Needs From: Heart of Illinois Volunteers

Skip your usual morning grind and join us for this networking event designed to match skilled volunteers with meaningful opportunities to serve local causes. Our espresso bar will fuel your networking prowess while you explore ways to contribute your expertise to nonprofit boards, committees, and special projects.  

September 24 from 8:00 am to 9:00 am at the Trailside Event Center, Peoria Heights

You'll leave with more than just a caffeine high - think new connections, meaningful opportunities, and the satisfaction of knowing your talents are brewing with potential to make a real difference. This is where careers meet causes, and where your morning coffee ritual becomes a catalyst for change.

Our guest speaker, Shari Pash with Strategic Solutions for Growth, will give a short keynote address on the 'Top 10 Questions Every Volunteer and Nonprofit Should Ask Each Other' when starting a new role.

For more information, email Gina Edwards, VP Marketing and Community Engagement for the Heart of Illinois United Way at gina.edwards@local.unitedway.org.

Learn the basics of what goes into serving on a nonprofit committee or board of directors through our BoardSERVE seminar. Participants will learn about the financial, structural, and strategic components of serving on a nonprofit committee or board through engaging presentations and conversations. After completing the seminar, Heart of Illinois United Way will stay connected with participants and connect them with local agencies when opportunities arise.

Note—This seminar is not intended to help individuals start their own nonprofit organization and board; it is intended to help individuals gain an understanding of the various parts of serving on an established nonprofit board or committee.

If you cannot attend this session, but are interested in future dates, please fill out the BoardSERVE interest form, which can be found here.

Help build literacy and foster the love of books and engagement in reading by sharing a favorite book virtually. We'll create an online library that we'll share with our partner agencies. Then the story can be listened to anytime!

Simply respond to this need and we'll send you a list of our pre-selected books from which to choose. Find the book at your local library, purchase it, or maybe you already have it in your collection! Once we know which book you'd like to read, we'll send you instructions on how to record it directly on the platform or upload your prerecorded video. Double your impact by donating the book to United Way and it'll go to one of our partner agencies. 

If you have any questions, please contact Amy Manwaring, Resource Development Manager, at amy.manwaring@local.unitedway.org.

Heart of Illinois United Way Partner Agencies need your support now more than ever.  By responding to this need, you will be helping multiple agencies in one or more of the following ways:

Education Programs:

Quality education helps youth and adults achieve their full potential; key programs include pre-k literacy, tutoring, mentoring, special education, college and career counseling, and adult literacy.

Financial Stability Programs:
Financial stability promotes independence; key programs include basic human needs such as food, shelter and clothing, legal support, employment assistance, and life-skills education.

Health Programs:
Prevention, intervention, and education lead to health and wellness; key programs include community clinics, physical fitness, nutrition counseling, dental and vision care, and therapy.

United Way Partner Agencies are in need of activity kits for children to replace shared items like magazines, toys, coloring books, etc. These activity kits are needed in a variety of settings, including but not limited to clinic/counseling waiting rooms, home-bound clients, preschool classrooms, and group homes.

This is a perfect opportunity for people to sign up and coordinate with their group (work, families, school, churches, youth groups). It's great for team-building as you work together to gather items and assemble the kits when and where works best for you. Your efforts will help keep boredom at bay and provide resources to agencies so they can further help the people to whom they provide services.

Simply respond to this need and we'll send you a link of what items are needed, how to pack them, and where to deliver your kits when done. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Manwaring, Resource Development Manager, at amy.manwaring@local.unitedway.org.

Heart of Illinois United Way Partner Agencies need your support now more than ever.  By responding to this need, you will be helping multiple agencies in one or more of the following ways:

Education Programs:
Quality education helps youth and adults achieve their full potential; key programs include pre-k literacy, tutoring, mentoring, special education, college and career counseling, and adult literacy.

Financial Stability Programs:
Financial stability promotes independence; key programs include basic human needs such as food, shelter and clothing, legal support, employment assistance, and life-skills education.

Health Programs:
Prevention, intervention, and education lead to health and wellness; key programs include community clinics, physical fitness, nutrition counseling, dental and vision care, and therapy.

Inspire young children's love of learning with these easy-to-do Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) activities! Volunteers gather and/or purchase the supplies needed and then assemble them into a kit. These kits are then distributed to our partner agencies for their programs, such as mentoring, after-school programs, and summer camp. 

You can assemble kits for any (or all!) of the activities below:

This is a great opportunity for your place of employment, group, club, family, or even just yourself! Simply respond to this need and we'll send you an email with a link to instructions, materials needed for each kit, and information about where to deliver your kits when done.

