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Illinois Times invites
local nonprofit organizations to tell our readers what they need — in
addition to financial support — for the holidays. If your
organization’s not included here, please e-mail your request to
editor@illinoistimes.com. This list will be updated weekly through Dec. 20.
Contact Ministries 1100 East Adams St., 217-753-3939
Contact Ministries is accepting donations of
nonperishable food items, new toys, and hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves
in preparation for the group’s annual Christmas Giveaway. (The
Giveaway will be held from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, at the
Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut. Bring photo identification
for adults over age 18 and medical card or birth certificate for children
under 18.)
Grace Lutheran Church 714 E. Capitol Ave., 217-522-3965
The Grace Lutheran Food Pantry helps year-round to
feed the hungry. Food orders are filled through referrals from various
social agencies, including Contact Ministries. Food, money to purchase
food, and volunteers are always needed. In addition, the church provides
Christmas baskets to 100 families from churches, Springfield District 186,
and Lutheran Child and Family Services. Donations of turkeys, canned hams,
or money to purchase food are needed by Sunday, Dec. 9.
The Parent Place 314 S. Grand Ave. W., 217-546-5257
The Parent Place Inc.
specializes in teaching positive parenting. The organization requests
unopened packages of diapers and baby wipes; pizza coupons; carpet-cleaning
service; a locking computer armoire; a new or gently used folding card
table; a PowerPoint projector; a digital camera; snow-removal service; a
freestanding bookcase; washable markers; art-and-craft paper and materials;
gift cards or certificates from grocery stores and retailers such as
Wal-Mart, Kmart, and Dollar General; a rolling storage cart; subscriptions
to Parenting and Literacy magazines;
parenting-education videos and DVDs; and paper goods (paper towels, toilet
paper, cups, plates, flatware, and napkins).
Serving Jesus Willingly Urban Ministries Inc. P.O. Box 6453, Springfield 62708, 217-494-1407
This organization hosts a Christmas party from 4-6
p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at the James D. Memorial Chapel, 1520 E.
Washington. Requests include canned goods (meat, soup, fruit), paper goods
(towels, toilet paper, envelopes), household items (bar soap, dish soap,
detergent, and bleach), Ziploc bags, trash bags, and dry goods (mac and
cheese, spaghetti, rice, and cereal). Contact Sam J. Winger at 494-1407 or
e-mail sjwum@juno.com.
Lutheran Child & Family Services 431 S. Grand Ave. W., 217-544-4631
Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois is a
leading provider of a comprehensive range of high-quality community-based
and innovative social services responsive to the needs of children and
families. The Springfield office provides foster care, adoption services,
and family counseling. The organization requests two new TVs and DVD
players for its visit room; gift cards for clients to Wal-Mart, Target, and
ShopKo; diapers and wipes; a microwave; a toaster oven; a refrigerator; a
digital camera, docking station, and printer combo; laptop computers; new
conference-room furniture with vinyl or leather chairs; and a new sofa and
loveseat for the visit room.
Central Illinois Foodbank
2000 E. Moffat St., 217-522-4022
The Foodbank requests hams and turkeys; cans of
chili, beef stew, pasta, pasta sauce, vegetables, soup, meat, fruit, and
tuna; peanut butter; cereal; cereal and granola bars; soap; and toilet
paper.
Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County 320 N. Dirksen Pkwy., 217-523-2710
Habitat provides affordable housing. The organization
seeks corporate sponsorships, good for a one-year commitment to all six
Habitat homes in 2008. For information, contact the organization’s
development director at 217-523-2710, ext. 13. Habitat also seeks cash
donations or pledges to cover construction costs, as well as professional
service and material donations, heavy-equipment donations (backhoe,
delivery truck, and construction truck), tool donations (power tools,
hammers, and tape measures), food gift cards, donations and volunteers for
ReStore, home-repair center gift cards, and updated office equipment.
Volunteers are also needed to serve on a steering committee for one
family/one build, including a project coordinator, volunteer coordinator,
food coordinator, marketing or PR coordinator, and a nurturer for a
homeowner.
Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault 3 W. Old State Capitol Plaza, 217-744-2560
The Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault assists
women, children, and men recovering from the trauma of sexual violence
through a range of services that includes counseling, medical and legal
advocacy, prevention education, and a 24-hour crisis hotline. The center
requests children’s toys, games, and books; puppets; play sand;
Play-Doh; arts-and-crafts materials (construction paper, crayons, markers,
bracelet-bead kits); angels or inspirational stones/trinket items that
clients can hold in their hands while testifying in court; journals;
personal-care services (massages, haircuts, manicures, yoga); gift cards; a
VCR/DVD player for the parent-education room; clothing for survivors to
wear home from the emergency department; and personal-care items (shampoo,
deodorant, soap, toothpaste).
This article appears in Nov 29 – Dec 5, 2007.
