Spotlight on a Cause:
Champaign Public Library
Since 1876, the Champaign Public Library has served our community’s needs, and would not have grown into what it is today without its volunteer base. Volunteers assist at the Library by working special events, helping “behind the scenes” cataloguing items and stocking shelves, maintaining library property, and helping patrons with computer questions. Volunteers are also needed for the Home Delivery Service, where they drive items to folks whom are homebound. In 1965 the Library started its Friends of the Library program, which is a special program where volunteers pay a small annual fee and may help plan special events and fundraisers to raise money for the Library. The Friends of the Library also run the Friend Shop used bookstore in the Library’s basement, with all proceeds from the Shop going to the Library. To gain a notion of how volunteers effect the Library, in this past fiscal year, 365 of the volunteers and Friends of the Library donated 14,371 hours of time at the Library. These volunteers have saved taxpayers a great deal of money and have made a large impact for the folks in our community who patronize the Library. To find out more information about how to volunteer for the Champaign Public Library, please go to www.champaign.org or contact Eva Liu, the Library’s Volunteer Coordinator at eliu@champaign.org.
Volunteers Needed:
Transitions Retail Shop Clerk
Help customers make sales selections, bag items, return items to racks, ring up items on a computer cash register and receive donations at the Transitions thrift store in Lincoln Square Mall. All proceeds from the thrift store go to the Center for Women in Transition. To schedule training, please call Yolanda at 819-4608.
Cumberland & Associates Senior Programs
Volunteers are needed to call clients for a monthly wellness check. Times are flexible, anytime between 8AM and 5PM on Thursdays or Fridays. Volunteers are required to have good telephone skills and may have to do some light paperwork. Free parking on site is available. Please call Emily Reed at 384-3360 for more information.
Upcoming Events:
Holiday Shopping to Benefit our Community
Join Ten Thousand Villages on Thursday, December 8 from 4-8 PM for a community shopping night. 20% of all sales will be donated to Family Service of Champaign County’s First Call for Help line. More information at www.tenthousandvillages.com.
Tons of Fun Band Benefit Show
The Tons ‘O’ Fun Band and Friends Christmas show will be held at the Parkland College Theatre on Saturday December 10th at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $35 for VIP which includes pre-show reception and reserved seating, $15 adult/$5 for children 12 and under. All proceeds from the show will benefit Developmental Services Center’s “Tree of Hope Campaign.” For more information and to purchase tickets go to http://www.tonsofunband.com/.
Make it Rain: Mali Water Wompfest
Join Positive Vibr8ions, White Rabbit, Sevlo, Miss Amphetamine, Jay LaVitola, Christina Hong and more DJs at the Canopy Club on Saturday, December 10. Doors open at 9:30 PM. Tickets are available for $5 presale and $7 at the door. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Mali Water Project, a U of I student-run organization that is working to provide clean, accessible water to the village of Konilo-Coura, Mali. Guests must be 18 and older to attend. Tickets are available at www.canopyclub.com. For more information on the Mali Water Project, go to: www.maliwaterproject.org.
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)