Wednesday, September 29, 2010

October Volunteer Opportunities

October Volunteer Opportunities

Saturday, October 2 – Adam’s Wildlife Sanctuary Fall Work Day
9:00 – 11:00 AM

The Illinois Audubon Society continues their improvement of Adam’s Wildlife Sanctuary, beginning with the removal of the fencing along Forrest Avenue. The first step will be to remove all of the shrubs that have grown along and through the fencing. Volunteers are needed to cut, pull and stack brush. All tools will be provided. Gloves are available, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own if possible. For more information, please call Jo at 217-544-2473 or e-mail her at jskoglund@illinoisaudubon.org.  

Saturday, October 2 – Washington Park Volunteer Work Day
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Join the Friends of the Sangamon Valley as they remove invasive weeds from wooded areas in Washington Park. Most equipment will be provided, but bring work gloves and a beverage. Meet at the parking lot below the Carillon (Rose Garden parking lot) at the Nature Trailhead. For more information contact George Rose at 217-787-1940.

Featured Service Splash
Friday, October 8 – Homecoming Prairie Star Service Event
1:00 – 4:00 PM

Take a few hours during Homecoming Week to do something good for your community. The Ball Charter nature trail that we started in August needs more mulch to be completed and ready for outdoor education classes this fall. We will be leaving from the Volunteer Center (SAB 60) at 12:45 PM and returning by 4:15 PM. Water and snacks will be provided. Call 217-206-7716 or e-mail volunteer@uis.edu to register. Transportation provided.

Saturday, October 9 & Sunday, October 10 – Indian Summer Festival
Multiple shifts available throughout the day

Lincoln Memorial Garden is hosting their annual Indian Summer Festival in October and needs volunteers for a variety of tasks. Paint faces, lead hikes, carve pumpkins, guide activities and crafts, and just enjoy the beauty of an Illinois autumn in the gardens. Call Betsy Irwin at 217-529-1111 or e-mail lmg2301@comcast.net to participate.

Sunday, October 10 – Out of the Darkness Walk
Registration begins at 11:00 AM, Walk begins at 12:00 PM

The Out of the Darkness Community Walks are 3-5 mile walks taking place in over 200 communities across the country this fall, with the proceeds benefitting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). By participating in the Out of the Darkness Community Walks, you will be joining with thousands of other walkers nationwide to raise money for AFSP's vital research and education programs to prevent suicide, save lives, increase national awareness about depression and suicide, and provide support for survivors of suicide loss. To register to walk to donate, go to http://afsp.donordrive.com/event/springfield. For information contact Linda Williams Hammer at lwhammer@aol.com.  

Thursday, October 14 – Friday, October 22 – WUIS Fall Fund Drive
6:00 – 9:00 AM, 9:00 – 11:00 AM, or 4:00 – 6:30 PM

It’s that time of year! The WUIS 2010 Fall Fund Drive is just around the corner, and volunteers are greatly needed to help keep public radio going in central Illinois. WUIS is a community organization that depends on listener donations to continue to provide high quality programming year round. Volunteers will answer phone calls and enter all donor information directly into computers. WUIS is especially in need of help the following week, starting October 24, to make thank you calls to donors. For a list of avaiable shifts, click this link:
https://illinois.edu/sb/sec/9394266. For more info contact Randy Eccles at 217-206-6403 or reccl2@uis.edu.  

Thursday, October 14 - Saturday October 16 - United Cerebral Palsy Canister Campaign
Mulitple shifts available

United Cerebral Palsy of the Land of Lincoln is looking for volunteers to collect donations at four area businesses during their annual Canister Campaign in October. UCP provides comprehensive services to over 1,000 infants, children and adults with disabilities in 27 counties in Central Illinois. If you'd like to volunteer for one of these shifts, call Michelle Gorden at 525-6522 or e-mail her at mgorden@ucpll.org.

Friday, October 15 & Saturday, October 16 – Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular
8:00 AM – 2:00 PM; 5:00 – 9:30 PM

Enjoy the beauty of 2,010 sparkling jack-o-lanterns surrounding the Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon and the Washington Park Botanical Gardens in this year’s Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular. Volunteers are needed to unload the pumpkins starting at 8:00 AM Friday. Additional help is needed starting at 5:00 PM to light and place candles, assist with decorating (lights, fall décor, etc), and some shuttle transport for the event. Cleanup help is also needed on Monday from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Contact Jennifer Johnson at jols@ameritech.net or 217-494-1949 to find out how you can help.

Saturday, October 16 & Sunday, October 17 – Feline Fanciers Cat Show
Multiple shifts available

The Animal Protective League is holding their annual Feline Fanciers cat show on Saturday and Sunday, October 16-17, in the Illinois Building at the State Fairgrounds. Lots of volunteers are needed to show cats, bake and sell goodies in the Sweet Shoppe (proceeds go to the APL), and act as ring stewards. Please contact Trish Gorda at trishy9989@yahoo.com or Kathy Floyd at kcjdf501@gmail.com if you’d like to help out. The volunteer schedule needs to be set up a bit in advance so contact APL soon if you’re interested.

