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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.
American Red Cross 1045 Outer Park Dr., 217-787-7602 The American Red Cross, Illinois Capital Area
Chapter, provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent,
prepare for, and respond to emergencies. The organization requests
donations of travel-size shaving cream, facial tissues, shampoo, bar soap, and deodorant;
razors; toothbrushes; combs; washcloths; sample-size laundry-detergent
packets; new teddy bears; coloring books and crayons; gift cards for gas;
photocopy paper; toner cartridges for HP 1100, HP 9040 and HP 1020
printers; 25 tables and 100 chairs for training classrooms; two laser
projectors; six desktop computers and three laptops (processor faster than 2.0 GHz for
Intel-based chips or 2200 for AMD-based chips, at least 512MB of RAM, USB
2.0, Windows XP Professional); a pull-behind enclosed trailer; 50 cots, new
blankets, and new pillows; a DVD player for training classroom; cases of
bottled water and Gatorade; vacuum cleaner; gift certificates to
restaurants, movies, the mall, athletic events, grocery stores; volunteer
Meals on Wheels drivers; a small photocopier; desk calendars; large
canisters of coffee; three-ring binders; paper cutter; computer software
(Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Pagemaker, and Acrobat Writer; a TV with DVD
and VCR; a portable PA system; locking file cabinets; digital camcorder;
digital camera (6 megapixels or more); door prizes and recognition gifts
(e.g., gift certificates, sports-events tickets, movie tickets, and
performing-arts tickets).
Attention Homes for Youth Inc. 829 S. Fourth St., 217-744-7788
Attention Homes for Youth Inc. operates the Youth
Enrichment and Stabilization program, which serves young people, ages 9-18,
who have an “open case” with the Department of Children and
Family Services. An open case means that there has been a claim of abuse,
neglect, or both. The organization provides tutoring, group and individual
counseling, mentoring, transportation, and warm meals. The agency requests
televisions, educational games and software, educational videos, DVDs, VHS
tapes, ruled paper, pencils and pens, and toner and ink cartridges.
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.
Family Service Center of Sangamon County 1308 S. Seventh St., 217-528-8406
The Family Service Center provides pre- and postadoption
services, counseling, foster care, and a program for first-time pregnant
and parenting teens and administers the annual Tree of Wishes program. The
center is looking for volunteers to work the Tree of Wishes at White Oaks
Mall through Dec. 19. Each shift is three hours long and consists of
logging in individuals who take cards off the tree. The tree hours are the
same as the mall’s. The organization also seeks individuals,
families, and businesses to adopt individuals and provide them with
gifts.
Girl Scouts of Central Illinois 3020 Baker Dr., 217-523-8159 Girl Scouting offers quality programming for all
girls, ages 5 to 17, to discover, connect, lead and take action to make the
world a better place. The Land of Lincoln Council seeks volunteers to serve
as troop leaders, trainers, and other general office help. Additionally,
the Girl Scouts seek financial assistance for girls to attend summer camp
and funding to repair tent units and camp buildings at camp facilities.
Other requests include batteries, battery-operated lanterns, brooms and
dust mops, cleaning supplies, a color printer, digital ear thermometers,
duct tape, flashlights, life jackets, liquid hand soap, paper towels and
other paper products, pie irons, power strips, roasting forks, and
toasters.
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.
M.E.R.C.Y. Communities Inc. 108 E. Cook St., 217-753-1358 or
217-744-1126
M.E.R.C.Y. Communities provide housing and supportive
services to foster the independence of homeless and at-risk families. The
organization requests gift cards for underwear, shoes, and socks for moms
and children; new bath towels and washcloths; new children’s wagons;
new tricycles; gift baskets for young mothers; new pots and pans;
stationery supplies; large and small trash bags; dish soap; paper towels;
toilet paper and facial tissue, laundry soap; and fabric-softener sheets.
Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery 1011 N. Seventh St., 217-525-6800 The Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery’s
mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect by providing emergency care
of children, birth through age 6. The organization requests gift cards for
groceries; canned peaches, pears, corn, and peas; cookies and fruit snacks;
children’s mittens and hats; children’s pajamas;
children’s socks and underwear; fruit juice; laundry detergent; lawn
bags; Similac Advance; and 33-gallon trash bags.
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).
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).
Sojourn Shelter and Services Inc. 1800 Westchester Blvd., 217-726-5100
Sojourn provides a variety of services to victims of
domestic violence. The organization requests vacuum cleaners for its
shelter, baby bottles, pacifiers, house slippers (all sizes), carpet for
the administrative wing, baby monitors, board games, sets of dishes,
hairdryers, sets of pots and pans, curling irons, bus tokens/bus passes,
journals for clients, sets of towels and washcloths, air fresheners, sheet
sets for the shelter, purses, blankets and pillows for shelter,
thermometers, calling cards, stamps and stationery sets for clients, car
seats, strollers, night lights, items for childproofing, Halloween
costumes, a TV and VCR for the living room, first-aid kits, ice packs,
outside equipment for the courtyard, cleaning wipes, gas cards, facial
tissue, suitcases, kitchen towels, laundry baskets, pantyhose (all sizes
and colors), over-the-counter medications, bathrobes, alarm clocks, cooking
utensils, umbrellas, children’s dish sets/utensils, hair-care
products for all ethnicities, formula, batteries, pajamas, pocket
dictionaries, gardening tools, Dixie cups, outdoor toys, sunscreen,
mattresses, lip balm/Carmex, infant walkers, hot-water bottles, blinds for
windows, fans, gift certificates for ordering meals, microwave, gift
certificates in general, Walkmans, radios, books on parenting, carpet
shampooer, flashlights, diapers, rubber balls for outside, sets of
silverware, hairbrushes and combs, sets of glasses and cups, cleaning
products, laundry soap, measuring cups and spoons, bakeware, pillows,
laundry baskets, and salt and pepper shakers
Springfield Catholic Charities 120 S. 11th St., 217-525-0500 Catholic Charities provides services to assist people
in meeting their basic needs. Financial contributions may be made any time;
send checks to Catholic Charities at the above address. Among the agencies
Catholic Charities supports are St. John’s Breadline, 430 N. Fifth
St.; the Holy Family Food Pantry, 1023 E. Washington St.; and St.
Clare’s Health Clinic, 700 N. Seventh St. Catholic Charities requests
toothbrushes for St. Clare’s Health Clinic; food to fill the Holy
Family Food Pantry shelves, food baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas and
toy for the holiday store at the Crisis Assistance and Advocacy Office,
hams and turkeys for St. John’s Breadline and the food pantry,
diapers for the food pantry, a new computer for the food pantry, and
monetary donations to help cover emergency medications at the Crisis
Assistance and Advocacy Office.
This article appears in Nov 15-21, 2007.
