[Volunteers] OVP Weekly Volunteer Opportunity E-mail (12/1/03)

[Brian Stephen Dubina]

Good Day!

Table of Contents:

1. Holiday Toy Drive -- Office of Volunteer Programs
2. Charles Dickens Festival -- Prairie Players
3. Love to Cook? Put those skills to work -- Center for Women in Transition
4. Youth Basketball Coach -- Champaign Park District
5. You Survived Adolescence, Help Someone Else Do It, Too -- Roundhouse
6. Spread a Little Knowledge -- The Pavilion
7. Macy’s Day Parade . . . only smaller -- Champaign Park District
8. Peace Corps Info night -- Peace Corps

***

1.  Bring some cheer into the life of a child. The Office of Volunteer 
Programs is running the Holiday Toy Drive for local children who may not get 
anything else to brighten their days during these dreary winter months. You 
will be assigned a specific child and a general description of the kind of toy 
of which they are in need. All gifts are limited to under $15. If interested 
contact Lindsay Baran at lbaran at uiuc.edu or call the Office of Volunteer 
Programs at 333-7424 by December 4th.

2.  Prairie Players is sponsoring a Charles Dickens Festival for the first 
weekend in December (4 & 5).  The festival will be held at the Historic 
Lincoln Hotel.  We are seeking volunteers, actors, singers, dancers, musicians 
and merchants. The Dickens Festival is an interactive event where the 
performers and participants engage with the patrons.  Actors will portray 
various characters from Dickens books and present small vignettes scenes 
throughout the hotel.   Singers and dancers will perform traditional songs and 
dances of the Victorian era.  Throughout the hotel there will be carolers, 
puppet shows, story tellers, children craft area, toy shop, candy shop, etc. 
Merchants selling their wares:  Victorian clothing, accessories, perfumes, 
oils, soaps, candles, chocolate, fans, books and the list goes on.  Volunteers 
are needed to assist with the children's craft area, gift wrap, cloak room, 
silent auction, carolers, strolling minstrels, telegram runners, parlor games, 
and much, much, more.  If interested in participating please contact:  JoMarie 
Dugan at 351-3464 or email her at dickensfest at msn.com


3.  The Center for Women in Transition's provides housing, support and basic 
needs for up to 2 years for single women and women with families.  Volunteers 
are needed for one time to help cook for the families.  You can cook on-site 
or bring the food and warm it up.  After you are finished cooking, you are 
invited to sit and enjoy with meal with the families.  Contact Diana 
Dudzienski at 352-7151.


4.  The Champaign Park District is looking for volunteers to help coach the 
youth basketball teams.  Practices start after Thanksgiving with games 
starting after the New Year.  Coaches will run practices, attend games, 
communicate with parents, teach the basics needed to play, and most 
importantly, have tons of fun.  All equipment and practice areas are provided.
 If interested, contact Kristi Bolton at 398-2550.


5.  Make a difference in the life of a homeless or runaway teen. Provena 
Behavioral Health helps those who are in crisis with whatever support they 
need. Volunteers will interact with residents, answer phones, and help 
supervise activities in the Roundhouse crisis shelter.  If interested, contact 
Barb Bressner at bbressner at provenabhcu.org or call her at 373-2430


6.  Volunteers are sought for special projects. We need volunteers who would 
like to teach a special skill, on occasion, to our students. We are open to 
suggestions but are thinking in terms of teaching basic bowling skills, art 
projects, music performances, cultural diversity activities, job skills you 
would like to share, i.e., running a restaurant, construction, medical field.  
If interested, contact Sally Corby at 373-1772.


7.  The Champaign Park District is hosting the Holiday parade.  This is the 
only holiday parade in Champaign.  Volunteers are needed to help stage the 
parade entries, man parade barricades, and bag parking meters.  These 
activities will take place on December 6th, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.  If 
interested, contact Kristi Bolton at 398-2550.


8.  On Tuesday, December 2nd at 6 pm in Illini Union 404, the Peace Corps will 
be hosting an information meeting including video presentations and question 
and answer session.  For more information contact Rebecca Houghtaling at 
333-4889 or peacecorps at uiuc.edu or visit the website at 
http://www.peacecorps.org/




Thirsting for other volunteer opportunities? Check out www.cuvolunteer.org
for 250+ others.

Tell them the Office of Volunteer Programs sent you,

--Sascha Meinrath & Brian Dubina
Office of Volunteer Programs

Phone#: 333-7424
E-mail: ovp at uiuc.edu
Office: 277 Illini Union (in the RSO complex)
Website: www.union.uiuc.edu/ovp