Volunteers pose in front of a statue

COD Cares

The College’s volunteer corps, COD Cares actively supports and strengthens College of DuPage communities by fostering a culture of service among College employees, students and community members.

Time to Roll Up Your Sleeves COD!

Protect the environment and serve our community this April during COD Cares' annual Roll Up Your Sleeves campaign. This year we are offering a month's worth of service opportunities both on and off campus. What you do now can change our future. Compensated service hours are available.

Monday, April 1

Northern Illinois Food Bank Mobile Market
9 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: College Lot 6

Sustainable food sources help Northern Illinois Food Bank and COD Cares provide monthly drive-through mobile markets on campus serving more than 150 food-insecure households. Volunteers will set up, distribute and break down after the event. Help NIFB address food insecurity. 

Learn and Lend a Hand
10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Location: SCARCE, Addison 

Sustainability in Action! Learn about proper recycling habits, water quality, energy conservation, and the connection humans have with the environment during a behind-the-scenes tour of the SCARCE facility followed by some hands-on, resource rescue activities. Everything you do at SCARCE helps protect our air, soil and water. Join the SCARCE adventure. Transportation is available.

Tuesday, April 2

Insect Apocalypse
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Location: HSC 1234

The world's insect population is declining, but we need these tiny neighbors to support our ecosystems.  Retired COD faculty John Cebula will review the vital role insects play in both environmental and human economic health, the evidence showing decline, and what we can do to lessen and perhaps reverse this trend. Free educational opportunity!

Wednesday, April 10

Repurpose Water Bottle Project: Phase I 
Pop-In Event
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: Wings Student Art Gallery, SSC 2210 

Almost 15% of all liter consists of beverage containers. Upcycle, reduce manufacturing costs and repurpose clear plastic water bottles into Chihuly-inspired art. Pop in for Phase I of this three-week activity and help paint 1,000 water bottles brilliant colors. Paint one or paint 10, depending on your time!

Tuesday, April 16

COD Prairie Work Day
10 a.m. to noon
Location: Ecological Study Area 

Grab a lopper and pull on your rain boots, we're clearing invasive species from the ESA to improve COD prairie habitats and foster species diversity. Tools and gloves provided. Register to restore COD's prairie

Wednesday, April 17

Roll Up Your Sleeve and Give Blood Drive
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
HSC Atrium

Neighbors need neighbors to donate blood, especially in our diverse community. Minority blood donations are powerful ways to reduce blood transfusion complications. Donors receive a $10 e-gift card. Make your donation appointment today. Walk-ins welcome. 

Thursday, April 18

Repurpose Water Bottle Project: Phase II
Pop-In Event
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Wings Student Art Gallery, SSC 2210 

Pop in for Phase II of the Chihuly-inspired art project. This time we are cutting the painted bottles into spiraling ribbons. Spend five minutes and become a part of the art!

Monday, April 22

Spring Wildflower Walk
11 a.m. to noon
Location: Ecological Study Area Woodland

Join us for a guided tour of the Ecological Study Area which contains our main woodland here on campus. You will learn about the importance of our spring wildflowers and help identify many species that grow here on campus. 

Tuesday, April 23

Repurpose Water Bottle Project: Final Phase
Pop-In Event
10 a.m.to 1 p.m.
Location: Wings Student Art Gallery, SSC 2210 

Time to tie it all together. We need lots of hands to affix water bottle ribbons to the frame and create stunning art out of waste. Make sure to bring your friends, classmates and office team. You won't want to miss the finished masterpiece.  

Wednesday, April 24

Feed My Starving Children
2 to 3:45 p.m.
Location: 555 Exchange Court, Aurora

Climate change has made it difficult for many countries to provide food to sustain their people. Feed My Starving Children is dedicated to providing nutritious meals to children worldwide. Be a world changer. Register for a meal pack event off campus. Transportation is available.

 

Gift of Giving 2023

Gnome-body Does it Better

COD Community, you outdid yourselves! Did you gnome, Gift of Giving 2023 was our most successful to date? 

Highlights:

  • Lifelines Documentary Premiere – Finding Your Way Home:  Facing Housing and Food Insecurity
  • Annual Sleep Out Saturday Rally hosted at Lakeside Pavilion in partnership with Bridge Communities. The awareness and fundraising activity brought more than 150 people to campus. Student and staff volunteers served soup and bread made by COD culinary students as we heard from Bridge Communities program graduates.
  • Two Northern Illinois Food Bank mobile markets, providing more than 250 families with groceries and other essential items
  • 16 community organization partnerships to collect and distribute winter coats, gloves, hats, scarves, blankets, bedding, toiletries, household supplies, children’s clothing, groceries, ethnically diverse pantry staples, pet food and treats, toys, books, games, adult cold weather gear and grocery gift cards.

Three on-campus pop-up activities:

  • Holiday-themed cards designed by COD Graphic Design students and written by staff and students for deployed military personnel, veterans and senior citizens
  • More than 200 warming bags for homeless neighbors
  • Hundreds of wrapped small gifts by more than 500 Gift of Giving send-off participants to include on Meals on Wheels trays for seniors

Off-campus service activities where volunteers:

  • Filled pantry shelves and sorted/selected gifts for families supported by Humanitarian Service Project
  • Stuffed stockings for deployed military served by Operation Support Our Troops
  • Decorated two transitional homes administered by Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans

Thank you for your generous spirit!

Check out the Gift of Giving photo album.

Contact Information

Joan DiPiero
Community Engagement Coordinator
(630) 942-3872
Email: dipieroj@cod.edu