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Illinois Times invited
local nonprofit organizations to tell our readers what they need — in
addition to financial support — for the holidays.
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.
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.
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.
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).
The Ronald McDonald House 610 N. Seventh St., 217-528-3314 The Ronald McDonald House provides a “home away
from home” for families staying in Springfield because a seriously
ill child is hospitalized. The Ronald McDonald House requests tuna,
breakfast foods, pasta sauce, hamburger/tuna helper, gift cards for local
grocery stores, and weekday and weeknight volunteers for both the afternoon
and overnight shifts. Cash donations are also requested for the Share A
Night campaign.
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 Christmas and toys 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 Dec 13-19, 2007.