Wednesday October 20 – Trick or Treat for Canned Goods Team Registration Deadline
Due by 5:00 PM

If you are a student group leader or just have a few friends with nothing to do on Halloween, come join us and do your part to help feed the hungry. From 4:30 – 9:00 PM on Halloween night, teams of students will spread throughout the neighborhoods of Springfield, collecting canned goods and other nonperishable food items for the Central Illinois Foodbank. Prizes will be given out to the top three groups: $150 for first place, $100 for second, and $75 for third. Come by the Volunteer Center, SAB 60, to pick up and fill out the registration forms. All registered participants receive a free Trick or Treat for Canned Goods t-shirt. Contact us at volunteer@uis.edu or 217-206-7716 for more info.

Saturday, October 30 – Motor Activities Training Program
Event begins at 9:00 AM

Special Olympics is holding its annual Motor Activities Training Program on Saturday, October 30, at the Hope Institute. This event is for athletes who are incapable of participating in other events. If you’d like to volunteer, please call Darrin Burnett at 217-544-3023 or e-mail him at dburnett@soill.org.

Saturday, October 30 – Adam’s Wildlife Sanctuary Fall Work Day 2
9:00 – 11:00 AM

The Illinois Audubon Society continues their improvement of Adam’s Wildlife Sanctuary, beginning with the removal of the fencing along Forrest Avenue. The first step will be to remove all of the shrubs that have grown along and through the fencing. Volunteers are needed to continue the work from October 2, cutting, pulling and stacking brush. All tools will be provided. Gloves are available, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own if possible. Lunch will be provided for volunteers on this date. For more information, please call Jo at 217-544-2473 or e-mail her at jskoglund@illinoisaudubon.org.

Featured Service Splash
Sunday, October 31 – Trick or Treat for Canned Goods
4:30 – 9:30 PM

The Volunteer & Civic Engagement Center is once again organizing our popular Halloween event: Trick-or-Treat for Canned Goods. From 4:30 – 9:00 PM on Halloween night, teams of students will spread throughout the neighborhoods of Springfield, collecting canned goods and other nonperishable food items for the Central Illinois Foodbank. Hang out in the Student Center afterwards and enjoy some free pizza, soda, and music while we weigh the food and award the prizes.

Deadline for registration is Wednesday, October 20. If you are a student group leader or just have a few friends with nothing to do on Halloween, come join us and do your part to help feed the hungry. Prizes will be given out to the top three groups: $150 for first place, $100 for second, and $75 for third. Come by the Volunteer Center, SAB 60, to pick up and fill out the registration forms. All registered participants receive a free Trick or Treat for Canned Goods t-shirt. Contact us at volunteer@uis.edu or 217-206-7716 for more info.

(Don’t have a group to go with? Not to worry! We welcome all “free agents” who would like to meet some new people. Come by the Volunteer Center, and we will get you signed up.)

And finally…

Here’s a link to one of our favorite articles about the nature of volunteering and service in the 21st century, “What We Don't Talk About When We Don't Talk About Service,” by Adam Davis.

Full text can be found here:

Thursday, September 16, 2010

APL Event Assistant Needed for Saturday September 18

The Animal Protective League is holding a fundraising event Saturday, September 18. Teresita Gonzalez, chair of the event and UIS alum, is looking for an assistant to take photographs during the event and do other small errands to help things run smoothly. The event is 3:00 - 5:00 PM.

Call Teresita at 217-816-2556 for more info.



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Friday, September 3, 2010

United Cerebral Palsy Canister Campaign

United Cerebral Palsy of the Land of Lincoln is looking for volunteers to collect donations at four area businesses during their annual Canister Campaign in October. UCP provides comprehensive services to over 1,000 infants, children and adults with disabilities in 27 counties in Central Illinois. Check out more of there work at http://www.ucp.org/ucp_localsub.cfm/72/16016/16017.

As of the time of this post, the following dates, times, and locations are available. All shifts are two hours long.

LocationThursday, October 14Friday, October 15Saturday, October 16
Schnucks on Montvale 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM8:00 AM - 2:00 PM8:00 - 10:00 AM; 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Schnucks on Sangamon2:00 PM - 4:00 PM12:00 - 4:00 PM12:00 - 4:00 PM
Lowes on Wabash 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM8:30 AM - 12:30 PM; 2:30- 4:30 PM10:30 AM - 12:30 PM; 2:30 - 4:30 PM
Lowes on Dirksen8:30 AM - 4:30 PM8:30 AM - 4:30 PM8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

If you'd like to volunteer for one of these shifts, call Michelle Gorden at 525-6522 or e-mail her at mgorden@ucpll.org.