Needs From: Serve Illinois

Like organizing, working with your hands, or being surrounded by thousands of tools? Come spend some time behind the scenes at the Windy City ToolBank!

The Windy City ToolBank provides tools and equipment to nonprofits, schools, community groups, faith-based organizations, government agencies, and other organizations working to improve communities throughout the Chicago area.

Keeping thousands of tools ready to serve those organizations takes a lot of hands.

What might I work on?

Warehouse projects change from day to day, so there is almost always something different to do. Volunteers may help with:

Cleaning returned tools and equipmentInspecting tools for damage or missing partsReturning tools to their proper inventory locationsOrganizing shelves and warehouse areasLabeling and tagging tools and equipmentCounting and inventorying toolsPreparing tools and equipment for upcoming ordersProcessing returned ordersSorting and organizing donated tools and suppliesAssembling or organizing kits and suppliesUpdating inventory informationPreparing materials for community projectsGeneral warehouse organization and special projects

No tool experience is required. We'll show you what you need to know.

There are opportunities for both physical and less-physical tasks, and we're happy to match projects to a volunteer's skills and abilities whenever possible. If you have accessibility needs or limitations, let us know so we can talk about what projects may be a good fit.

Want to volunteer regularly?

We love ongoing volunteers! There's always something happening at the ToolBank, and regular volunteers have the opportunity to learn more about our inventory and take on additional projects over time.

Need documented volunteer hours?

Windy City ToolBank welcomes volunteers completing community-service hours for SNAP work requirements, school, service programs, or other purposes. Hours completed through this opportunity can be tracked and verified through Serve Illinois.

Please let us know about any documentation or reporting requirements when you begin volunteering.

Help us keep thousands of tools working hard for Chicago communities!

Windy City ToolBank provides tools and equipment to nonprofits, schools, community groups, faith-based organizations, government agencies, and other organizations working throughout the Chicago area. Those tools get used for everything from community gardens and neighborhood cleanups to construction projects, events, disaster response, and more.

With all that use, our tools need some love!

We're looking for volunteers to help us clean, inspect, maintain, and when appropriate, repair tools and equipment so they're ready for the next organization that needs them.

What might I work on?

Depending on your experience, interests, and abilities, projects may include:

Cleaning tools and equipment after they are returnedInspecting tools for damage, wear, or missing componentsTesting basic tool functionsRemoving dirt, debris, labels, tape, or other materialsOrganizing tool parts and accessoriesIdentifying tools that need additional maintenance or repairPerforming basic preventative maintenanceReplacing simple parts or componentsHelping troubleshoot damaged or non-working equipmentOrganizing the ToolBank's repair and maintenance areaDocumenting maintenance or repair needsResearching replacement parts, manuals, or repair informationPreparing repaired tools to return to inventory

You don't need to know how to repair tools to volunteer!

There is plenty of cleaning, inspection, organization, and basic maintenance work that doesn't require previous experience. We'll show you what you need to know.

Already know your way around tools, small engines, electrical equipment, carpentry equipment, or repairs? We'd especially love to put those skills to use.

Tasks will be matched to each volunteer's experience and abilities. Volunteers will only perform repair or maintenance work they are comfortable and qualified to complete.

Want to volunteer regularly?

Even better. Maintaining a large lending inventory is an ongoing job, so there are always tools that could use some attention.

Regular volunteers can learn more about our inventory over time and may have opportunities to take on more specialized maintenance and repair projects.

Need documented volunteer hours?

Windy City ToolBank welcomes volunteers completing community-service hours for SNAP work requirements, school, service programs, or other purposes.

Volunteer hours completed through this opportunity can be tracked and verified through Serve Illinois. Please let us know about any documentation or reporting requirements when you begin volunteering.

When disaster strikes, communities need resources quickly. Help us be ready before the call comes in.

The Windy City ToolBank is home to a Midwest hub for ToolBank Disaster Services, providing tools and equipment to organizations conducting disaster response, cleanup, and recovery work.

We're building a team of volunteers who can help keep our disaster equipment organized, maintained, inventoried, and ready to deploy. Volunteers may also have opportunities to help us quickly prepare and load equipment when a disaster response is activated.

This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in disaster response, logistics, tools, warehousing, building, or simply helping communities be better prepared.

Help Us Stay Ready

Regular disaster-readiness projects may include:

Conducting monthly inventory of disaster tools and equipmentOrganizing trailers and disaster storage areasInspecting equipment to make sure it is deployment-readyCleaning and maintaining tools and equipmentChecking tools for missing or damaged componentsLabeling and documenting disaster inventoryBuilding or modifying storage racks and organization systemsPreparing disaster cleanup buckets and response suppliesPreparing tools and supplies so they can be mobilized quickly

Have Tool or Repair Skills? Great! Don't? That's Okay Too.

No repair, construction, or tool experience is required.

There is plenty of work that doesn't require specialized skills, and we'll show you what you need to know.

Volunteers who do have relevant experience may also help with:

Tool maintenance and repairSharpening blades and hand toolsBasic equipment maintenanceBuilding and repairing storage racksCreating custom storage and organization solutionsTroubleshooting equipmentOther skilled projects that help keep our disaster inventory ready to deploy

Experience with carpentry, mechanical repair, sharpening, fabrication, small engines, equipment maintenance, or tools is helpful but absolutely not required.

When Disaster Strikes

This opportunity also serves as our on-call volunteer pool for disaster activations.

When ToolBank Disaster Services receives a request for assistance, we may need additional hands on short notice to:

Pull tools and equipment for disaster ordersPack and organize response ordersStage equipment for deploymentPack and organize trailersLoad trailers and vehiclesSecure equipment for transportationPrepare cleanup buckets and suppliesHelp us get equipment out the door and on its way to affected communities

Joining the team does not mean you're required to be available every time a disaster happens. We'll contact volunteers when additional help is needed, and you can jump in when your availability allows.

This opportunity primarily supports disaster operations at the Windy City ToolBank. Travel or deployment into disaster-affected communities is not required.