Service Type

Organization

Details

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

PATH/United Way 2-1-1 Hotline

Adult volunteers are needed to answer phones on the 24-hour crisis hotline. Volunteering your time on the hotline offers a rewarding experience and a great opportunity to give back to your community, especially as suicide rates are rising at an alarming pace in this country. A complete training program and professional backup is provided. Our training program teaches you everything you need to know, including communication techniques and information about community resources. This training course is now offered remotely for those practicing social distancing or those who are otherwise unable to physically come to our building.

The next 8-week training class begins September 16. If interested, the volunteer application is available online at www.pathcrisis.org. Classroom/Zoom training meets on Wednesday nights from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. uestions? Call Adam at (309) 834-0507.

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

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Smithsonian Digital Volunteers make historical documents and biodiversity data more accessible by transcribing field notes, diaries, ledgers, and more.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

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

BCAI School of Arts has served Bloomington-Normal for 8 1/2 years, providing arts and cultural arts classes regardless of ability to pay. They will be exploring in depth Hip Hop Cultural Arts moving forward and how individuals relate to the culture as well as how they can utilize its energy to make their households, our community, and the world what we want it to be. BCAI is looking for volunteers for two informational events in October. Visit the Facebook event and their Signup Genuis page for more information.

In person*

Timber Pointe Outdoor Center

Timber Pointe Outdoor Center recently embarked on a new endeavor to provide assistance for families struggling with childcare options after school districts cancelled in-person classes. “TPOC-U” is a distance learning day camp for all abilities, ages K-7th grade, that began on August 31. In between their scheduled e-learning, students get to spend time outside doing all of the favorite camp activities: canoeing, peddle-boating, fishing, archery, nature, and more! Timber Pointe is looking for both paid employees and volunteers to help with the program. For more information, visit their website. 

In person*

School Street Food Pantry

The School Street Food Pantry is located on the edge of campus, serves local college students, and has a variety of volunteer needs throughout the fall. Complete their volunteer form in order to sign up for specific volunteer positions.

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 harvest, weed, and prepare for fall planting. Volunteers are typically needed Fridays and Saturdays, from 9 to 11 a.m. Social distancing protocols are in place. See their Facebook page for updated information, and contact them at sunnysidecgff@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering.

n 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.