-- A blog of the Office of Leadership, Service and Engagement --

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

A new year, a new schedule!

We've got a lot of great service projects planned for the 2008-2009 school year. Details about each unique site will be added as the project approaches; however, websites have been included so you can learn more about the great work of the organizations. Don't forget to save the following dates!
  • Saturday, September 13th - Aspire (limit: 15 people)
    9:00 am - 1:00 pm
  • Saturday, October 18th - Blue Jays Care Service Project - Northern Illinois Food Bank (limit: 60 people, age: 14 and over)
    8:00 am - 12:00 pm
  • Saturday, November 15th - Family Weekend Service Project - TBA
  • Saturday, March 14th - TBA
  • Saturday, April 18th - TBA
A light breakfast, snack, OR lunch will be provided for each project. Transportation and any needed supplies will also be supplied.

Beginning with the September MSP, we will require each participant to complete a liability waiver with insurance information prior to the project. Please stop by room 240 of the Frick Center to pick one up. You can also call Laura Wilmarth Tyna, Director of Leadership and Civic Engagement, at (630) 617-3687 for more information.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Service at We Grow Dreams

We Grow Dreams Greenhouse and Garden Center is a not-for-profit organization that was created to provide job training and work opportunities to individuals with developmental disabilities. They invite individuals to become team members, contributing to the success of the "business" in many ways.

Despite the cold, wet weather, we had a great service project with We Grow Dreams on Saturday, April 12th. What a great group for sticking it out! While we were there, the group helped with some outdoor clean-up and preparation of the indoor retail area.

Since We Grow Dreams was started a little over 3 years ago, they've taken steps to improve their facility each year; however, it has been a big job. It was great that our group could help them move towards their goals. They are always looking for individuals or groups interested in helping them make progress, so hopefully others will jump on board to work with this great organization!

For more information about We Grow Dreams, click on the link: http://www.wegrowdreams.org. To see all of the pictures from the day, click on the link: http://picasaweb.google.com/laura.wilmarth/AprilMonthlyServiceProject

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

April Monthly Service Project

Sign up today to participate in the April Monthly Service Project!

Due to a conflict with the originally scheduled community organization, the group will be working with We Grow Dreams (http://www.wegrowdreams.org/). This unique organization provides job training and employment for individuals with disabilities. Participants will help in the greenhouse, as We Grow Dreams prepares for the growing and selling season.

What: April Monthly Service Project
When: Saturday, April 12th 9:00 am until 1:30 pm
Where: We Grow Dreams (located in West Chicago)

Transportation, a light breakfast, and lunch will be provided. Contact Laura Wilmarth Tyna at wilmarthtynal@elmhurst.edu, (630) 617-3687, or room 240 Frick Center to sign up!

Monday, March 17, 2008

Help at the Shamrock Shuffle!

Elmhurst College was recently contacted regarding an Elmhurst contingent for the first water stop of the Shamrock Shuffle on Sunday, March 30. For those organizations/clubs looking for service hours, this is a great way to give back to the community while having a great time.


Here are the details:

Event: 2008 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle

Date: Sunday, March 30, 2008

Location: First Water Station on State Street from Washington to Adams

Carpool: Yes, from Bryan Middle School in Elmhurst at 6:15 a.m.

Volunteer Check in Downtown: 7:30 a.m. (race starts at 9:30 a.m.)

Job Description: Position tables. Fill cups with Hinckley Springs Water and Gatorade. Stack cups and distribute to runners. Rake and bag used cups. Volunteers Needed: 125-150+

Perks: Great t-shirt and even better time with friends.

All are welcome so invite your family, friends and neighbors. Mark Robinson will be coordinating the pre-race day volunteers so please R.S.V.P. to him with your preferred shirt size ASAP. He can be reached at:


Mark Robinson

mcr1124@comcast.net

708-395-5959


You can also sign up in person at Dick Pond Athletics at 124 N. York St. in Elmhurst during normal business hours or contact Bob Richards, race day coordinator, at bobnanrun@sbcglobal.net

Monday, March 10, 2008

Service at Greencastle of Elmhurst

On Saturday, March 8th 13 EC students and staff, along with 5 friends from the Saint Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, spent time at Greencastle of Elmhurst. This independent living community for older adults is only 1 mile from the College and boasts a number of wonderful residents.

About 15 Greencastle residents came out to spend time with the group. People played Bingo!, decorated pots for seed planting, baked and decorated sugar cookies, and played a couple of mean hands of Uno. All-in-all, it was a great visit. Here are a few photos of the day (above: EC and SVF group; right: Audrey, Sarah, and Allison with a friendly Greencastle resident; left: Andrea and Audrey with a woman who just turned 100!). To see more photos, click on the link: http://picasaweb.google.com/laura.wilmarth/MarchMonthlyServiceProject

Thanks to all of the folks who made this fun day possible!

