November Volunteer Opportunities Coming Soon

It's been a busy week! Trick or Treat for Canned Goods, Political Pick'em, and the Holiday Stars Project all kicked off. We will have multiple updates coming soon, including November Volunteer Opportunities. Check back by Friday, November 5 for the latest.

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:

http://www.civicreflection.org/resource/d/76496/Davis_What_we_dont_talk_about%E2%80%A6pdf

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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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.

Location	Thursday, October 14	Friday, October 15	Saturday, October 16
Schnucks on Montvale	10:00 AM - 4:00 PM	8:00 AM - 2:00 PM	8:00 - 10:00 AM; 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Schnucks on Sangamon	2:00 PM - 4:00 PM	12:00 - 4:00 PM	12:00 - 4:00 PM
Lowes on Wabash	8:30 AM - 4:30 PM	8:30 AM - 12:30 PM; 2:30- 4:30 PM	10:30 AM - 12:30 PM; 2:30 - 4:30 PM
Lowes on Dirksen	8:30 AM - 4:30 PM	8:30 AM - 4:30 PM	8:30 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.

September Volunteer Opportunities

September Volunteer Opportunities

September 1, 15, 22, 29 – Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Volunteer Training

5:30 – 7:30 PM

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will begin its next series of volunteer training programs on the first Wednesday of September in the Multi Purpose Room at the Presidential Library. The two-hour sessions will acquaint people with the volunteer opportunities available among the various aspects of the library and museum. Volunteers will be asked to attend additional training sessions on September 15, 22, and 29. If you’d like to register or you’d like to volunteer but can’t make or missed the first meeting, call Linda Bee at 217-558-8872.

Thursday, September 9 - Conversation Partner Program
4:30 – 6:00 PM

The Conversation Partner Program (CPP) offers a chance for American students to get to know international students studying at UIS and vice versa. The goals of the program are:

1) For non-native English speakers to use English more naturally in everyday situations and learn more about American culture.

2) To foster global citizenship, tolerance, and friendship for all participants.

Weekly meetings are set between partners based on their schedules. The partners will decide what works best for them and what they are interested in. Interested students must attend the conversation kickoff party on Thursday, September 9 in order to receive a partner. Interested students unable to attend the kick-off party will be placed on a waiting list and will be informed if a partnership becomes possible. Contact Kristin Nisbet at knisbet@uis.edu for more info or check out the program website at: http://www.uis.edu/esl/students/conversation.html

Featured Service Splash
Saturday, September 11 – Day of Service and Remembrance
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

In recognition of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Volunteer Center will be distributing disaster preparedness information in the PAC Main Concourse, from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Please stop by our table and take a moment to reflect on what you can do in honor of the victims of 9-11 and the men and women who gave their lives trying to help others. Thank a friend who has been there for you, spend an hour picking up litter, or learn more about the effect that September 11 continues to have on our nation. Make sure it’s not just another day.

Saturday, September 11 - Springfield Art Association Used Book Sale
8:30 AM - 12:00 PM

The 22nd Annual Edwards Place Fine Art Fair is coming up on September 18 and 19, and the Springfield Art Association needs helping setting up and beautifying the grounds of Edward's Place for the crowds of people who will be swarming the Fair in a few weeks. The Art Association will hold a work day on Saturday, September 11 to prepare for the fair by setting up the used book sale and working in the gardens. Contact the Springfield Art Association at office@springfieldart.org to register.

Sunday, September 12 – SportsCare Women’s Biathlon
7:00 – 11:00 AM

SportsCare's third annual Women’s Biathlon, a USAT-sanctioned event, will be held Sunday, September 12, at Memorial’s Koke Mill Medical Center. It includes a 20K bike ride and a 5K run. The biathlon will features a Family Health and Fun Fair, including health and wellness screenings, kids' games and prizes, information about Women's HeartAdvantage, and more. Volunteers are needed to help ensure the safety of competitors on the roads. Contact Devin Spears at spears.devin@mhsil.com or 217-862-0444. Anyone interested in competing can register online at: https://memorialmedical.com/Services/SportsCare/Biathlon/Registration.aspx.

Monday, September 13 - Haunted Nights of History Informational Meeting
7:00 - 8:00 PM

The Springfield Art Association is seeking volunteers to assist with their 7th annual Haunted Nights of History tours. Volunteers are needed to assist visitors through Edwards Place historic home during the evening tours as well as portray "ghosts" of 19th century Springfield citizens throughout the house. An informational meeting will take place on Monday, September 13, 2010 at 7:00 PM. No experience is necessary and adults and children are welcome to volunteer. Please be prepared to read a few lines if you are interested in portraying a character.

Haunted Nights of History tours will take place on October 21 and 22, 2010 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. If unable to attend or for more information about the tours or event volunteer opportunities, please contact the Springfield Art Association at 217-523-2631 or collections@springfieldart.org.

