LEND A HAND
Illinois Times invites area nonprofit organizations to submit holiday wish lists. To participate, send a brief description of your organization and a summary of your needs. Fax the information to 217-753-3958 or e-mail editor@illinoistimes.com. There is no charge for this service.
Fifth Street Renaissance
518 N. Fifth St., 217-544-5040
Fifth Street Renaissance is the oldest homeless shelter in Springfield, offering long-term (up to 24 months) transitional housing to male and female clients. In addition to housing assistance, Fifth Street provides food and clothing to people in need, as well as financial counseling and money management for Social Security recipients. Fifth Street Renaissance recently began a project to help recently released Department of Corrections inmates who have tested positive for HIV get medical treatment and other social services.
Fifth Street requests these donations: a sponsor (individual or organizational) for a holiday party with gifts for 22 adult clients; gift cards (Wal-Mart, ShopKo, Lowe’s, Office Depot, Staples, Menard’s); food, including fresh and frozen meats, poultry, canned goods, soup, pastas, coffee, tea, creamer, sugar, flour, spices, cookies, cakes, and sweets; clothing for men and women in all sizes, including coats, hats, gloves, shoes, boots, and slippers; household items such as pillows, bath towels, washcloths, kitchen towels, and dishcloths; and furniture and appliances, particularly a dining-room set to seat 12, a large refrigerator, and an upright freezer.
Call to make arrangements to drop off donations.
The Committee for Children
552 S. MacArthur Blvd., Suite C, 217-525-0549
The Committee for Children is a not-for-profit organization started in 1977 by a group of concerned citizens interested in preventing child abuse and neglect in the Springfield area.
The organization has these requests for the holiday season:
1. Donations to pay for children to participate in extra-curricular activities that their families would otherwise not be able to afford. Recent examples include football fees, basketball camp, gymnastics, band instruments and tae kwon do. Social service agencies and teachers make referrals to our Someone Special Program and we sponsor such children in need.
2. New or gently used duffel bags and backpacks to provide to children entering foster care that might otherwise carry their belongings in a paper bag.
Call to make arrangements to drop off donations.
This article appears in Dec 9-15, 2004.
