[Volunteers] OVP Listserv for 9/24 to 10/1

[Office of Volunteer Programs]

Monday, September 24, 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.  Help with testing at Thomas Paine Elementary School (9/24 and 9/28)

2.  Special Olympics Illinois – Young Athletes Program (9/22 – 12/15)

3.  Help United Way’s Backyard Block Party (9/25)

4.  Walk for Westview and Wellness Fair (9/28)

5.  Prevent Underage Drinking

6.  iHelp (sign up by 10/6)

7.  Urbana Chautauqua—needs volunteers (10/9 – 10/14)

8.  Make a Difference Drive (10/15 – 10/26)

9.  Halloween Funfest volunteers needed (10/29)


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1.  HELP WITH TESTING AT THOMAS PAINE THIS WEEK

This Monday (9/24) and Friday (9/28) Thomas Paine Elementary School needs help with administering reading tests to students.  If you’re interested in helping, contact Kellie Anderson at 217-621-0219.



2.   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.



3.  HELP UNITED WAY’S BACKYARD BLOCK PARTY

Mark your calendars: United Way's Backyard Block Party is Tuesday, September 25, 2007 from 5:30 pm- 8:00 pm. Join United Way and its partner agencies in West Side Park for a Neighborhood Block Party event that is fun for the whole family! There will be food, games, activities for children, information about United Way partner agencies, and the official kick-off of campaign 2007!

Volunteers are needed to take down tables and chairs, starting right at 8pm.

Want to help?  Contact Lynn Peisker at 217.352.5151 or lynn at uwayhelps.org.



4.  WALK FOR WESTVIEW AND WELLNESS FAIR

This Friday September 28th from 7:30am until 12:00noon, 500 participants will walk for 30 minutes on the school grounds.  Westview students are collecting donations toward their efforts and classroom contests are being run to peak interest and participation.  Top donations collected by a student in a grade level wins a new bike and Bell Helmet.  Top participating classroom wins a party at Lifelines (Ants in your Pants Play area).

Volunteers are needed to walk with the students and help monitor the event.  No special skills are required, just walking shoes and a good attitude toward children.  Volunteers should arrive for the walk at 8:00am to assist.

Running concurrently with the walk will be a wellness fair.  Over 20 organizations will be providing interactive displays and demonstrations for the students.

Volunteers are needed to facilitate the students getting through the booths, and assisting where needed.  No special skills needed.  Volunteers needed as early as 7:45 to help organizations unload and set up their booths.

Volunteers can come for any amount of time and need not stay the entire time.

Contact Kelly Hill at 217-369-8723 or kellykhill4 at hotmail.com if you are able to assist!



5.  PREVENT UNDERAGE DRINKING

We are looking for 18 or 19 year old volunteers to help with our ABCC program on underage drinking.  This program consists of an hour of training and then 2-3 hours of completing a compliance check.  We check “off-premise” alcohol sales businesses like grocery stores, gas stations and liquor stores.  If you have any further questions about this program, contact Roger Claxton at 217-693-4532 or rclaxton at mhcenter.org.



6.  IHELP: A HOMECOMING VOLUNTEER PROJECT

iHelp is a one-day volunteer project that sends more than 1,000 University of Illinois students into the community to help with a wide variety of tasks. This day of service not only offers assistance in large numbers but also provides an outlet for University students who are looking to continue their volunteer activities while on campus.  This year’s iHelp is Saturday, October 13 form 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.  Learn more about iHelp at www.uiaa.org/urbana/saa/ihelp.html or contact Emily Holtan at eholtan2 at uiuc.edu.  Registration deadline is Saturday, October 6 at midnight.



7.  HELP WITH URBANA PARK DISTRICT’S CHAUTAUQUA EVENT

Be an event volunteer and help the Urbana Park District make its 100th Anniversary a success! To celebrate its centennial birthday, the district is putting on a free six-day Chautauqua--a festival offering music, dance, culture, politics, religion, children's activities and fun. The event will take place in October 9 to 14 in Crystal Lake Park in Urbana, IL. Volunteers can assist with event set-up/take-down, children’s activities, backstage support for live entertainment, equipment loading, refreshment/information stations, parking, food and vending, and much, much more. Each volunteer receives a free commemorative Chautauqua volunteer shirt! 600 volunteers are needed, and all help is appreciated - individuals and groups alike. Simply call 217/367-1544 or 217/384-4062.



8.  MAKE A DIFFERENCE DRIVE

The OVP is planning for 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 email us at ovp at uiuc.edu for more information!



9.  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


Illini Union Office of Volunteer Programs
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
288 Illini Union
Phone: 217-333-7424
E-mail: ovp at uiuc.edu
Web: http://www.union.uiuc.edu/ovp/