Busey is expanding its annual initiative, Community Promise Week, and dedicating the entire month of April to service in celebration of National Volunteer Month. During Community Promise Month, each Busey associate is encouraged to volunteer at least one hour to serve organizations that fuel their passion for helping others. Nearly two dozen events are planned to support charitable organizations such as Special Olympics Illinois, His Kids Closet, Feeding Our Kids and Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon.
On April 5th from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Busey will kick off National Volunteer Month and Community Promise Month by participating in Community & Campus Day of Service in Great West Hall of Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois. Busey associates will team up with faculty, staff and community members to package 147,000 meals for local foodbanks to be distributed to families in need in Champaign-Urbana.
“Community Promise Month is about inspiring and encouraging people to create change through teamwork,” says Lori Hunt, VP & Retail Market Manager at Busey. “In 2013, more than 150 Busey associates volunteered more than 700 hours in one week alone – breaking the previous year’s total of 600 hours. By expanding our initiative and partnership with local volunteers, we hope to further benefit charitable organizations and fulfill Busey’s promise to bridge the needs of our communities.”
Community Promise Month volunteer opportunities in Champaign-Urbana include:
- Cunningham Children’s Home: Festival of Quits on April 2nd from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at 1301 N. Cunningham Ave., Urbana. Volunteers will help set up for the largest fundraising event for the organization.
- Special Olympics Illinois: Bocce Tournament on April 5th from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Dexter Field and Aquatics Competition at the U of I ARC on April 12th from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Volunteers will assist athletes and make sure both events run smoothly.
- His Kids Closet: volunteers will sort clothing donations on April 9th and April 16th from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at 2712 Willowpark Dr. Champaign. The items will then be distributed to children in need who attend Champaign Unit 4 Schools.
- Austin’s Day of Service: in remembrance of Austin Cloyd, who was killed during the Virginia Tech school shootings, volunteers will work from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Location and volunteer duties TBD.
- Feeding Our Kids: volunteers will sort food donations at Champaign Church of Christ at 1509 W. John St. on April 15th from 3-4 p.m. Donations will benefit students who attend Champaign Unit 4 Schools.
- Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon: volunteers will register Youth Run participants and hand out race numbers, race shirts, goody bags and instructions on April 24th from 2-9 p.m. and April 25th from 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. at the U of I ARC. On April 26th, volunteers will work from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Youth Run.
To find volunteer opportunities near you, stop by any Busey location or call 1.800.67BUSEY.