Volunteer Projects
Volunteering Keeps Community and Family Connections Strong
in-person projectsWe’re in this together!
Give back together and connect with your community. Each month, we offer 35+ hands-on projects that bring families together to support local causes and strengthen Chicago’s neighborhoods.
We handle the details—so you can focus on what matters most: making an impact and spending meaningful time with your kids.
online lessons Honeycomb at Home
Our virtual volunteer program is here to stay! Each self-guided lesson features inspiring videos, discussion guides, enriching activities and more.
Schools, sports teams, social groups…all are welcome to use our library featuring 50+ DIY lessons.
Leadership CorpsTeens rise as mentors
The Honeycomb Leadership Corps is a year-long program where high school students and their parents step into leadership roles, volunteering side-by-side each month to support Honeycomb projects, mentor younger kids, and help run impactful service events—contributing over 1,000 hours last year alone.
Applications for the 2026 cohort are now live until January 25, 2026.
Honeycomb Volunteer Service AWardHonoring Our Volunteers!
Due to the temporary AmeriCorps pause on the President’s Volunteer Service Award, Honeycomb will proudly offer our own Honeycomb Volunteer Service Award this year!
All volunteers who submit their hours will be celebrated at the Holiday Cheer Challenge and will also receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award once it becomes available again.
This special recognition honors individuals whose service strengthens our communities and inspires others to take action.
Please submit your volunteer hours by November 18, 2025 to be eligible.
Group Volunteering Volunteer as a Group
Bring your school, sports team, club, or faith community together to support our Chicago community! Honeycomb offers a mix of DIY projects you can do on your own and in-person service projects designed for groups of all sizes.
Whether you’re assembling meal kits, caring for local green spaces, or supporting neighbors in need, these projects are a fun and meaningful way to bond while giving back.
Each family must register separately, with a child and parent or guardian signed up together, and all kids must be accompanied by an adult. Simply search for the project by name to sign up!
This month’s featured group-friendly projects:
DIY / On Your Own: Deliver Meals with Love, Assemble Healthy Meals, Manage a Love Fridge, School Route Clean-Up
In-Person: Build Better Classrooms, Volunteer at a Free Store
“This has been one of the most rewarding opportunities I have been a part of. I am so glad I came across The Honeycomb Project.”
— Honeycomb Parent
AdultsLend Us Your Leadership
Join our amazing team of adults helping us out at Honeycomb. Passionate Honeycomb parents and volunteers share their time to build our hive from the inside out.
Lead a project
Are you a natural party host, teacher, or organizer? Join our volunteer team to help our Project Leaders run the best volunteer experiences for families. Plan to commit 3-4 hours each month at a project of your choice. Apply today and join us for an upcoming Zoom orientation session.
Share your professional skills
Love what we do? Leverage your specialized skills and talents to strengthen our Honeycomb hive. Help build our capacity by bringing real solutions to our most pressing organizational needs.
Attention Non-ProfitSLet’s partner up!
We partner with more than 50 local nonprofits to build family-centered volunteer programs that tackle important local issues like housing insecurity, environmental protection, and community health. If you’re interested in partnering with us, or have a great idea for a future project, let’s talk!
GREAT FoR GroupsCelebrate with impact
While our core in-person programs are designed for kids and parents, we offer a variety of DIY and drop-off projects each month that are perfect for groups. Sign up to clean a community fridge, prepare boxed meals for a local pantry, stock a community library, host a drive, and more. So bring Honeycomb to your bar mitzvah, birthday party or corporate outing. Just filter by "Groups" on our event page to get started!
StoriesOur Volunteers Say it Best
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I sign up for a Honeycomb project?
Get started by creating a My Hive account for your family. There, you can browse our schedule and “favorite” projects. Registration opens at 9am on the 15th of the month prior to the event. Be sure to join our mailing list to stay in the loop about Honeycomb happenings!
How much does it cost to attend?
Our programs are free for the nonprofits we serve and the families who participate. If you can donate, please do! We rely on generous support from Honeycomb families to run our programs for thousands of volunteers each year and pay for necessary supplies—from wheelbarrows to waffle mix.
How old do you have to be to volunteer with Honeycomb?
Honeycomb programs are designed for your whole family to participate in together! All ages are welcome—most projects are best suited for ages 5 to adult. Kids must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. No drop-off please.
Honeycomb events fill so fast – how can I get started now?
Thank you for your patience—we’re hard at work expanding our opportunities. In the meantime, check out Honeycomb at Home, our new virtual volunteer program with activities you can do any time, any where.
Where does the name “The Honeycomb Project” come from?
Bees work together to make their hive a place where everyone can thrive. We believe that Honeycomb volunteers, like bees in a colony, can accomplish great things when we work together.
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