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In anticipation of the busy holiday travel season, O’Hare International Airport and its social services partner Travelers Aid are seeking more volunteers to assist customers at the nation’s second busiest airport, the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) announced today.

More than 100 dedicated men and women volunteer at O’Hare International Airport through the Travelers Aid program, staffing information desks and providing resources and social referrals to the tens of millions of passengers who travel through the airport’s terminals each year. 

“Customer service at our airports is near and dear to my heart, as it’s how I got my start in City government more than 30 years ago,” said CDA Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee. “As we continue to develop the CDA’s customer support staff through our renewed investment in the Airport Information Ambassador program, we also want to acknowledge our commitment to our long-standing partnership with Travelers Aid, a historic organization that helps O’Hare provide world-class service to our passengers 365 days a year.”

Founded in St. Louis in 1851, Travelers Aid is the oldest non-sectarian social welfare movement in America. In Chicago, the organization has been helping passengers at O’Hare since the airport opened to commercial traffic in 1955, providing crisis intervention, travel information, and social services to travelers and visitors.

In 2022, Travelers Aid volunteers and support Social Service staff helped more than 1 million passengers with everything from directions, concession recommendations, local transportation information, and things to do in the city.

“Travelers Aid volunteers come from many of Chicago's 77 neighborhoods and surrounding suburbs, and all share one main goal — to enhance the customer experience at O'Hare International Airport,” said John Ishu, director of Travelers Aid Chicago. “Our volunteers passionately assist passengers from every corner of the world and are an invaluable part of the fabric of O'Hare.”

Volunteers take part in a comprehensive training program to understand airport operations and the layout of the terminals. Volunteers usually perform one five-hour shift per week, and they are placed at the various information desks located throughout all four of O’Hare’s terminals.

Chicagoland residents interested in becoming a Travelers Aid volunteer at O’Hare should visit the organization’s website and email travelersaid@heartlandalliance.org.