Dove, Inc.: Volunteer Opportunities

Select a volunteer area on the right, or scroll down for all listings.

Volunteer Application - click to download
RSVP Enrollment Form
please print and mail completed application to:
Dove, Inc., Volunteer Director, 788 E. Clay, Decatur, IL 62521

Volunteer Areas:
• Dove
• RSVP DeWitt County
• Faith in Action of DeWitt County
• RSVP of Macon County

Community Recycling Center - Aluminum cans are recycled at the center located at 130 W. Cerro Gordo in Downtown Decatur. Volunteers are needed to assist customers, weight cans (outside work) or serve as cashiers (inside work). Contact Jan at 428-6616 for additional information.

Children's Clothing Room - Sort donations and assist those seeking clothing. This free clothing room is located at Prairie Avenue Christian Church, 2201 E. Prairie and is open Monday - Thursday, from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. Contact Jan at 428-6616 for additional information.

BABES Volunteer - BABES, Beginning Awareness Basic Education Studies, is a program sponsored by Dove, Inc., which brings worthwhile life skill lessons to children in grades K-3rd, in Macon county schools.

BABES will be seeking additional volunteers to cover all of the classrooms requesting this valuable program. If you would like to make a difference in the lives of 6 to 10 year olds, please consider becoming a volunteer.

This volunteer commitment is usually an hour a week for six weeks and that covers two classrooms. The presentations are made in pairs. Bring a friend who can be your partner or be teamed with a person during the training.

Call the Coordinator at 428-6616 for the next training opportunity for the fall 2013 schedule.

2nd Chance Mentoring Program - Homeward Bound is seeking mentors for a new program, focused on serving those re-entering the Decatur area. Mentors, after successful completion of required background checks and training are paired with individuals leaving incarceration, to become part of a support system that will lead to successful transition into society. Mentors work with mentees, pre and post incarceration, for about a 16 month commitment.

2^nd Chance Project Coordinator will pair mentors and mentees. The Coordinator will be a source of support, knowledge and resource to both mentor and mentee.

Learn about the program – what a mentor is expected to do and what is out of bounds, and the criteria for individuals to become a mentees. This initial meeting does not commit you to or ensure your eligibility to additional training and volunteering.

Homeward Bound, 788 E. Clay, Decatur, 362-7700 or dove@doveinc.org

Volunteer Application Volunteer Job Description

Partners in this project • • Homeward Bound • Illinois Department of Corrections • Richland Community College • Project Read • BI-Spotlight

DeWitt County RSVP Community Involvement Opportunities

Liberty Village is looking for volunteers to visit with residents. Share stories, put together a puzzle, grab a couple friends and lead a sing-a-long. Brighten up a resident's day with your smile.

Volunteers are needed to assist with transportation to and from dialysis appointments, and medical appointments. Most appointments are in Decatur and Bloomington/Normal.

Memorial Day is the official start of the summer activities. Weldon Springs and Clinton Lake are looking for volunteers for a variety of activities. Volunteer in one of our local state park locations:

Weldon Springs B

Schoolhouse Host/ess B Saturdays or Sundays, 9:00 a.m. to noon or 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Volunteer Naturalist B work with Carol Thompson Saturdays or Sundays, 9:00 a.m. to noon or 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Blue Bird Trail Monitor B assist with maintenance of houses and trail, while observing the Eastern Blue Bird.

Garden Helpers B no green thumb requires. Assist with gardening during the spring, summer and fall. Learn a new skill to use at home. Days and hours are flexible.

Beautification B assist with keeping the park free of trash

Clinton Lake B

Teasel Topping B assist with the eradication of the invasive Teasel plant. Cut off the tops, put them in a garbage bag and give to staff to destroy

Beautification B assist with keeping the park free of trash

To learn more about DeWitt County RSVP or the needs of DeWitt County, please contact Silvia Comfort at 935.2241. She will be very happy to answer any questions you have and help you find that volunteer opportunity that is right for you.

for more information about Dove's RSVP Program, click here

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Faith in Action of DeWitt County Volunteer Activities

The mission of Faith in Action of DeWitt County is to provide emotional and physical support to seniors and those with long-term illnesses so they can maintain their independence, dignity and quality of life.

