Spotlight on an Organization:
Swann Special Care Center
Swann Special Care Center is a residential home and school for more than 100 children and adults living with severe and profound developmental disabilities. The Center’s goal is to not only provide their residents with a safe and accessible home, but to expand each of their clients’ unique skills. Using around the clock staff and volunteers, Swann is able to provide quality medical and emotional care for their residents. Volunteers are needed on many different levels. Volunteers would be needed to help the residents create works of art to sell. Creative volunteers can also come share their musical talent with the group by singing or playing an instrument to the residents. Volunteers looking to work directly with the residents by being a baby rocker, an aid, etc. will have to fill out necessary paperwork and go through training. To learn more about the Swann Special Care facility and the important work they do, please go to http://swanncare.org/index.html or email Leonora Byram at Leonora@swanncare.org.
Volunteers Needed:
Food for Seniors
The Food for Seniors Program meets twice a month to distribute bags of groceries for low-income seniors. This program is typically run by seniors (aged 55+) for other seniors. The program runs early mornings from 7 AM-10 AM on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month. Volunteer drivers, backup drivers and sackers are needed for these sessions. Call Robbie at 359-6500 or email at rsvpcomp@gmail.com for more information.
Home Delivery Driver for Champaign Public Library
Lend a hand to homebound Champaign residents by delivering books to their homes. Volunteers must have their own vehicle to use and a valid driver’s license. Delivery times are flexible; any time Tues, Wed, or Thurs. between 9AM and 5 PM. Contact Eva Liu at 403-2076.
Urbana Park District
Lead nature activities and work with over 3,000 children attending the Nature Center at Busey Woods and Meadowbrook Park in Urbana. Volunteers work with classes of students during school hours and schedule shifts based on their own availability. Training for Volunteer Naturalists will be held at the Anita Purves Nature Center on Thursday, September 8, 2011 from 1 to 4 PM. These programs will run through October 13. Register now by calling 384-4062.
Upcoming Events:
Volunteer Fairs at the U of I and Parkland
The University of Illinois
The Illini Office of Volunteer Programs is hosting a Volunteer Fair from 10 AM-2PM on Thursday, September 1 at the Illini Union rooms A, B, and C. This event is free and open to the public with dozens of student service and community organizations in attendance.
https://illinois.edu/sb/sec/8729556
Parkland College
Parkland will be hosting a volunteer fair on Tuesday, September 7th from 10:30 AM-1 PM in the Flag Lounge. This event is free and open to the public with information about how to volunteer at several community organizations.
Email clbennett@parkland.edu for more info.
Support the Arts and Fight Hunger
On Thursday, September 8, FACET (Friends Against Children’s Empty Tummies) and Indigo Art Gallery are hosting an art show fundraiser for the Eastern Illinois Foodbank’s BackPack Program. This program ensures that local elementary school students do not go hungry after school by providing packs of assorted snacks to bring home. The fundraiser will be from 5-7PM at Indigo Art Gallery in Champaign. More information at http://www.indi-go-art.com/.
First Annual Kick for the Cure Soccer Invitational
Parkland College’s Men’s Soccer team is hosting a Kick for the Cure soccer tournament as a benefit for the American Cancer Society. This event will run from Friday, September 2 through Sunday the 4th with games from 2-6 PM at Parkland. Ten community college soccer teams as well as four high school teams will compete. E-mail msikora@parkland.edu for more information.
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)