Spotlight on a Cause:
Raise/Run for Cancer in Memory of the Buerketts
Recently, the Buerkett family of Champaign lost their lives in an untimely plane crash. Their surviving daughter, Ashley, has decided to do something in memory of her family, and to support her great-uncle, who is living with lung cancer. Dana and Morgan Buerkett, Ashley’s mother and sister, were raising money for their Uncle Jim’s treatments by gathering mileage pledges and running marathons. Ashley has chosen to pick up where her mother and sister left off–through raising pledges for her great-uncle and commemorating the lives of her family members by running the Illinois Marathon this year. She is asking those interested to help her in her cause by either raising money, making a pledge, running with her, or supporting those running for this cause.
For more information on how to donate, please go to: http://www.crowdrise.com/jamessparksbenefit/
Updates are also available on Facebook here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/James-Sparks-Benefit/242091822475154?sk=info
Sign up to run the Illinois Marathon here: http://illinoismarathon.com/
Volunteers Needed:
CATSNAP
Champaign Area Trap Spay/Neuter and Adoption Program, (CATSNAP) operates as a low-income spay/neuter service, finds adoptive homes for cats, and gives educational resources on pet-ownership. CATSNAP currently needs volunteers to act as cat adoption counselors, aid in cat socialization, grooming, cage-cleaning, trapping feral cats, and to transport animals to and from vet appointments. No experience is necessary and timeslots are flexible.
To volunteer, please fill out the form at: http://www.catsnap.org/volunteerapp.htm. More information is available at http://www.catsnap.org
Daily Bread Soup Kitchen
The Daily Bread Soup Kitchen in downtown Champaign serves an average of 200 meals every weekday to those in need. Volunteers are needed on weekdays from 9 AM-1 PM to greet guests, distribute sack lunches, make sandwiches, help with food prep and cooking, serving food, and cleaning up afterwards. Volunteers are also needed to shop for/pick up food and donations. Finally, volunteers are needed to help store and put away food and donated items. For those whom cannot volunteer on weekdays, Daily Bread can also utilize volunteers to help distribute food in a mobile van on the weekends. For more information, call Clare at (217) 359-8500.
Upcoming Events:
POW/MIA Vigil on Campus
This is a 24-hour event run by the University’s Army, Navy, and Air Force ROTC programs to honor those who have fallen out of sight while serving our country. The vigil will begin at 7:00 AM on Friday, September 16th and run through 7:00AM on Saturday, September 17th. The event will be held at the Anniversary Plaza (in front of the Illini Union at the north end of the Main Quad), and will include large boards where visitors may write messages to our fallen veterans. More information at: http://rotc.navy.illinois.edu/Events/powmia.html.
Operation Santa Workshop
The 4th annual Operation Santa Workshop will be held on Saturday, Sept. 17 and Sunday, Sept. 18. At this event, stockings and cards will be made and shipped to all branches of our Armed Forces, Combat Support Hospitals, and K-9 units across the globe. The workshop will be held at the Champaign County 4-H Extension Office, (801 Country Fair Drive, Champaign,) on Saturday from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and Sunday from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Help by cutting and sewing stockings or making cards. Volunteer times are flexible—come and go as you please. Donations may also be brought over during these time frames–For a complete list of items that need to be donated, please go to www.operationsanta.info. For more information, contact Jill Rannebarger at [email protected] or (217) 355 8451.
University of Illinois RSO Service Workshop
On Sunday, September 18th from 1-5 PM, UIUC students can learn about planning successful fundraisers and group volunteer events for their RSOs. This workshop is hosted by the U of I Office of Volunteer Programs and will include presentations and activities led by SORF, Illinois Leadership Center, former RSO officers, and local non-profit organizations. Pre-registration is required for those interested, and can be done at: https://illinois.edu/sb/sec/8853483.
Disclaimer: I gather this information based on local community calendars and from colleagues at local service organizations. Some of the wording is based directly on what I receive and research. Please feel free to email me if you have any comments, questions, or have anything you would like to see posted. Thank you. (MER)