Interested in recording a short video showing how the activity is done? We'll send instructions on how to do that too!

If you have any questions, please contact Amy Manwaring, Resource Development Manager, at amy.manwaring@local.unitedway.org.

Heart of Illinois United Way Partner Agencies need your support now more than ever.  By responding to this need, you will be helping multiple agencies in one or more of the following ways:

Education Programs:
Quality education helps youth and adults achieve their full potential; key programs include pre-k literacy, tutoring, mentoring, special education, college and career counseling, and adult literacy.

Financial Stability Programs:
Financial stability promotes independence; key programs include basic human needs such as food, shelter and clothing, legal support, employment assistance, and life-skills education.

Health Programs:
Prevention, intervention, and education lead to health and wellness; key programs include community clinics, physical fitness, nutrition counseling, dental and vision care, and therapy.

Spread sunshine by making cards and writing notes for those who receive services from our partner agencies. No matter the age, everyone likes a card that brightens the day! 

"Spreading Sunshine" is great for individual service or team-building! You simply supply your own materials and creativity. Respond to this need and we'll send you more information including where to deliver your cards/notes when done. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Manwaring, Resource Development Manager, at amy.manwaring@local.unitedway.org.

Heart of Illinois United Way Partner Agencies need your support now more than ever.  By responding to this need, you will be helping multiple agencies in one or more of the following ways:

Education Programs:
Quality education helps youth and adults achieve their full potential; key programs include pre-k literacy, tutoring, mentoring, special education, college and career counseling, and adult literacy.

Financial Stability Programs:
Financial stability promotes independence; key programs include basic human needs such as food, shelter and clothing, legal support, employment assistance, and life-skills education.

Health Programs:
Prevention, intervention, and education lead to health and wellness; key programs include community clinics, physical fitness, nutrition counseling, dental and vision care, and therapy.

Basic hygiene kits, containing personal care items, are needed for all ages and genders by a number of United Way Partner Agencies.  

"Take Care" is great for team-building! It is a perfect opportunity to work together gathering the needed items and assembling the kits when and where works best for you. Your efforts will help someone in need and provide resources to agencies so they can further help the people to whom they provide services!

Simply respond to this need and we'll send you a list of what items are needed, how to pack them, and where to deliver your kits when done. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Manwaring, Resource Development Manager, at amy.manwaring@local.unitedway.org.

Heart of Illinois United Way Partner Agencies need your support now more than ever.  By responding to this need, you will be helping multiple agencies in one or more of the following ways:

Education Programs:
Quality education helps youth and adults achieve their full potential; key programs include pre-k literacy, tutoring, mentoring, special education, college and career counseling, and adult literacy.

Financial Stability Programs:
Financial stability promotes independence; key programs include basic human needs such as food, shelter and clothing, legal support, employment assistance, and life-skills education.

Health Programs:
Prevention, intervention, and education lead to health and wellness; key programs include community clinics, physical fitness, nutrition counseling, dental and vision care, and therapy.

United Way partners need your help! We are looking for volunteers who would like to copy, fold, cut, and pack easy-to-use learning materials for early learners across Central Illinois. You'll be helping save teachers' time and resources while providing a fun activity for children to do at school or to take home. 

We have four projects to choose from:

"All About Me" booklets are a fun and interactive way for children to practice writing and coloring while sharing and remembering information about themselves. Volunteers will print/duplex the PDF file of four 8.5 by 11 pages, punch holes and tie with string, ribbon, or yarn. If you'd like to make the booklets into a take home kit (optional), include crayons and stickers. 

Number/Subitizing Flash Cards will save teachers and parents/guardians time and money while providing each child with their own set of flash cards that teach numbers 1-20 and how to "subitize" ... the ability to recognize a small group of objects without counting, which is a fundamental skill in the development of number sense. Volunteers will print/duplex the PDF file on card stock, cut into quarters, and bundle each set of cards for distribution to area students.

Alphabet Practice and Coloring Cards provide students with a double-sided, over-sized flashcard they can use to practice their letters on one side and color the other. Once done, parents/guardians and children can keep the cards to practice letters and words. Volunteers will print/duplex the PDF file onto white card stock, cut in half, and bundle each set of A-Z for distribution to students. If you'd like to make these cards into a take home kit (optional), include some crayons for coloring.

Dr. Seuss Storytelling, Colors, and Counting is several small projects rolled into one. You can make kits for "Cat in the Hat" themed masks or kits with a variety of activity sheets based on "Green Eggs and Ham", "The Lorax", "All the Places You'll Go", and "1 Fish, 2 Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish".  Directions will be provided for each.