Monday, September 13 - Blood Drive in Lincoln Residence Hall
9:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Donate blood  in Lincoln Residence Hall on Monday, September 13 in support of the Central Illinois Community Blood Center. Students, staff & community members are all welcome. CICBC is the only blood provider to area patients of twelve central Illinois hospitals, including Memorial Medical Center and St. John’s Hospital. Walk-ins are always welcome. If you have any questions about donating blood you can call 217-753-1530. Free T-shirts for donors. Sponsored by the Clinical Laboratory Science Club and the UIS Health Services

Thursday, September 16 – Volunteer Naturalist Training
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Lincoln Memorial Gardens is looking to train a new group of volunteer naturalists for the upcoming fall tour season. Learn how to share knowledge and appreciation of the natural world with local school classes and other youth groups. Lunch will be provided. Dress for the outdoors and call 217-529-1111 to register.

Saturday, September 18 – World Wide Day of Play
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

The Springfield Park District and the American Heart Association are teaming up once again for the 5th annual World Wide Day of Play. The WWDoP is a part of Go Healthy Month, a local initiative to encourage youth to be active and to promote healthy lifestyles. Volunteers are needed to help with registration, safety supervision, and especially playing the games! This year’s event will be held at Lincoln Park. Call the Volunteer Center at 217-206-7716 for more info.

Monday, September 20 – Friday, September 24 – Adam’s Wildlife Sanctuary Trail Work
12:00 AM – 6:00 PM

The Illinois Audubon Society will be conducting another week long trail maintenance project at the Adam’s Wildlife Sanctuary in Springfield. The Sanctuary is preparing for the fall season of student visitors, and volunteers are needed to help load, dump, and rake out wood chips on the trails throughout the park. All tools will be provided. Contact Jo Skoglund at 217-544-2473 or jskoglund@illinoisaudubon.org to register or if you have any questions.

Featured Service Splash
Thursday, September 23 – Fall Into Volunteering Fair
11:30 AM – 2:00 PM

The 2nd annual Fall Into Volunteering Fair will take place Thursday, September 23 from 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM in the PAC Main Concourse. Local nonprofit organizations will be on campus offering volunteer opportunities for UIS students. No matter your interests, you can find ways to engage with and serve your community here. This is a great opportunity for Social Work majors, TEP minors, and ECCE Engagement students to connect with local organizations that can help you meet your service hour requirements. It’s also a great opportunity to get engaged in your community, give back, and learn new skills. Don’t miss out!

For more info, check out our website at: www.uis.edu/volunteer/events/fallfair.html. All questions should be directed to the Volunteer & Civic Engagement Center at volunteer@uis.edu.

Saturday, September 25 – Playground Build at Gehrmann Park
8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

The children of the Gehrmann Park community need a safe, clean, and fun place to play and enjoy their families. The Springfield Park District and Kaboom! are teaming up to provide the funding, but we need 150 + volunteers to actually erect the equipment. Volunteers can register by calling Chuck Smith at 217-753-6212.
Ongoing - APL Cage Cleaning at Gizzy Lu
Various

Gizzy Lu at White Oaks Mall is a steady source of APL cat and kitten adoptions.  APL now has an opportunity to keep kittens there all the time - meaning APL can help even more cats. In order to do this, APL needs volunteers to clean once a day during September. Sundays are covered, so 6 volunteers who would each take one day a week all month (for instance, all the Mondays, Tuesdays, etc.) are needed. There is no set time for cleaning; it can be done at your convenience during the hours of 10:00 AM - 6:00 p.m.

Gizzy provides all the cleaning supplies, and it takes a half-hour to clean. People stop by to talk, so it's a good chance to promote APL and educate them. It's also a good opportunity to cuddle kittens! Please contact Evelyn Taylor at evtaylor1@comcast.net or phone 217-492-5110 to volunteer.




Remember, if you want to give back or get involved in your community, come by our office in the Student Affairs Building, Room 60, or check out our website at www.uis.edu/volunteer.

Special Olympics Bowling Tournament Time Changed

A head's up to all of you who were planning on helping out at the Special Olympics Bowling Tournament Saturday, August 21.

We are now planning on leaving at 8:30 AM, from the Volunteer Center in SAB 60. Those of you new to UIS can find a map to our office at http://www.uis.edu/maps. The Student Affairs Building is on the East side of campus.

Hope to see you all there!

A Few Good Men

Real Men Read

Springfield Public Schools is looking for a few good men to be a part of Springfield Real Men Read, a literacy and mentoring initiative that connects men with school children. In January 2010, Springfield Public Schools introduced Real Men Read in its five middle schools and Douglas School. Over 100 seventh grade students participated in the pilot.

MENtors simply visit classrooms once a month beginning in October. During their visit, they read and discuss the month’s selection and impress upon students the relationship between literacy and life success.

The mentors in last year's pilot program were excellent and included members of the business community, academia and the clergy. The district found that:

• 73% of students said they’d like to participate in the program next year;
• 67% of students said they were inspired to read because of Real Men Read;
• 75% of teachers said teachers and students not in the pilot were interested in the program;

The district is looking to Real Men Read during the 2010-11 school year. To date, 13 classes will have mentors next year (second, third, sixth and seventh grades) and the district is looking to place another 21 men who have already pledged to join.

Men from all walks of life and professions are needed. For more information, contact Donna Treadwell, coordinator of volunteers, at 217-525-3257.