mt. Prospect
Niles
Northbrook
Northfield
Palatine
Park Ridge
Prospect Heights
Rolling Meadows
Roselle
Schaumburg
Skokie
South Barrington
Streamwood
Wayne
Wheeling
Wilmette
Winfield
Winnetka
Wood Dale