Hope Council Rummage Sale-Katey Custer

I volunteered at the Hope Council Rummage sale that took place at the Cross County Mall in Mattoon on May 20. Most of my time was spent doing some much needed folding of the clothes! I did get some time to sit and talk with Angie Hunt, director of the Hope Council, and a few other volunteers. It was a valuable experience because I got to learn more about the Hope Council and what it does, and I got to build some somewhat personal relationships with the people I volunteered with.

The Hope Council is a domestic violence agency that helps to both raise awareness about domestic violence and offer services to victims. This ties in well with what we talk about in disadvantaged family because domestic violence is a major reason why women tend to be disadvantaged.

I believe that the rummage sale itself was wonderful for the community! Not only did it serve the purpose of collecting money and items for the Hope Council clients and shelters, but it also raised awareness to the people in the community. Several people asked about what the sale was for and were very interested in it. I also remember a specific incident when a young man wearing an A-tee came up to Angie and asked if there they had any "wife-beaters" (a term for A-tees). I will just say that Angie taught him a thing or two about what the Hope Council was all about! Overall it was a great experience, and I would love to help out again sometime!

Project LINK Blog

The place where I had choosen to do my volunteer work is a place in my community called Robinson City Park. This park like many different parks requires a lot of work to keep it a nice and clean environment for the families in this community. Robinson City Park District offers many activities for families located in the area. They have a swimming pool that opens every Momoral Day weekend, jungle gyms for the children to play on, ball diamonds, and a golf and soccar field.

I chose to volunteer here because every year he has young students who want volunteer to keep the place looking nice for the families. Many of the children in this town come from disadvantaged families and sometimes need a place to go, so that they can remember what it feels like to be a kid again. This is what the park district does for the community. It provides a safe environment where children and their families can get away for a little while and just have some fun.

During the time that I was volunteering, I didn't really work with anyone hand on hand besides the director of the park, Mike Shimer. He just showed me what he wanted me to do during my voluteer time. Which was answer the phones and provide service towards the customers. He also had me paint some of the fence until it got to hot to do and plus he had ran out of paint for that day. Then after that I picked up trash all around the park, to make it look more welcoming to the families. After I was finished with that, I had went back to answering the phones for the last 15 minutes of my time.

While volunteering, I had seen many families socializing in the park. This made me realize just how valuable a place away from home really is. Many of the people in the park were children wanting to know what I was doing. Just looking for someone to reach out to them and talk to them for 10 minutes. That's when I realized just how a place that you wouldn't think of be so helpful in many ways when it comes to families. I personally really enjoyed doing this because it made me realize a bunch of different things, that I wouldn't have realized if I didn't do this project.

Project LINK - Kierstin Canavan

The place that I chose to volunteer at is called "Charleston Teen REACH". It's an after school program for children where they can play games, do homework, learn new experiences, receive counceling (if needed), be provided with a snack and transportation, and much more. This "Teen REACH" program relates to our Disadvantaged Families course because it helps families with their time, which we learned is a precious commodity. It provides children with time to do their homework, relax, and socialize. Also, it gives their parents time to work, clean, or maybe just relax as well.

I networked with the professionals at "Teen REACH" by asking different questions about their program and getting to know them. I learned that any child is welcome, as long as they fill out a packet of information before they start attending regularly. Children are allowed to bring friends with them, but, after a few visits, their friend is required to fill out the needed information as well. Overall, I gained a lot from this experience. It made me realize just how far a little help can go. You can tell how happy the children are to be there, to have someone to talk to or play with, and how it really makes a difference in their life.

This programs effect on the community is undeniably positive. The children are given a place to go after school and during the summer to stay out of trouble, do community work, and be able to play in a safe environment. This helps the community by helping families of that community get by. Instead of having to hire a babysitter or let your children stay at home by themselves, these children are able to stay with professionals for a few hours everyday.

