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Alumni Volunteering
Panther Service Day a success, thanks to you!
Eastern Illinois University's Panther Service Day, an annual tradition in Charleston since 2003, grew this year to communities across the country. Thanks to all who participated and spread the word about what EIU is all about! You can read a recap of the projects here.
Panther Service Day Sites: Saturday, April 19
Birmingham, AL: Youthserve’s Great Vegetable Run
YouthServe is the largest youth service organization in Birmingham bringing students, ages 13-18 from all walks of life and from all over Birmingham together to participate in community service and social change. Join your fellow alumni and Birmingham area students for the Great Vegetable Run. Aid in the sorting, bagging and delivery of fresh fruit and vegetables to local area elderly shut-ins. Adult drivers are needed to transport students and fresh goods to predetermined destinations.
Saturday, April 19
10 am-1 pm (Lunch will also be served courtesy of the Youthserve organization)
Highlands United Methodist Church
(located in the center of 5 Points South)
1045 20th St. South
Birmingham, AL
Hosted by: Buffie Clodfelder-Miller ’99
To volunteer, please e-mail alumeiu@eiu.edu or call 800-ALUM-EIU.
Bloomington, IL.: Community Cleanup Work Day
Join fellow alumni and friends as we pitch in during the third annual Bloomington-Normal Community Cleanup Week. Clean-up activities will include picking up litter, trash and debris in Miller Park. Supplies, including trash bags and disposable gloves, will be available.
Saturday, April 19
10 am-noon
Miller Park Pavilion
1020 S. Morris Ave.
Bloomington, IL
Hosted by: Rachal Roach ’03,’04
To volunteer, please e-mail alumeiu@eiu.edu or call 800-ALUM-EIU.
Charleston, IL: Cleanup Coles County
Projects may include yard work and cleanup of streets, alleys, parks, recreational areas and campus.
Saturday, April 19
Check-in Time: 8:30 am (A continental breakfast will be available)
Community Service: 9am- noon (Lunch will be served at noon)
Buzzard Hall on EIU's campus
Projects and project locations will be assigned at check-in.
To volunteer, please e-mail alumeiu@eiu.edu or call 800-ALUM-EIU.
Chicago: Lakeview Pantry Green Bag Drive
Lakeview Pantry is an emergency food distribution center that strives to eliminate hunger by providing food to fill the basic needs of hungry people and raising awareness of poverty and its solutions. Join fellow alumni, friends and other local community members for the Lakeview Pantry Green Bag Drive bag distribution. Volunteers are needed to deliver 1,000 paper bags to the doorsteps of nearby residences, in hopes of collecting donations of non-perishable food items. Donation collection will take place one week following by the Lakeview Pantry staff.
Saturday, April 19
11 am
3831 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL
Hosted by: Victoria Markley '99 and Cassie Lively '01
To volunteer, please e-mail alumeiu@eiu.edu or call 800-ALUM-EIU.
Dallas, TX: March for Babies
The March of Dimes has changed the name of its biggest event to March for Babies. March for Babies supports the life-saving research, service, education and advocacy that help babies get a healthy start. Join the community-wide march as either a supporter or a donor.
Saturday, April 19
9 am
White Rock Lake
N. Buckner Boulevard and E. Northwest Highway
Dallas, TX
Hosted by: Kristina (Kirby) Brevard ‘00
Please click here to register as a member of the EIU Alumni Team or to make a donation.
Edwardsville, IL: Metro East Humane Society Work Day
The Metro East Humane Society is dedicated to the proper care, treatment and adoption of abandoned animals. Volunteers are needed for various tasks including walking the dogs; socializing with the cats; or assisting with bathing, grooming and cleaning. An optional training session is recommended prior to the April 19 volunteer date.
Saturday, April 19
Noon-2 pm
Metro East Humane Society
8495 State Route 143
Edwardsville, IL
Optional Training Session
Sunday, April 6
Noon-2 pm
Metro East Humane Society
8495 State Route 143
Edwardsville, IL
Hosted by: Mark Richardson ‘00
To volunteer, please e-mail alumeiu@eiu.edu or call 800-ALUM-EIU.
Kankakee, IL: Kankakee Salvation Army Work Day
Across the United States more than 30 million people per year are aided in some form by the services provided by The Salvation Army. You can help your local Salvation Army meet the needs of those living in your community. Join fellow alumni and help sort and stock various food and clothing donations, or stop by and make a donation of your own between the designated hours.
Saturday, April 19
10 am-noon148 N. Harrison Ave
Kankakee, IL
Hosted by: Domesha Perkins ‘07
To volunteer, please e-mail alumeiu@eiu.edu or call 800-ALUM-EIU.
Libertyville, IL: Community Youth Network's Take a Step for Kids
Ready… Get set… Volunteer for the fifth annual Take a Step for Kids walk/run hosted by the Community Youth Network. Volunteers are needed to help execute various day-of-race duties which may include setting up, tearing down, and working at registration tables and water tables. Of course, you can also participate in the 5K/10K run or 5K walk!
Saturday, April 19
Check-in time: 8:30 am
Independence Grove Forest Preserve
16400 West Buckley Road
Libertyville, IL
To sign up as a day-of-race volunteer, please e-mail alumeiu@eiu.edu or call 800-ALUM-EIU. To register as a walk/run participant, please visit www.cyngrayslake.org.
