Volunteer Spotlight | Subaru Coat Drive | Dinner-Less Dinner | Purim

Today, Laurie is a familiar face across nearly every part of the organization when she volunteers each week.

She volunteers in the West Rogers Park pantry, serves meals at Café Ark, supports Gesher outings, coordinates B’nai Mitzvah projects, and often welcomes clients and visitors at the front desk. Through these roles, she has built relationships that stay with her well beyond a single shift, a reminder of how deeply woven The Ark is into people’s lives and how community grows through shared presence and care. 

Laurie with fellow volunteer April Victor

Balancing a full-time career, family life, and personal interests, Laurie shows that volunteering is not a sacrifice or an obligation, but a source of joy, connection, and fulfillment. 

The Ark’s dedicated team with partners from McGrath Evanston Subaru.

Thanks to the generosity of McGrath Evanston Subaru, a longtime partner of The Ark, 300 brand new children’s winter coats were donated to The Ark. The coats, ranging in size from 2T through XXL, were delivered to The Ark earlier this month. 

The donation was part of the Subaru Loves to Help® initiative, a nationwide effort in which Subaru retailers partner with Operation Warm to provide brand-new coats to children experiencing homelessness or urgent need. Through this program, McGrath Evanston Subaru selected The Ark as its local partner, helping children and families in our community receive the warm clothing they need. 

When Jeremy was laid off, he tried to hold everything together for his young daughter. He searched for jobs, stretched every dollar, and hoped it would be temporary. 

But as the weeks passed and the bills piled up, hope began to feel fragile. When he fell behind on rent and worried about putting food on the table, it felt like his options were running out. He knew he could not do it alone. He turned to The Ark. 

The support of our entire community unlocked a world of possibilities for Jeremy. With steady guidance from The Ark’s team of experienced professionals and compassionate volunteers and a natural partnership with his case manager, Jeremy began to move from crisis to stability. What once felt out of reach became possible again. Step by step, he regained confidence, direction, and a restored sense of control over his future. 

Today, he is back at work and providing for his daughter with renewed hope and newfound empowerment. 

The Ark’s 2026 Dinner-Less Dinner is a way for our entire community to help people like Jeremy and thousands of Jews across Chicagoland who urgently need our support on their paths to self-reliance. Through the power of our community’s generosity, possibility can become reality. 

Join us with a gift today and help Unlock Possibilities for those most vulnerable in our community. 

Each year, The Ark is honored to help our community fulfill the mitzvah of caring for those in need on Purim, alleviating some of the financial burdens that thousands of Jews across our community are facing and helping everyone in our community celebrate joyfully. 

There are two ways you can participate: 

Order Purim Greeting Cards

Purchase printed greeting cards or a personalized e-card to send to your friends and family in lieu of or in addition to mishloach manot.

Give Matanot L’evyonim

Make a gift of matanot l’evyonim through The Ark, which we will distribute in full directly to hundreds of Ark clients on Purim day, Tuesday, March 3, in accordance with halachah.

Your gift will bring much-needed relief and festive spirit across the Chicagoland Jewish community. Thank you for partnering with The Ark for Purim! 

• Schedule a tour at The Ark for a first-hand understanding of how our organization provides support to address needs in our local Jewish Community.
  
  
• Make a connection between your company or organization and The Ark for an informational program or service project.
  
  
• Start a Pack the Pantry collection drive for our West Rogers Park and Northbrook pantries. Challenge your friends, neighbors, and co-workers to help you collect any one item from our pantry list. 

To express interest or learn more, contact us at volunteer@arkchicago.org.

Explore Our Newest Career Opportunities!

Case Manager – Northbrook

We’re looking for a compassionate problem-solver who thrives in a mission-driven, team-oriented environment.

The Case Manager serves as the central hub of client care at The Ark, supporting individuals and families as they navigate complex challenges. This role builds collaborative care plans, coordinates internal and external resources, and helps clients move toward stability and self-reliance. 

Community Outreach Coordinator (Part-Time)

The Community Outreach Coordinator supports The Ark’s Volunteer and Community Engagement efforts by creating and facilitating engaging educational experiences, volunteer projects, and community partnerships. This role works closely with internal teams and external partners to strengthen relationships, coordinate programs, and represent The Ark throughout the Jewish community.  

Dental Hygienist (Part-Time)

The Dental Hygienist provides essential preventive care in The Ark’s free dental clinic, helping patients maintain oral health with dignity and respect. This role delivers high-quality hygiene services, educates patients on effective oral care, and works closely with our dentist and healthcare team to support coordinated, patient-centered care. This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of community members who may not otherwise have access to care.

Every gift to The Ark ensures that those facing hardship find a safety net and lifeline of support.