Celebrate National Volunteer Week April 15–21! This week, tell volunteers thank you for everything they do. This is also a perfect week to find out how to get involved in the community. You can find more local volunteer opportunities at www.cuvolunteer.org.
Spotlight on a Cause:
Austin Cloyd Day of Service
Join community volunteers on Saturday, April 14 from 3:00–5:00 p.m. to volunteer for the Austin Cloyd Day of Service. Volunteers will meet at Busey Bank in downtown Urbana and then report to various volunteer stations in the community. This Day of Service was created in honor of Austin Cloyd, a victim of the Virginia Tech Shootings who had ties to Champaign-Urbana.
Anyone from the community is invited to help out that day. This event has been organized by the Champaign Rotary and Centennial Interact along with Interact members from Champaign Central, Urbana and St. Thomas More High Schools. Austin Cloyd was a member of Centennial Interact when she lived in Champaign and was active in volunteering for many causes. She lived her life through the Rotary motto, “service above self.” This Day of Service is in remembrance of Cloyd, and acts as a representation of the good that can spawn from a tragic event.
This year marks the event’s fifth anniversary, and the projects being served will include Developmental Services Center, Champaign County Humane Society, Champaign County Nursing Home, Crisis Nursery, Champaign Park District, and Center for Women in Transition, among others. There will also be various community cleanups throughout the day. The event is being sponsored in part by Austin’s Day, CUVolunteer.org, United Way, do good Consulting, Busey Bank, and others.
For more information and to register to volunteer, please go to their website.
Volunteers Needed
4-H of Champaign County
4 -H is in need of some extra help for a few upcoming events. First, there is the 4-H Food Demonstration on April 24 at Clark-Lindsay Village, 6:30 p.m. There is also the 4-H Clothing & Textiles Show on June 28 at Savoy United Methodist, 1:00 p.m. Finally, help is needed for the 4-H Expo on July 10–11 at Market Place Mall. To learn more about these events and the many ways you can help out, contact Caitlin Morris or call 333-7672.
Tolono Library Volunteers
Volunteers are needed to pick up books from book drops in the Tolono area once a week. There is an immediate need for someone to pick up on Thursdays. Volunteers first arrive at the Library to pick up a key and a bag, and after picking up items, they bring the bag back to a library clerk. Tolono Library is open till 8:00 p.m. weekdays and volunteers can pick up items anytime before 7:00 p.m. For more information, please call Melinda at 485-5558.
Upcoming Events
Meatheads Fundraiser for Friends of Roundhouse/Community Elements
When you eat at Meatheads anytime on Thursday, April 12, Meatheads will donate 10% of their net sales back to Roundhouse and Community Elements. Just bring in the attached flyer! Anyone can participate, and feel free to share this flyer with friends! Meatheads is located at 1305 S. Neil St, Champaign.
NAMI Open House
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is hosting its Champaign County Open House on Saturday, April 14 from 2:30–4:30pm at Champaign Public Library. Come meet NAMI volunteers and learn about the many educational and support programs that are offered to help people living with mental illness and their families. For more information call 419-5345.
2012 “Walk, Run, or Roll” to Support GCAP
Join the 2012 “Walk, Run, or Roll” to benefit the Greater Community AIDS Project (GCAP) on Saturday, April 14. The event will run 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., and begins at Burwash Park in Savoy. “Walk, Run, or Roll” is a 1-mile walk, 5-K run, or 10- or 25-mile bike ride with wheel-chair-, walker-, and stroller-friendly courses. Participants can sign up here. More information is available by calling 351-2437.
Shuffle-Shake — Parkinson’s Awareness and Fundraiser
Nearly one million Americans live with Parkinson’s and many of them live here in our community. The Shuffle-Shake to raise awareness of Parkinson’s will be held at Lincoln Square Mall on Saturday, April 14 from 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Show support by attending this event or stop by and make a donation. Please call 493-2301 or email for more info.
Boneyard Creek Community Day
Help protect our local creeks and lakes to ensure a healthier community at this annual cleanup event. Volunteers will pick up litter, remove non-native plants, and install storm drain medallions on Saturday, April 14 from 9:00 a.m.–noon. Volunteer check-in will begin at Scott Park and other remote sites at 9:00 a.m., and workers will join together at noon at Scott Park for lunch and a post-cleanup celebration. Volunteers should wear close-toed shoes and long pants are recommended. Register online.
C-U Autism Network Walk
The 4th annual C-U Autism Network Autism Walk will take place at Hessel Park on Sunday, April 15. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 2:30 p.m. All ages are welcome. There will be activities for children, resources for families, and a safety fair. For more information visit their website.
Disclaimer: I gather this information based on local community calendars and from colleagues at local service organizations. Some of the wording is based directly on what I receive and research. Please feel free to email me if you have any comments, questions, or have anything you would like to see posted. Thank you. (MER)