Mattoon, IL: Book Drive to Benefit the Mattoon Public Library
Give the gift of imagination by donating a new or barely used children’s book to the Mattoon Public Library.
Saturday, April 19
10 am-noon
Common Grounds
1612 Charleston Ave.
Mattoon, IL
Hosted by: Jonathan McKenzie ’99, ‘01
To volunteer, please e-mail alumeiu@eiu.edu or call 800-ALUM-EIU.
Orange County, CA: Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County Work Day
In Orange County, one of the world’s most affluent places, more than 456,000 people are at risk of going hungry at some time every month; 38 percent of that growing number are children. In partnership with 390 member charities, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County helps to feed an average of 200,000 of these individuals each month. Join your fellow alumni and volunteer your time to inspect, sort and stock various food donations, or stop by and make a donation of your own during the designated hours.
Saturday, April 19
1-3 pm
Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County
8014 Marine Way
Irvine, CA
(formerly El Toro Marine Corps Air Station)
Hosted by: Ronald Noren ‘58
To volunteer, please e-mail alumeiu@eiu.edu or call 800-ALUM-EIU.
Springfield, IL: Toy Drive to Benefit the St. John’s Children’s Hospital
St John’s Children’s Hospital is dedicated to meeting the health care needs of children with acute and chronic conditions in central and southern Illinois. You can help to brighten a child’s hospital stay by donating a new, unwrapped toy during the 2008 Panther Service Day toy drive. All toys collected will benefit the St. John’s Children’s Hospital treasure chest program or the child life playroom.
Saturday, April 19
8:30-10:30 am
St. John’s Children’s Hospital (at the Carol Jo Vecchie Women and Children’s Center)
800 E. Carpenter St.
Springfield, IL
For a list of donation suggestions please visit the hospital’s wish list.
Hosted by: EIU Staff member, Kimberly Harris
To volunteer, please e-mail alumeiu@eiu.edu or call 800-ALUM-EIU.
St. Charles, IL: Northern Illinois Food Bank Work Day
The Northern Illinois Food Bank annually distributes more than 22 million pounds of food to local families and individuals in need. You can help in the fight against hunger! Join fellow alumni and help sort and stock various food donations, or stop by and make a donation of your own between the designated hours.
Saturday, April 19
Time: 9-11am
Northern Illinois Food Bank
600 Industrial Drive
St. Charles, IL
Hosted by: Paul Aguilar ’82, ’83
To volunteer, please e-mail alumeiu@eiu.edu or call 800-ALUM-EIU.
Panther Service Day Sites: Alternative Dates
Phoenix, AZ: Saint Mary's Food Bank Work Day
Serve your community while networking with local Eastern alumni! Help aid in the sorting and packaging of emergency food boxes.
Saturday, March 29
12-3 pm
Saint Mary's Food Bank Alliance
2831 N. 31st Ave. (just south of Thomas Road on 31st Avenue)
Phoenix, AZ
Hosted by Jack Marks '72.
To volunteer, please e-mail alumeiu@eiu.edu or call 800-ALUM-EIU.
Decatur, Ill.: Neighborhood Clean Up Work Day
Join fellow alumni, friends and other local community leaders for the 2008 Weed and Seed community clean-up effort. You can help beautify Decatur just by offering a few hours of your time. Cleanup activities will include picking up litter, trash and debris in public parks and neighborhoods and along public roadways. Supplies, including trash bags and disposable gloves, will be available.
Saturday, April 12
9 am-noon (Lunch will be served courtesy of Old King's Orchard, Neighborhood United and McDonald's.)
Old King’s Orchard Community Center
815 N. Church St.
Decatur, IL
Hosted by: Jo Clark Caulkins ‘72
To volunteer, please e-mail alumeiu@eiu.edu or call 800-ALUM-EIU.
St. Louis, Mo.: The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition's KidStore
Children often go into foster care with only the clothing on their backs. To help, The Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition created the KidStore, a small resale shop open exclusively to children in foster care. The KidStore's goal is to help boost the self-esteem of children in foster care by helping them feel comfortable with their physical appearance. Join fellow alumni in helping to sort and stock various clothing donations for the store, or stop by and make a donation of your own between the designated hours.
Saturday, May 3
9:30am-noon
Tyler Place Presbyterian Church (2nd Floor)
2109 S. Spring Ave.
St. Louis, Mo.
Hosted by: Stephen Pope ’96
To volunteer, please e-mail alumeiu@eiu.edu or call 800-ALUM-EIU.
Wheaton, Ill.: People’s Resource Center Work Day
Since 1975, people in DuPage County have reached out to help others through the People's Resource Center. Last year, more than 20,000 local people received food, clothing or rent assistance through the aid of the PRC. Join fellow alumni in helping to sort and stock various food donations at the PRC’s food market, or stop by and make a donation of your own between the designated hours.
Saturday, May 3
8:30 - 11:30 am
People's Resource Center
201 Naperville Road
Wheaton, IL
Hosted by: Mary Ann Griffin ’86
To volunteer, please e-mail alumeiu@eiu.edu or call 800-ALUM-EIU.