I really enjoyed this assignment, because it wasn't something that I would normally do, but I'm very glad that I did. It makes you feel like you did something important and to know that it was out of the kindness of your heart makes you feel even better. I can tell that these children look up to the people who work at "Teen REACH". It's an amazing feeling to know that you made a difference in someone's life and that's what these people do everyday. Although this volunteer work was a class assignment, I would definitely do it again.

Teen Reach (Antoinette Williams)

I decided to volunteer at the Teen Reach Program in Charleston, Illinois. Teen Reach is a after school program as well as a summer program for teens ages 11-17. The program is open to any teen in the community. Teen Reach is a place where teens go to do homework and just to have a place to go.
The experience allowed me to see how families are interconnected and if something happens to one member of the family it can affect the rest of the family including the children. Teen Reach is an outstanding program for teens because many children face abuse in the form of neglect at home and Teen Reach is able to be attentive to those needs of the teens.

During my experience I was able to speak with two professionals, Lindsay Vandermeer and Brenda Ingram. Lindsay works with Teen Reach and Brenda Ingram works with the Open Door Program. Lindsay talked to me about her daily experience with the teens. Sometimes things are hard because the teens come to the program expressing how they may feel about their day and it may be through violence or inappropriate communication. All of the teens have different lifestyle backgrounds and sometimes it may be hard to work with so many different personalities. Lindsay works with all of the teens in the program no matter the age.

The teens are able to attend the program from 1-4:30p.m. They seemed to be very excited to attend the program and one young man stated, "I come here every chance that I get". The program is designed to meet the needs of teens that may be disadvantaged or those trying to stay out of trouble. Teen Reach is like a safe haven for the teens that participate.

This experience allowed me to understand the lives of disadvantaged teens. I heard some conversations that reflected on that particular teens life. I also heard some stories about some of their feelings towards their parents. As I prepared meals for the children, I saw some of them constantly watching to see if the food was available yet and when it became available they ate quickly and came back for seconds and thirds. The teens that I interacted with were very outgoing and all the wanted was attention. Some teens only wanted a meal, but the great part is that Teen Reach is available for them.

Teen Reach Brittney Taylor

I chose to do my volunteer hours at Teen Reach. I have volunteered at teen reach in the past and had a good experience there. Teen Reach is an after- school as well as summer program for children between the ages of 11-17.

One thing that I did find interesting was that the faculty picks the children up from school to take them to Teen Reach, then drops them off at their home. Teen reach hours of operation over the summer is 1:30pm-6pm.

Teen Reach is a outstanding program for children to go after school while their parents or at work or maybe just need a little break. While taking my Death and Dying course I was able to relate some of my volunteer experience to what I learned in class. Many parents are not able to put their child in a after-school programs or daycare because of the expenses. The fact that parents are able to trust their facility to pick their children up until they get off work is something that is quite convenint. Also, the program gives the children something to do so that they do not become involved in any trouble.

During my first time volunteering at Teen Reach I had the chance to speak with one of the professionals ,Lindsey Vandermeer,that works there. During my conversation with Lindsey I found out more about Teen Reach as a whole. She also went on to explain the children and her interactions with them everyday. My networking experience with Lindsey showed me that going that extra mile can really make a difference.She explained that her days are sometimes hard, but her passion for giving back to the children overcame those hard times that she has. When she made this statement I was able to understand where she was coming from because I continue to keep going even when the times are getting rough.

The potential effect that this service could have on the community is children being able to go a place and not have to worry about anything for that time, but enjoying being a kid. The time spent at Teen Reach could be exactly what the children look forward to everyday because it has everything children like to do such as painting,board games,the

wii,computers,snack, pool table, television, and even a place where they could do their homework. The thought behind picking children up from school,bringing them to a safe facility where the children can play, then to taking them home is something I think is smart and has the potential to be done in other places across the country.
My overall experience was one that was good. I noticed that some children do not get the chance to enjoy being a child because they may be having problems at home. Teen Reach gives children the opportunity to enjoy their childhood in case they may not have as many resources at home.

