Spotlight on a Cause:
Urbana Park District
The Urbana Park District offers a variety of fun, healthy, and educational programs to thousands of local residents. The District oversees several unique facilities in Urbana, including the Dog Park, Crystal Lake, Park, and Pool, the Anita Purves Nature Center, and the Urbana Indoor Aquatic Center. Volunteers play a large role in day-to-day operations for the Park District, as well as for scheduled programming. Currently, there are openings to help coach youth soccer and to lead guided tours through the Nature Center, but there are many other possibilities and opportunities that will need to be filled depending on the time of the season. To learn more about the Urbana Park District, go here. To sign up to volunteer, email Ellen Kirsanoff or call 367-1536.
Volunteers Needed
Wesley Pantry Volunteers Needed
Help feed the hungry by volunteering at the Wesley Pantry one night a month. There is a lack of volunteers during the summer months when students are out of school, and volunteers are needed more than ever! Pantry Night is always the third Thursday of the month, with the next one falling on June 21. Volunteer orientation must occur for all new volunteers and will be on the evening of Wednesday, June 20. For more information on the Wesley Pantry and other ways to help, go here.
Become a Champaign County CASA Advocate
Help give children in need a voice by becoming an advocate. Volunteers are ordinary people who care about the well-being of children and act as extra eyes and ears for courts and child welfare agencies. All new volunteers must first fill out an application, then be interviewed and screened to work with the children. No experience is necessary; volunteers will be trained on everything they need to know. For more information on volunteering with CASA, please visit their website.
Upcoming Events
Champaign County Humane Society GIANT Garage Sale
Hours are Friday, May 25 7:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m, Saturday, May 26 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., and Sunday May 27 10:00 a.m.–noon. The Sale will take place at Kesler Hall in the Champaign County Fairgrounds. All sorts of goods will be available, with all proceeds going to the Champaign County Humane Society. For more details.
Register NOW for the East Central IL Volunteerism Conference
Registration is now open to join the East Central IL Volunteerism Conference, taking place at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon on June 7. This is an all-day event that will include workshops, keynote speakers, and a chance for networking. This event is open to the public with an emphasis towards those who volunteer and/or mange volunteers. The price is $30, which includes lunch. Please go here or call Marsha Reardon at 359-6500 for more information and to register.
Tickets Still Available for Crisis Nursery Auction & Dinner!
Join the Crisis Nursery for their 19th Annual Dinner & Auction on Friday, June 1 at the I Hotel. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., as cocktails are served and the silent auction bidding begins. Dinner is served at 7:00 p.m., with the live auction at 8:00 p.m. to close out the evening. Nearly 100 silent auction baskets are up for bid and live auction baskets will include prizes such as hard-to-get-tickets and weekend getaways. This is their biggest fundraiser of the year and tickets can be purchased today by calling 337-2731.
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)