Monday, February 18, 2008

Service at the Northern Illinois Food Bank


Thanks to the great group of volunteers who assisted on Saturday, February 16th for the the February Monthly Service Project at the Northern Illinois Food Bank! We had a great group of 14 students who packaged corn and mixed vegetables for distribution to local families in need. Cumulatively, the group served for over 40 hours. Congratulations on your great work!

To see additional pictures of the project, click on the link: http://picasaweb.google.com/laura.wilmarth/FebruaryMonthlyServiceProject

AIDS Run & Walk Chicago

On Saturday, September 20, 2008 over 7,000 thousand Chicagoans will join the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) in Grant Park to stomp out AIDS by participating in, and pledging to, the eighth-annual AIDS Run & Walk Chicago. The involvement of Chicago area undergraduate and graduate students, as well as their campus organizations, is critical not only to the success of this event, but their advancement as civically engaged leaders in the Chicago community. AIDS Run & Walk Chicago presents a wonderful opportunity to juxtapose service and education at your institution, while raising awareness about the disproportionate impact HIV/AIDS has upon the 13-24 year-old demographic.

With this you and your colleagues are invited to the AIDS Run & Walk Chicago Collegiate Kick-Off Breakfast on Thursday, February 21, 2008 at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. This breakfast, specifically designed to engage Chicago-area colleges and universities, will provide you with all the details you need to form a team at your school, and discuss any ideas you may have to make AIDS Run & Walk Chicago as meaningful for your students as it is for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.

Date: Thursday, February 21, 2008
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Location: AIDS Foundation of Chicago
411 S. Wells, 2nd Floor (Large Conference Room)
Chicago, IL 60607

RSVP by: Monday, February 18, 2008 to Katie O’Malley, komalley@aidschicago.org


If you have any questions regarding the Collegiate Kick-Off Breakfast or AIDS Run & Walk Chicago, please do not hesitate to be in touch with Katie O'Malley at: (312) 334-0935 or komalley@aidschicago.org.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

PADS Needs YOUR Help!

PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) is in need of volunteers for a number of upcoming dates. The program provides food and shelter to individuals in need in two areas close to the College: 1) Elmhurst Presbyterian Church and 2) St. Alexis Church in Bensenville.

Volunteers are needed to assist with evening and night programs, including set up and/ or take down of sleeping pads, serving dinner/ breakfast, and monitoring guests during the night. Help is needed on the following nights:

Elmhurst Presbyterian
-February 23rd
-March 8th and 22nd
-April 12th and 26th

St. Alexis
-February 23rd- 24th
-March 22nd- 23rd
-April 26th- 27th

If you're able to help, please contact Dr. Mick Savage in the Center for Professional Excellence at micks@elmhurst.edu.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Elmhurst Great Western Prairie- Work Days

Are you interested in working outdoors? Do you enjoy nature? Is working in a group ideal for you? Then come out to help with the Elmhurst Great Western Prairie! These are the upcoming work days for 2008:


Feb. 16 Brush cutting, some seed spreading

April 19 Brush cutting, clean-up

May 17 Spring planting

June 21 Weeding and seed picking (porcupine grass)

June 28 Weeding (mostly parsnip)

July 19 Weeding (mostly parsnip and ragweed)

Aug. 16 Weeding (mostly ragweed)


For questions or to sign up, contact
David Price at dprice@epd.org or call 630-993-8909 or Keith Olson at keitholson@usa.net or call 630-834-7357.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Spring Monthly Service Project dates

The Spring 2008 semester is just around the corner, so mark your calendar for these upcoming Monthly Service Projects.

Saturday, February 16th- 8:00 am to 1:30 pm
Northern Illinois Food Bank
Participants will assist in sorting and packaging food that will later be delivered to local hot meal sites to feed hungry people in Northern Illinois. Part of Union Board's Winter Fest celebration (February 11th- 16th).

Saturday, March 8th- 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Greencastle of Elmhurst Retirement Community
Participants will spend time with residents of this adult living facility, providing opportunities for engagement, such as playing board games, baking and decorating cookies, or starting seeds for spring garden planting.

Saturday, April 12th- Times to be announced
Chicago Interfaith Committee on Worker Issues
Participants will become more educated about a new law that impacts individual workers' rights and help to share information about the law in the local community.

Saturday, May 10th- Times to be announced
Humanitarian Service Project
Participants will help prepare for the annual Feed the Kids campaign, which provides food to area families with children during the summer months.

Transportation will be provided for all Monthly Service Projects. A light breakfast and snacks OR lunch will also be provided. Contact Laura Wilmarth, Director of Leadership and Civic Engagement, at wilmarthtynal@elmhurst.edu or (630) 617-3687 to sign up!