[Volunteers] OVP Volunteer Listserve 2/1/2006

[Office of Volunteer Programs]

Wednesday, February 1, 2006
OFFICE OF VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS WEEKLY LISTSERVE
Brought to you by CUVolunteer.org, the most comprehensive list of volunteer opportunities in Champaign county.
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. Illini Mentor Program Information Sessions
2. New Orleans Spring Break Service Trip
3. Martin Luther King Elementary Tutors
4. American Cancer Society Day of Hope
5. Crisis Line Training Opportunity
6. Perfect Prom Project Donations
7. Douglass Center After School Program
8. Visionaries Educating Youth and Adults
9. OVP Facebook Group
 

1.  ILLINI MENTOR PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSIONS
The ILLINI MENTOR PROGRAM is looking for new mentors this Spring!  They need enthusiastic individuals to create meaningful and lasting one-on-one relationships with a local child in a fun setting.  If you love working with kids, this is a great way to get involved in the community as well as a great experience for your resume.  The minimum commitment is two hours a week at one of their community partnerships, both easily accessible by bus, and mandatory attendance at biweekly mentor development meetings at 7 PM on Sundays.  If you are interested, please come to IMP's information sessions TONIGHT, Wednesday, February 1, at 7:30 PM in 100 Gregory Hall.  Please contact Membership VP Lauren Eichmann at leichma2 at uiuc.edu if you have any questions.
 
2.  NEW ORLEANS SPRING BREAK SERVICE TRIP
Months after the death and destruction of Hurricane Katrina, the people of New Orleans still need our help.  The Hurricane Katrina Relief Team RSO, in cooperation with the First Baptist Church of New Orleans, is sponsoring a trip to New Orleans during the third week of March, so that we can do our part to help the residents of the devastated city.  Our project will focus mainly on the deconstruction and clearing of damaged homes, so that restoration and rebuilding will soon be possible.  Lodging for those accompanying us on this trip will be provided at no cost, in a safe and undamaged section of the city.  Please be a part of the much-needed relief effort for the city of New Orleans.  Please attend our first meeting on Wednesday, February 1, or Thursday, February 2 at 8 PM.  We will meet in the basement food court of the Illini Union (next to Sushi San.)  More details will be available at the meeting.  Spots on the trip are limited and will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis, so attendance at one of the meetings is important.  This is a great opportunity to have fun, and to do your part to help out.  Please respond with any questions you may have to hurricanekatrinareliefteam at gmail.com.
 
3.  MARTIN LUTHER KING ELEMENTARY TUTORS
Martin Luther King Elementary School is in need of tutors for their Saturday School program.  They are in the process of studying for their upcoming state tests.  Volunteers would be needed every Saturday from February 4 to March 4 from 10 AM to 12 PM.  Please contact Principal Jennifer Ivory-Tatum or Site Mentor Coordinator Alan Douglas at 384-3675 if you are interested.
 
4.  AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY DAY OF HOPE
The American Cancer Society is looking for volunteers to help staff collection sites for their "Day of Hope" drive on Wednesday, February 22.  There will be collection sites throughout the area for community members to drop off donations.  The goal is to raise enough money so every cancer patient at the three area hospitals receives a Gift of Hope during the delivery week.  By giving the Gift of Hope, we will touch the lives of more than 1,200 patients.  The day will last from 7 AM to 6 PM and volunteers are needed for any chunk of time between those hours.  Please e-mail Jason McClelland at jason.mecclelland at cancer.org if you are interested in participating.
 
5.  CRISIS LINE TRAINING OPPORTUNITY
The Mental Health Center of Champaign County has an exciting opportunity for individuals interested in volunteering with their 24-hour Crisis Line.  Volunteers help callers with a variety of situations, including providing resources and information, social support for individuals dealing with depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, suicide prevention, etc.  Volunteers take Crisis Line calls from their home and must commit to 12 hours per month of volunteer service.  In order to participate in this training, volunteers must have the ability to take shifts during the summer months.
 
Crisis Line volunteers must complete an intensive training program consisting of a total of 20 hours.  The next volunteer training is scheduled for February 21, February 23, February 28, and March 2.  Sessions will be held at the Mental Health Center, and will run from 5:30 PM to 9 PM.  Potential volunteers must attend all four sessions, as well as two 3-hour on-the-job sessions.  
For further information, please contact Barb Bressner, Crisis Line Coordinator, at 373-2430 or by e-mail at bbressner at mhcenter.org.  
 
6.  PERFECT PROM PROJECT DONATIONS
The Perfect Prom Project is ready to accept your donations of formal dresses, shoes, purses, and accessories.  These donations will be provided for free to Champaign-Urbana high school girls who may not be able to otherwise afford them.  There is a donation box at the Office of Volunteer Programs.  Other drop-off locations will be added as the school year progresses.  Visit http://www.uiuc.edu/ro/prom/ or the Perfect Prom Project group on facebook for more information on how you can help with this cause.
 
7.  DOUGLASS CENTER AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
The Champaign Park District is looking for volunteers to assist in its Douglass Community Center after school program.  Please contact Terry Elmore by e-mail at terry.elmore at cparkdistrict.com if you are interested.
 
8.  VISIONARIES EDUCATING YOUTH AND ADULTS
Visionaries Educating Youth and Adults (VEYA) needs volunteers to tutor and mentor students in the community (grade school to high school age).  The program is located on campus, in the Education Building.  Please contact Maria Thompson at cu at veya.org if you are interested in helping out.
 
9.  OVP FACEBOOK GROUP
Want more information on volunteer opportunities?  Want to connect with other volunteers?  Check out the Office of Volunteer Programs group on facebook.
 
Have an extraordinary week! 
 
Stu Schaff
Williams Intern
Office of Volunteer Programs
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
277 Illini Union (in the Student Organizations Complex)
Phone: 217-333-7424
E-mail: ovp at uiuc.edu
Web: http://www.union.uiuc.edu/ovp/