Community Volunteer Opportunities
Illinois People's Action (IPA)
Our church is a member of IPA, which is an ecumenical, multi-issue, faith-based community organization with partners in several other counties in our state. IPA is an advocacy group that addresses such social issues as affordable housing, immigrant rights, hydraulic fracturing, predatory lending, and living wages. IPA empowers congregations and organizations to become full partners in the decision-making process on justice issues. Get involved by adding your name to the mailing list for chapter meetings or specific demonstrations or lobbying efforts (call the IPA office at 827-9627 or the Community Concerns Committee Chair.)
Midwest Food Bank
Food distributed each month now reaches over 1000,000 people. Nearly all the work is done by volunteers. Examples of volunteer opportunities include: preparing disaster relief boxes and repackaging bulk foods into manageable quantities for local food pantries. Church groups often help in these efforts. Volunteers can pick times and days that suit them.
Safe Harbor Meals Project
The Salvation Army's Safe Harbor Shelter provides temporary housing and meals for homeless people who qualify; it helps them find jobs and gives them access to other social services to promote their independence. For over ten years members and friends of our church have provided a wholesome home-cooked meal for the residents of Safe Harbor on the third Sunday of the month, Jan.-May and Sept.-Dec. People on the UUBN list typically help serve one meal a year. Church groups (Youth Group, Board) also take charge of a some meals every year. To get your name on the list of possible servers, contact Julie Prandi.
Faith in Action
This organization helps seniors with transport to doctor appointments, grocery shopping, visits or companionship visits or phone calls to lonely homebound seniors, and some minor maintenance work. Volunteers, who come from many area houses of worship, are fully insured while driving. The minimum volunteers can serve is one day a month for three hours at a time; times can be arranged in advance to suit your schedule. Call 309-827-7780 for applications and more information.
Western Avenue Community Center
Western Avenue Community Center supports a Food Pantry serving about 900 families per month in addition to other programs for the community. Youth programs include after school sessions for K-5, summer camp for grades 6-8 and counselling for at-risk youth. The Hispanic Outreach program provides social services and counselling for Spanish speakers. For seniors, there are educational, social, and physical fitness events. Volunteers could help with the Food Pantry, with a senior event, or with light office duties. For more information on specific volunteer opportunities, call 829-4807.
Boys and Girls Club
The Boys and Girls Club provides after-school and summer activities geared to youth ages 6-18. If you are interested in volunteering, please call 309-829-3034 for more information, or email the Chief Professional Officer, Grant Anderson.
Imigration Project
The Immigration Project is a nonprofit organization that provides immigration legal assistance to the 100,000 immigrants residing in Central and Southern Illinois. Volunteers are vital to the success of the Immigration Project! Though some assignments require fluency in Spanish; others have no foreign language requirements. Flexible hours accommodate busy schedules. Volunteers often work in small teams of two or three to complete assigned tasks related to citizenship; help with web development, media, and graphics is also needed.
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