[Volunteers] Volunteer Opportunities

[Office of Volunteer Programs]

Monday, February 16, 2009
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. OVP Intern position available, Application due February 27
2. Austin’s Place Women’s Emergency Shelter, Ongoing
3. New Hope Academy After School Program, Ongoing
4. Graf Internship Applications, Due February 19
5. Refugee Center Fundraising Banquet, February 28
6. Boy Scout Merit Badge Seminar, March 7
7. Read Across America, March 7
8. Allerton Allies Natural Areas Restoration, March 7
9. Provena Volunteer Fair, March 10
10. Westview Elementary School Spring Fun Fest, March 13
11. Natural Resource Expo, March 13 and 14
12. Pony League Baseball Coaches, March 15
13. Ebert Fest, April 22-26

I was taught that the world had a lot of problems; that I could struggle and change them; that intellectual and material gifts brought the privilege and responsibility of sharing with others less fortunate; and that service is the rent each of us pays for living, the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time or after you have reached your personal goals.
    								-Marian Wright Edelman

1. OVP INTERN POSITION 
Are you interested in helping make a difference in the community?  The Office of Volunteer Programs is looking for an intern for the 2009-2010 school year. Applications are due Friday, February 27, 2009 at noon via e-mail to sponsler at illinois.edu or printed out and turned in to the Office of Volunteer Programs, 288 Illini Union.  For an application and more information, please contact Amy Sponsler at sponsler at illinois.edu.  
2. AUSTIN’S PLACE, WOMEN’S EMERGENCY SHELTER
Two volunteers needed each evening from 8:15pm to 7am at the First United Methodist Church- one must be awake at all times.  You can partner with someone you know or can be scheduled with a “new” friend!
The lead volunteer for the evening calls Center for Women in Transition between 6-6:30 to see if there are any women needing shelter for the evening.  The lead volunteer then calls the van driver and the other overnight volunteer to let them know.  Volunteers then meet at the church at 8:15 to begin setting up.
For more in-depth job descriptions and more information on signing up, please contact Cathy Koerber at ckoerber at illinois.edu.

3. NEW HOPE ACADEMY AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

In need of volunteers Monday-Friday 3pm-5pm to help out with the expanding number of students in our program.  Individuals or groups of volunteers are welcome- we are looking to have 6 volunteers present every afternoon. If you can help out, please contact Gayle Adkisso by email: newhopega1 at aol.com, or phone: (217) 352-0911.     

4.  GRAFT INTERNSHIP APPLICATIONS
Are you looking for an internship next year on-campus? Interested in event-planning, project management, and developing your communication and organization skills? Apply to be a Graf Intern at the Illinois Leadership Center.  Applications are now available at our website until February 19, 2009. Visit www.illinoisleadership.illinois.edu for more information.    
The internship requirements are:  
•	Minimum GPA 2.8/4.0  
•	Junior or Senior standing during the term of the Internship  (2009-2010) 
•	Available to work 15 hours per week for the entire academic year 
Have questions about the internship?  Our current Graf Interns will be available to answer your questions and share their experiences during two information sessions (no registration required) on: 
 
•	Wednesday, January 28, 2009:  6:00 - 7:00 PM in the Illinois Leadership Center (290 Illini Union) 
•	Tuesday, February 10, 2009: 6:00 - 7:00 PM in the Illinois Leadership Center (290 Illini Union)
 You can also email your questions to leadership at illinois.edu. 

5.  REFUGEE CENTER FUNDRAISING BANQUET

 Do you enjoy learning about people and cultures from other countries? The Refugee Center needs students to help out with a fundraiser banquet on February 28 from 6pm to 11pm. Enjoy the company of community members and listen to performances by an African choir! Students will be helping with set up, serving food, and take down. If you are interested in helping, please contact Deb (217) 344-8455 at the Refugee Center. The fundraiser will be held at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on 708 Main Street in Urbana.  
 
6. BOY SCOUT MERIT BADGE SEMINAR

Volunteers are needed to assist with a variety of tasks, but mostly will be helping the instructors in the various classrooms (electronics, astronomy, criminal justice, engineering, etc.).  Volunteers will help keep the boys on task, assist with group projects or demonstrations and offer general assistance to the instructors.  Lunch is provided and snacks are available throughout the day.  Volunteers are welcome to sign up for the entire day or half day shifts.   Volunteers need to arrive at Holy Cross School (in Champaign) by 7:15 a.m. and all classes are over by 5:00 p.m.  To sign up, please contact Kathy at kathya at aocs.org or by phone at 217-359-2344.     

7. READ ACROSS AMERICA
Come help us celebrate literacy with the National Education Association's Read Across America!  This is a fun event on Saturday, March 7th, 2009 from 10-2 pm in Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana. Volunteers are needed to staff the event, setup, take down, and help booths with activities for families!  It's easy, fun, and you're helping the community! Please email Shauna Fahl at helpraa at gmail.com if you're interested or have any questions.
8. ALLERTON ALLIES NATURAL AREAS RESTORATION
Do you have a passion for the environment? Do you enjoy working outside with plants? Come help restore Allerton to its natural beauty! Volunteers are needed on March 7th from 9 AM – Noon. Please contact Kim Petzing at allertonvolunteer at ad.uiuc.edu or 217-333-3287 for more information. 
9.  PROVENA VOLUNTEER FAIR
Are you interested in finding out more about volunteer opportunities at Provena? Please join us on Tuesday, March 10 from 3:00-6:00pm. You will be able to talk with staff and volunteers from Provena Covenant Medical Center, Provena's Center for Healthy Aging, and Provena Hospice.  Location: Provena Center for Healthy Aging Wellness Room
410 E University Ave.  Questions? Contact Christy Daly at christina.daly at provena.org or (217) 353-3441.
10. WESTVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SPRING FUN FEST
Remember how exciting going to the fair was when you were a kid? We need students to help run carnival games (balloon toss, cake walk, face painting, fishing pond, etc) for an elementary school carnival.  All volunteers will be provided a meal and be asked to run simple games and pass out prizes.  The fair is on March 13th from 6-8:30 pm. To volunteer, please contact Kelly Hill @ 217-369-8723 or kellykhill4 at hotmail.com
11. NATURAL RESOURCE EXPO
The institute of Natural Resource Sustainability will be hosting its annual expo March 13-14 and we are looking for interested volunteers to help with guiding people around the building, traffic control, lunch supervision, and demonstrations.  Experience with Geology, Natural History, Sustainability, etc. is not required but if someone has experience in any of those fields we would really like to hear from them!  We are in need of at least 4 volunteers each hour from 9am – 3pm, and people are welcome to volunteer for multiple shifts.  To sign up, please contact Justin Martin at jmartin at isgs.illinois.edu or by phone at 217-244-0365.       

12. PONY LEAGUE BASEBALL COACHES

Do you love baseball and working with youth?  Sign up to coach 13-14 year old boys this spring!  For more information please see the online Volunteer Coaching info flyer on the Work/Volunteer with Us page at www.champaignparkdistrict.com.  You can apply online by clicking the Volunteer Application link on the same page.   

Looking ahead…
13. EBERT FEST

You’ve read his movie reviews, now volunteer at an events that is definitely two thumbs up!  We need volunteers to help sell merchandise, usher participants, take tickets, manage the crowds, and much more!  For more information please contact anthony.howell at cparkdistrict.com. 


Have a great week, and Happy late Valentines Day!


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/