While I was interacting with the children I also noticed that something as simple as asking for an extra granola bar to take home showed me that they may not get the same treatment at Teen Reach as they do at home. The children enjoy being at the facility and playing games with their friends because both times that I volunteered all of the children had smiles on their face.I want to be able to help out as much as I can when it comes to the children because no matter what their background they are our future.

Project Link: Teen Reach By Ashley Bell

On June 7th, 2011 and June 8th, 2011 I volunteered at the Teen Reach located in Charleston, IL. Teen Reach provides homework assistance, positive adult mentors, a place for children to feel safe, and life skill classes just to name a few. Teen Reach had alot of different activities for the children to partake in such as painting, playing with the Wii, a computer lab,a pool table, and they even had a room were they were allowed to do homework.

Volunteering for Teen Reach helped me put some of the skills that I have learned into play. While playing with the children, I began to ask them questions, the first question I asked was "Who all lives in your household?" When asking this question I thought about the discussion we had in class about not just assuming that children live with their mother or father, but finding a way to ask questions without making them feel inferior to any other children. Without learning this in class, I would have just asked the child "Do they like living with their mommy and daddy." Not realizing that question could have made them feel very uncomfortable.

While volunteering at Teen Reach, I was able to network with Ms. Lindsey Vandermeer. Ms. Vandermeer and I did an activity together with some of the children were we created a painting on a the front of a CD and the creations would be hung on the wall. While talking to her I decided to ask her, what got her into this field. Ms. Vandermeer basically told me that she wanted to give children a place to go were they felt safe, and would be able to enjoy themselves and meet children that they had other things in common with. One thing she said that I can total agree with is "I have my ups and downs, but knowing that I am making a difference, makes me smile." That is how I feel, going into the major of FCS I look up to those that are making a difference because that is what this major is all about...Finding a way to help a child by any means necessary.

The potential effect that this service can have to the community is a Safe Haven, although Charleston isn't know for alot of crime, no one ever really knows what kids go through when they are at home. For some children school and after school programs like Teen Reach are a get away for them. As long as Teen Reach keeps reaching out to children, I see no reason why their organization won't grow and maybe even be available in more cities.

I really enjoyed helping out at Teen Reach, mainly because I love kids, I love watching how kids interact with each other and talking to them and see their out look on different subjects. One thing that truly touched my heart is that majority of the children were really having a good time...making up games, painting cds, playing in the computer lab, or even just playing pool. It seemed like being at Teen Reach was the highlight of their day. That is something I truly want to achieve in my later life, I want to be able to use my resources and help as many children as I can. Volunteering at Teen Reach helped me realize that working with kids is something I truly want to do, and I will be volunteering at Teen Reach more often.

Project LINK - Helping Our Heroes by: Sarah Friestad

I helped out at a Helping Our Heroes motorcycle run and it was a blast. Even though it was hot everyone really seemed to have a good time. I was able to help with the fundraising process, help get bikers through registration, and get them pumped about the 100 mile ride. I met people that I may never have talked to if they weren’t at this event.

I was talking to a bunch of riders about my major and they were telling me about services and different things I may want to look into. I met some important people and learned a lot that I may have not known about them. There was a rider who was in the army, who had received help and wanted to participate to help give back to a wonderful organization. The community is able to help out and donate to a cause by making donations, participating in the motorcycle run as a rider or a food sponsor and then can always give us gifts that we can raffle off or hold an auction for.

Helping Our Heroes, a volunteer-staffed not-for-profit Charity, is devoted to helping them when others can't. Helping Our Heroes is here to fill the void between government sponsored assistance and the financial realities faced by returning veterans. The Foundation distributes funds to qualifying active duty Illinois military personnel, veterans, fire fighters and police officers that are in financial distress related to mortgages and necessary home repairs. When we consider that their financial difficulties are likely the result of their absence while putting their lives and welfare on the line for our benefit, helping Illinois soldiers, providing Illinois Veteran assistance, offering Illinois Firefighter and Illinois Police Personnel as well as Illinois Reservist assistance is the least we can do.


Check them out at http://www.helpingourheroes.org/