Service Type

Organization

Details

Virtual

Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal

The Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal is looking for help exanding their BGCBN Virtual Club Experience on Facebook and Snapchat. They're asking individuals to create and send short instructional videos that could be shared with children. These could be how to tie a show, make a snack, do a quick craft, a DIY experiment, etc. Text your videos to Jenny Hall via (857) 318-5243 or send through Facebook Messenger.

Virtual

The Loft of Normal

Brighten the day of a nursing home resident by sending a colored picture, card, note, or letter! No visitors are currently allowed, and they cannot hold large group activities, either. Send your artwork/letters to:

The Loft of Normal
Molly - Activities
510 Broadway
Normal, IL 61761

Virtual

Local health departments, first responders

Send words of encouragement, colored pictures, cards, notes, or letters to local health department workers and first responders.

Virtual

Crisis Text Line

The Crisis Text Line looking for volunteers to serve as Crisis Counselors and respond virtually to needs across the United States. They require a minimum of four hours of volunteer time per week, and their peak hours are overnight. Visit their website for more information.

Virtual

Various, donations of medical supplies

A variety of organizations are accepting donations of medical supplies and/or funds to purchase those supplies.

• OSF Healthcare: see their website for full information
• The McLean County Sheriff's Department: accepting donations at their office at 104 W. Front Street, Bloomington, IL 61701

Virtual

Various, donations of homemade masks

A variety of organizations are accepting donations of homemade masks to assist during this time when personal protective equipment might be in low supply. In the Bloomington-Normal area, OSF Healthcare is accepting these items. See their website for full information, including specifications for mask creation and drop-off. If you are outside of Bloomington-Normal, check with local healthcare organizations or first-responders to see if they are accepting homemade masks and, if so, what requirements they have.

Virtual

Smithsonian

Smithsonian Digital Volunteers make historical documents and biodiversity data more accessible by transcribing field notes, diaries, ledgers, and more. Since 2013, more 15,400 volunteers have transcribed over 519,600 pages. Visit their website for more information.

In person,*  virtual

Feed BloNo Kids

Feed BloNo Kids is a collaborative effort of several local businesses to provide food for local children while schools are closed. The group needs volunteers weekly to help prepare, deliver, and distribute food. They are also asking for donations to continue to offer food for free to local families. Visit their website for more information, to donate, or to sign up to volunteer.

In person,*  virtual

McLean County COVID-19 Mutual Aid

McLean County COVID-19 Mutual Aid is a group organized via Facebook. They are coordinating volunteers to run errands for individuals not able to leave home or in high risk groups. Visit their form if you are interested in organizing/dispatching volunteers, running errands for individuals, or assisting individuals with technology needs.

In person,* virtual

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is reporting a critical shortage of blood donations due to the COVID-19 crisis. If you are healthy and able, consider scheduling an appointment to donate blood. You can also use the Red Cross Sleeves Up campaign to pledge your support online and help them spread awareness of the shortage.

In person,* virtual

MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) is a non-profit with the primary mission of ending all forms of impaired driving, preventing underage drinking and drug use (with prevention education to grade school, high school, and college students), and supporting victims. MADD is currently recruiting volunteers for their Court Monitoring Program which involves observing the adjudication process of DUI cases and compiling information about DUI cases. This information can be used to evaluate how certain jurisdictions are processing and enforcing DUI laws. The goal is to use this information to prevent impaired driving. Volunteering for this program is a great way for students gain insight and experience about how the Criminal Justice System works. A volunteer would go to court, collect certain information about DUI cases, and report back to MADD staff. Volunteers are needed in Peoria, McLean, Knox and Champaign Counties. Remote volunteer options are also available for special projects. For more information, contact Terri Klein at (309) 253-9404 or Terri.Klein@madd.org.

In person*

BCAI School of Arts Summer Arts Exposure

BCAI School of Arts is still in need of two to three volunteers (preferably ethnically diverse, ages 18-40) for its Summer Arts Exposure (SAE) series. SAE begins this Monday, July 6. Familiarity with/interest in the arts is a plus, but not required. Must be good working with children/students. More information about SAE can be found on the website. Contact Angelique Racki at racki@bcaiarts.org if you or someone you know can volunteer.

In person*

East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging

The East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging (ECIAAA) is recruiting volunteers to help older adults and those with serious underlying medical conditions during the pandemic. Volunteers will be connected with agencies in their area to assist individuals with grocery shopping, food and medication delivery, and to offer reassurance through telephone calls. If you are healthy and interested in helping, contact Amber Johnson at (309) 829-2065, ext. 201, or ajohnson@eciaaa.org. ECIAAA serves a wide portion of Illinois, including Champaign, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, Macon, McLean, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby, and Vermilion counties.

In person*

Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

The Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest needs volunteers to help prepare the garden for the spring planting season. Volunteers are needed Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays, from 8 to 11 a.m. Simply come when you're able. Social distancing protocols are in place. See their Facebook page for updated information, and contact them at sunnysidecgff@gmail.com with any additional questions.

Beginning June 3, volunteers will also be needed on Wednesdays from 5 to 7:30 p.m. for the Free Market.

In person*

Holy Trinity Saint Vincent DePaul Food Pantry

The Holy Trinity Saint Vincent DePaul Food Pantry needs volunteers, particularly on Mondays, for food distribution. Food will be placed in car trunks and social distancing will be practiced. For more details, contact them at svdp.htpantry@gmail.com.

In person*

Midwest Food Bank

Midwest Food Bank in Normal is in need of volunteers to help package food for distribution. (Many of their regular volunteers are retirees and are in vulnerable health situations that keep them from helping during this time.) If you are healthy and able, they are updating their needs and shifts daily via SignUp Genius.