SPOTLIGHT ON AN ORGANIZATION:
Champaign County Nursing Home
Champaign County Nursing Home has several current and ongoing volunteer needs. There are several needs for volunteers who like to garden and work outdoors. For instance, several dead trees on the premises need to be dug up—About 4 people are needed to hand dig the trees, use a vehicle to pull them out of the ground, transport them to a dump area, then fill the holes. There are also some peony plants that need to be planted and a bed for them needs to be prepared. Ongoing maintenance is also needed for several perennial beds– A self-directed person is being sought to weed, mulch, water and transplant in the beds. Hours would be set by the volunteer and would depend on weather conditions. Tools are provided but volunteers must provide gloves and a kneeling pad, if needed.
Other ongoing opportunities include pet visits, where you can help make a senior smile by bringing in your pet. Pets are part of touch therapy and reminiscence therapy that most nursing home residents enjoy. Pet owners are required to provide proof of current shots and there will be an “interview” with the pet and owner. Also needed is dining room assistance. Volunteers will take food orders and serve to residents, as well as help with clean up. Hours are daily: 4:45 to 6:15 p.m. For more information, please contact Jim Hronek at jhronek@co.champaign.il.us.
http://www.co.champaign.il.us/ccnh
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Youth Center Mentoring
Take the opportunity to make a difference in a young person’s life. Sign up to volunteer for Community Elements Prevention Department’s Youth Center Mentoring program. How the program works is that you will be matched up with a youth, ages 9-13, whom want to be engaged in a one-on-one program with a member of the community. You will meet with that student for one hour each week through the duration of the school year. You and your mentee will engage in group led activities, arts and crafts, recreational games as well as have the opportunity to get to know each other.
Contact Melissa Kearns at (217) 693-4633 or mkearns@communityelements.org for more information.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat is seeking volunteers to help out in the ReStore. Those interested must attend orientation, which are held on Tuesdays at 11am and Thursdays at 3pm. Hours and times are flexible to volunteer. Also, Habitat will be starting a new home build this month and is seeking volunteers (individuals or groups) to work on the build site. Contact house@cuhabitat.org for more info.
http://www.communityelements.org/
Champaign County CASA
Help give children in need a voice by becoming an advocate. A new advocate class will begin in early September. No experience is necessary; volunteers will be trained on everything they need to know. For more information on CASA, please visit http://www.casa4kids.org/index.htm.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Family Service of Champaign County Centennial Celebration
Celebrating a Century of Care, 1911-2011. Come enjoy free entertainment, ice cream, activities, prizes and a trip down memory lane on July 16 from 1-3:30pm at 88 Broadway Lincoln Square Mall, Urbana. For information call 352-0099.
Catholic HEART Workcamp
For the past 3 years, the Catholic HEART Work Camp has worked to serve the people of this area by painting, doing yard work, serving meals, sorting, organizing, carpentry, building wheelchair ramps, working with children, cleaning, bringing joy and hope, etc. This year’s camp will host over 350 campers from across the country. Catholic HEART Workcamp will start on Sunday, July 17 and groups will perform service work July 18 through July 21.
http://www.heartworkcamp.com/
IDOT Resource Fair
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will host a Resource Fair in Champaign at the American Legion Post #559 (704 N. Hickory Street) on July 19 from 10:00am – 1:00pm. To further serve the community, the fair will serve as a one stop shop event which encompasses various services geared toward veterans and their employment needs.
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)