[Volunteers] Volunteer Listserv: February 8th, 2005

Tue Feb 8 09:35:18 CST 2005

Tuesday, February 8, 2005
Office of Volunteer Programs Weekly Listserv

Table of Contents
1. Mexico Service/Immersion Experience
2. Read Across America

3. The AAO Toy Box
4. Carrie Busey Elementary School Carnival
5. Sweetcorn Festival

6. Support Group Sponsors
7. Theatre on the Bus

8. Link Community Development Informational Meeting

9. Pull for Access

1. Mexico Service/Immersion Experience

Service & Justice Outreach, a ministry of St. John's Catholic Chapel and a RSO here on campus, is sponsoring a summer immersion trip. This trip is an opportunity to experience the culture along the Mexican border at El Paso and spend a week in Anapra, Mexico building a cinder block home for a family there. Other exciting experiences include visiting the border patrol and detention center in El Paso, TX and an emergency shelter for migrants. Travel dates are Saturday, May 21, 2005 to Thursday, June 2, 2005. The cost of the trip is $750; however, fundraising opportunities could easily bring your cost to $500 or less.  This cost will cover everything on the trip except souvenirs or special events/activities that we might do. Chosen participants must be able to attend a few orientation meetings prior to the trip. Applications are due by FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11. Please contact Sr. Anna Flanigan, 344-1184 ext. 334, sisteranna at newmanfoundation.org for more information.

2. Read Across America

This year's Read Across America Committee is asking for your help as volunteers at our annual celebration of reading that is being held at Lincoln Square in Urbana. Last year almost 900 children participated in the event, so we expect to need a lot of volunteers again this year. Volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, MARCH 5, 2005 to greet the children and help them with the activities.  We are thinking in terms of three shifts of two hours each: 9 to 11, 11 to 1, and 1 to 3, but will be glad to adjust the schedule to accommodate your organization. Please consider sharing a couple hours of your time to celebrate and promote the importance of reading. We hope you will join us and help share the message of the role of our entire community in motivating children to read. If you are willing to help, please call or e-mail Dale Montanelli at (217) 351-7002 or montanel at uiuc.edu no later that FEBRUARY 21, 2005. She will be able to tell you more about the volunteer activities and will be developing the schedule for volunteers.

3. The AAO Toy Box 
Do you have any new/new looking stuffed animals you could part with? The Atheist Agnostic Organization will be 
continually collecting plush toys for the children at Carle Foundation Hospital. These toys bring great comfort to some very sick kids and are always very much loved and appreciated. If you have any items you would like to 
contribute drop them in the AAO Toy Box in Illini Room 277 (The Office of Volunteer Programs), or contact David F. Vondra, President AAO at vondra at uiuc.edu.

4. Carrie Busey Elementary School Carnival

Carrie Busey Elementary School is in need of volunteers for the school's carnival. It is a night of great fun for our students from Kindergarten through 5th grade. Our greatest need is for volunteers to run the various games (collect tickets, explain games, paint faces, and distribute prizes). The carnival is on Friday, MARCH 11 from 5 - 8PM at Carrie Busey Elementary School, 1605 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign. Help bring smiles to young children's faces by participating in this fun activity! Please contact Lisa Akins, PTA Carnival Coordinator, at (217)398-3630 ext.1390. or at lisa at akins.ws for further information.

5. Sweetcorn Festival

The Urbana Business Association is on its way in planning this year's Sweetcorn Festival to be held on August 26 from Noon to Midnight, and August 27 from 8AM to Midnight.  Volunteers are needed for anything from set-up, ticket selling, beverage sales, merchandise booth, ticket counting, to clean-up. Nearly 300 volunteers are needed! If you or your organization are interested in participating in this fun-filled summer event, please contact Mary Dennis at (217)344-3872. An application form is required. 

6. Support Group Sponsors

The Center for Women in Transition is in search of Support Group Sponsors to assist with monthly aftercare support groups held the last Tuesday of the month from 6-8 pm. Aftercare services are provided to residents once they leave the shelter. Sponsorship would involve providing a meal or making a monetary donation to purchase a meal (pizza, etc.) for 10-15 women, assist with transporting participants, possibly childcare, and or coordinate a speaker or activity for the group. Interested volunteers should contact Elaine Carter, Aftercare Coordinator, at (217) 352-7151. 

7.  Theatre on the Bus

Do you like people? Enjoy demonstrating a craft? Doing a little light theatre? Be on hand to help with the Early American Museum bus tour programs. Be a part of planning a program if you would like! Programs usually run any day of the business week, from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. and are scheduled with pre-registration requirements for participants. It's a great way to share your talents and creativity with other members of our community. If you are interested, please contact Kristina Hubert at (217) 586-3360.

 8. Link Community Development Informational Meeting

Link Community Development is a program that links schools in the CU community with schools in South Africa- our goal is to promote awareness of global and African issues to U of I students AND elementary schoolers in the community. Volunteers can help plan events, have fun with the grade schoolers, or a variety of other things- if you're interested in learning more about our upcoming events and volunteer opportunities, please attend our informational meeting on Wednesday, FEBRUARY 9 at 8PM in 186 Lincoln, or email lbaran at uiuc.edu for more information.

9. Pull for Access

In an ongoing effort to support PACE, Inc., a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to offer services to assist persons with disabilities in achieving and maintaining independence, the Office of Volunteer Programs is assisting in the collection of pop tabs. The activity is simple! All you have to do is save your pop tabs and drop them off at any time in the Office of Volunteer Programs' office, in Illini room 277. We are looking to have group participation in this activity, interested volunteers who would like to lead others (student organizations, fraternities/sororities, residence halls/floors, and even friends) in collecting pop tabs can call (217)333-7424 for more information, or stop by the OVP office to pick up a container. 

Be sure to check www.cuvolunteer.org <http://www.cuvolunteer.org/>  regularly for additional volunteer opportunities. 

Staci Provezis and Shermin Ali
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

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Office of Volunteer Programs
University of Illinois-Champaign-Urbana
1401 W. Green Street
Illini Union Room 280 
Urbana, IL 61801
Phone: 217-333-7424
Email: ovp at uiuc.edu
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