Caregivers are needed for:

Friendly Visiting - visit with a care receiver, share stories, read, go out

A man in Clinton

A woman in Clinton

Friendly Phone Calls - call a care receiver B say Hi!, check in on them

Lawn Maintenance

A woman in Wapella

A woman in Farmer City

Transportation for grocery shopping, running errands

Transportation to medical appointments, Springfield, Champaign, Decatur and Bloomington-Normal

Faith in Action is asked every summer to build ramps. So far this year we have requests for four ramps. In most cases, those requesting ramps have not been able to leave their homes for months. We have an volunteer engineer who designs the ramps to ADA specifications and a few volunteers to build them.

To become a volunteer, to learn more about Faith in Action of DeWitt County, refer someone you know or the needs of elders in DeWitt County, please contact Silvia Comfort at 217.935.2241 or email her at scomfort@doveinc.org.

for more information about Dove's Faith In Action Program, click here

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Macon County RSVP Community Involvement Opportunities

STARR - School for Therapeutic and Recreational Riding

Did you like being around horses when you were younger? This riding program for special needs children provides benefits such as enhanced muscle tone and balance, improving their coordination, self-esteem, and confidence, and at the same time teaches responsibility and provides much needed social integration? You can be a part of this beneficial activity by assisting riders, grooming horses, assisting with birthday parties, or helping in the office maintaining schedules and making phone calls. No horse experience is needed - just a desire to see a BIG smile on the children's faces. Call the RSVP office for more details, or visit www.starrfarm.org

Decatur Public Library

Are you interested in local history? The Library is the place to be! Volunteers needed to greet patrons, search files for information, data entry, scan pictures. Use your computer skills here. Flexible times on Tuesdays, Saturdays, Sundays. Call Jan for more details, 428.6616.

Scovill Zoo

Watch the kids and adults have fun - greet the guests, operate the carousal, be an engineer on the train, be a tour guide, and help with special events. Shifts are usually 2 hours. Open 7 days a week. If you have a fascination with the animals your help is needed with the mobile zoo events. Call Misty or Ken at 421.7435.

Baby Talk

Use your office and-or computer skills, greet visitors, copy files, sort mail, answer phone, you can even be creative with the bulletin boards. Baby Talk Early Head Start office located at 710 W. Macon Street. You choose morning or afternoon hours on convenient days. Contact Jan at 428.6616 or jpasier@doveinc.org for more details.

Rock Springs

The 1860 Homestead Prairie Farm is a historic treasure that links us to experiencing life before the Civil War. Volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks for these weekend interpretive programs, tours of the restored home of Joseph Trobaugh, and celebrating our nation's birthday 1860's style. These programs are from June to October and at various times and dates. Flexible volunteer schedule and training available. Contact Brent at 423.7708 or bwielt@maconcountyconservation.org

Rock Springs

Summer camp brings hundreds of kids to experience what nature has to offer. Volunteers are needed to assist camp counselors, lead hikes, fishing and canoeing programs, help with crafts, registration and much more. Flexible volunteer schedules and training available. Contact Jenny at 423.7708 or jgarver@maconcountyconservation.org

Dove Children's Clothing Room

Greet shoppers, sort and hang clothing. Located at Prairie Avenue Christian Church at 2201 E. Prairie Avenue. We are open Monday through Thursday, 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. Call Jan at 428.6616 to let her know when you can help. Also, if you can help us be good neighbors to those in need, please stop by with your good used children's clothing donations or drop them off in the blue donation box located in the parking lot.

McKinley Court Gift Shop

McKinley Court Gift Shop needs some volunteers to work in the shop and-or with the new gift cart that visits the residents in their room and the staff at their desks. Flexible hours and shifts are available, call Dwight for more information at 329.2694.

Northeast Community Fund

RSVP is helping with the food distribution project every Friday of each month. No lifting required, just a smile and a cheerful greeting. Call Jan at 428.6616 if you can help one Friday month from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Parking available in rear of building.

•••• for more information about Dove's RSVP Program, click here

projects

Looking for a project that your small group can tackle?
Click on projects to see what's new, what's under review and what has been completed.

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