[Volunteers] OVP Digest for 10/22 to 10/28

[Office of Volunteer Programs]

Monday, October 22, 2007
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.  Make a Difference Drive (10/15 – 10/29)
2.  An hour for Habitat for Humanity (10/25)
3.  Special Olympics Illinois – Young Athletes Program (9/22 – 12/15)
4.  Boomerang Bike Ride (10/28)
5.  The Illini 4000 for Cancer (May 2008)
6.  Halloween Funfest volunteers needed (10/29)
7.  Energy Detectives (register now for Spring semester)

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Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.
(Mother Teresa)
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1.  MAKE A DIFFERENCE DRIVE!

The Office of Volunteer Programs is on its annual Make a Difference Drive!  MADD is a 2-week long outreach and donation drive that benefits agencies which serve people across Champaign Counties.  The drive will run from October 15-29.  If your service group is interested in helping, please visit [http://www.union.uiuc.edu/ovp/madd/] or contact us (ovp at uiuc.edu) for more information!



2.  AN HOUR FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

In order to raise money for our next student built home, the UIUC Student Chapter of Habitat for Humanity is conducting a traffic count for the Illini Union Marketing Board on Thursday, October 25th.  In order to receive compensation, we need volunteers stationed at all entrances of the Union from 7am-midnight.  All materials will be provided (i.e. clicker, tally sheet), and all shifts from are available. The first and final shifts are 1.5 hours; all others are 1 hour long (7:00a-8:30a, 8:30a-9:30a ... 9:30p-10:30p, 10:30p-midnight). Volunteers can sign up for multiple shifts, and even one hour makes a difference.  If interested in signing up, please contact Jessica Corrie at jcorrie2 at uiuc.edu with your name and desired shift.



3.   SPECIAL OLYMPICS ILLINOIS – YOUNG ATHLETES PROGRAM

Come be a part of this exciting new program through Special Olympics Illinois.  The Young Athletes program is an innovative sports play program for children ages 2-7 with intellectual disabilities along with their siblings and their peers, designed to introduce them into the world of sports. This program will prove enormously beneficial on multiple levels for your child including helping the children improve physically, cognitively and socially.  The activities will consist of foundational skills, walking & running, balance & jumping, trapping & catching, throwing, striking, kicking and advanced skills.  For more information, contact Jessi Bernstein at 217-239-1152, or jessica.bernstein at cparkdistrict.com.



4. ILLINI MENTOR PROGRAM VOLUNTEER EVENT

Illini Mentor Program, a volunteer organization on campus, is dedicated to mentoring youth in the Champaign-Urbana area. We are looking for volunteers to help raise money that will benefit the most important people in our organization: the kids. With the money we raise, we hope to buy educational supplies, culturally enriching activities, supplies for Family Nights, and much, much more. We want to inform you of a great opportunity for you to make a direct impact on the funds we raise. This year, IMP, has been selected to work at *Illini Football games*. At these games, you would be assigned a task such as ticket taking or ushering. During the game, you would get breaks to even watch the game! Each hour you work at the game, IMP gets paid minimum wage. It's a great fundraiser and one of the easiest ways we have to make money. Please email Shuchi Kapoor at kapoor.shuchi at gmail.com, if you would like more information or would like to volunteer.  Upcoming home games are: October 20, October 27, November 17



5.  BOOMERANG BIKE RIDE

Help the Uni High club, Students for a Better World make their benefit ride for A Woman's Fund a huge success! The Boomerang Bike Ride, a perimeter ride around Urbana-Champaign, is designed to bring support and awareness to the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault. The course is 42 miles in total - ride all or just part of the route.  Check in is Sunday, October 28th 8-8:30am, and we’ll depart from the east entrance of Lincoln Square, Urbana. (facing Vine St.).  $15 entry fee.  For details and to register online visit Nutrition on the Move website:  http://www.nutritiononthemove.net

Raise $$ from pledges and be eligible for one of 20 hand-made authentic boomerangs from Australia!!



6.  THE ILLINI 4000 FOR CANCER

The Illini 4000 sends a team of 25 riders across the United States each summer to raise money for cancer research.  This summer they are riding from Seattle to Washington D.C; the ride will begin during the last week of May 2008 and end no later than August 2, 2008. This year they hope to raise $100,000 for the American Cancer Society and Camp Kesem. If you are interested in riding or helping out, please contact Jonathan Schlesinger at jschles2 at uiuc.edu and check out the following websites: www.Illini4000.org & www.filmsthatmove .com (see the trailer)!!!



7.  HALLOWEEN FUNFEST VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Fall is right around the corner and that means the Champaign Park District is busily planning for Halloween Funfest!  This year Funfest is October 29th from 6pm-9pm.  If you would like to be involved with this fun filled and exciting event, please feel free to contact me! Paul Bady, Special Events & Volunteer Coordinator: phone: (217) 398-2550, email: Paul.bady at cparkdistrict.com.



8.  ENERGY DETECTIVES
The First United Methodist Energy Detectives Cracking their Case!

Are you looking for a no-brainer volunteer opportunity to take on – that would not take up much of your time but be really rewarding AND fun?  If you love to work with kids, have plenty of patience, a bit of creativity, and one or two hours to spare once a week, read on.  If you think that 10 and 11-year olds are the last people you would ask to save energy, they are proving you wrong!   Such sleuths from local elementary schools have participated for four semesters, every Wednesday afternoon to take a close look at how an old downtown building uses electricity and gas, while learning about energy use and conservation, developing skills in computer applications, problem-solving and team-building and having fun at the same time.

First United Methodist Church of Champaign, the sponsor of this program, is so excited and thankful for the program’s success that we plan to offer the Energy Detectives program again this Spring.  We need YOU to contribute (in one of two ways (see below) to the FUMC Energy Detectives after-school adventure!

FUMC’s  ‘Energy Detective’ After-school Program

YOUR help in either way (once or many times) will be much appreciated!  As:
•       A Mentor (from 3:00-4:45 p.m.), or
•       A Gym or Park-aide (from 4:45-5:15 p.m.)
for one afternoon a week of the Energy Detectives After-School Program on Thursday(s) (between mid-Jan. and early May).

Let Rev. Mary Brady (356-9078 or mbrady at champaignfumc.org) or Avis Hasler (avis_herbie at hotmail.com) know in what capacity YOU feel called to help in your support of this exciting youth program!!


Have a superb week!