"Be A Teacher's Helper" is great for individual service or team-building! Simply respond to this need and we'll send you a link to download the PDF files and instructions.

If you have any questions, please contact Amy Manwaring, Resource Development Manager, at amy.manwaring@local.unitedway.org.

Heart of Illinois United Way Partner Agencies need your support now more than ever.  By responding to this need, you will be helping multiple agencies in one or more of the following ways:

Education Programs:
Quality education helps youth and adults achieve their full potential; key programs include pre-k literacy, tutoring, mentoring, special education, college and career counseling, and adult literacy.

Financial Stability Programs:
Financial stability promotes independence; key programs include basic human needs such as food, shelter and clothing, legal support, employment assistance, and life-skills education.

Health Programs:
Prevention, intervention, and education lead to health and wellness; key programs include community clinics, physical fitness, nutrition counseling, dental and vision care, and therapy.

When it's cold, a fleece blanket or scarf not only provides warmth but comfort too. Give the gift of warm and fuzzy to others with handmade, no-sew, hand-tied polar fleece blankets or scarves. And feel warm and fuzzy yourself knowing that you helped someone in need!

"Warm and Fuzzy" is a great activity to do individually or with a group (family, friends, school, church) and is great for team-building! Simply respond to this need and we'll email instructions for making a blanket and scarf and let you know where to deliver the items when completed. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Manwaring, Resource Development Manager, at amy.manwaring@local.unitedway.org.

Heart of Illinois United Way Partner Agencies need your support now more than ever.  By responding to this need, you will be helping multiple agencies in one or more of the following ways:

Education Programs:
Quality education helps youth and adults achieve their full potential; key programs include pre-k literacy, tutoring, mentoring, special education, college and career counseling, and adult literacy.

Financial Stability Programs:
Financial stability promotes independence; key programs include basic human needs such as food, shelter and clothing, legal support, employment assistance, and life-skills education.

Health Programs:
Prevention, intervention, and education lead to health and wellness; key programs include community clinics, physical fitness, nutrition counseling, dental and vision care, and therapy.

You can help area students enrolled in United Way funded tutoring, after-school programs, summer learning, and adult education programs get through the academic year by collecting much-needed school supplies and packing them into individual kits for easy distribution. 

This is a perfect opportunity for team building! Hold a supply drive at your work or school, with your club or group, or among family and friends. Gather items needed and assemble the kits where and when works best for you. Your efforts will provide resources to agencies so they can further help the people they serve! And bring a smile to a student's face!

Simply respond to this need and we'll send you a list of what items are needed, how to pack them, and where to deliver your kits when done. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Manwaring, Resource Development Manager, at amy.manwaring@local.unitedway.org.

Heart of Illinois United Way Partner Agencies need your support now more than ever.  By responding to this need, you will be helping multiple agencies in one or more of the following ways:

Education Programs:
Quality education helps youth and adults achieve their full potential; key programs include pre-k literacy, tutoring, mentoring, special education, college and career counseling, and adult literacy.

Financial Stability Programs:
Financial stability promotes independence; key programs include basic human needs such as food, shelter and clothing, legal support, employment assistance, and life-skills education.

Health Programs:
Prevention, intervention, and education lead to health and wellness; key programs include community clinics, physical fitness, nutrition counseling, dental and vision care, and therapy.

Help a family or homeless individual get off on the right foot with a cleaning kit for their new home. We are looking for volunteers to gather and pack cleaning essentials into a kit to be shared with United Way Partner Agencies who work to end homelessness every day. 

"Welcome to Your New Home" is also great for team-building! Hold a supply drive at your place of business, with your club or group, or among your family and friends.

Simply respond to this need and we'll send you a list of what items are needed, how to pack them, and where to deliver your kits when done. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Manwaring, Resource Development Manager, at amy.manwaring@local.unitedway.org.

Heart of Illinois United Way Partner Agencies need your support now more than ever.  By responding to this need, you will be helping multiple agencies in one or more of the following ways:

Education Programs:
Quality education helps youth and adults achieve their full potential; key programs include pre-k literacy, tutoring, mentoring, special education, college and career counseling, and adult literacy.

Financial Stability Programs:
Financial stability promotes independence; key programs include basic human needs such as food, shelter and clothing, legal support, employment assistance, and life-skills education.

Health Programs:
Prevention, intervention, and education lead to health and wellness; key programs include community clinics, physical fitness, nutrition counseling, dental and vision care, and therapy.