Sponsor of the Month

Carle has been a tremendous support to Family Service for almost 20 years.  Recently we received $2,000 for our Senior Transportation service.  Thanks to their generosity in recent years we have doubled the rides we offer individuals each week and doubled the number of rides we provide each month.  That’s an incredible 550 rides a month offered at no charge to seniors!  Check out the area Senior Transportaton Directory we created with an earlier Carle donation.  Many, many thanks to Carle for their committment to older adults in our communities.  You keep seniors connected to the care and activity they need!

Some of our great volunteers! Seated: (l to r) Jane Green, Jo Erikson, Shirley Gordon Standing: Dot Hunt, Ken Loschen, Tom Gordon

“We couldn’t do it without you!”

       Loyal volunteers get royal appreciation

We love our loyal volunteers.  You make it happen everyday!

You are the wheels, drivers, and friendly faces in Meals on Wheels and Senior Transportation.

Many thanks to Bobby Patel, of Dairy Queen who donated 100 coupons for a free cone to our regular volunteers.

Our top volunteers received presidential awards at a royal breakfast in their honor.  Thanks for donations from Blossom Basket of a beautiful floral arrangement and Fannie Mae for meltaways that were used to award our volunteers.

Honorees included:

Lifetime Award Winners–4,000+ hours

Volunteer coordinators for 20+ years:

Gold Award–500+ hours in a year

Silver Award –250-499 hours in a year

Bronze Award–100-249 hours in a year

Meals on Wheels and/or Senior Transportation

Pick up 2011 HelpBooks today

Why do you need a copy of the HelpBook? It’s the comprehensive resource guide for human and social services in Champaign County. You can find information in seconds. Know the name of the agency you want–it’s listed by name in our alphabetical index. If you don’t know what agency provides a type of service you need, then find all local options in our category index. This collaboration of Family Service and the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is available at no cost to you.

Pick up your free copy at: Family Service, 405 S. State St., Champaign, 61820 , The Stevick Senior Center, 44 E. Main St., Champaign, 61820, or C-U Public Health District, 201 W. Kenyon Rd., Champaign, 61820

Senior Task Force

Anyone in the community interested in learning about or being a local voice for senior issues is invited to join this collaborative group. They meet monthly on the third Wednesday, 9:00-10:00 am at Lincoln Square Mall outside the Health Alliance offices unless otherwise specified.

The number of people age 60 and older in Champaign County increased by 24.8% from 2000 to 2010.

Think financial, social, environmental, transportation, nutritional, spiritual, medical, mental health, and other needs of these people.

What works?  What’s missing?  What do we need to do differently to meet needs?  How can we collaborate?  Who else needs to be a the table?

Current & Anticipated Unmet Needs of Seniors in Champaign County Given Current Demographics and Illinois Finances

Group Discussion

Community Presentations

Monthly presentations are provided by local professionals and social service agencies on the second Tuesday of every month from 9:30-10:30 am. These complimentary presentations are open to the community at Family Service at 405 S. State St., Champaign.

Next presentation details to be posted soon…

Limited Seating!

To register to attend this presentation, please contact Dawn McKinley at 217-352-0099 or email dmckinley@familyservicecc.org.

Plant Your Garden and Grow Cash for the Senior Resource Center

Buy your garden seeds from Renee’s Garden Seeds and 25% of the order value will be donated to the Senior Resource Center.

Here’s how it works:

1.  Go to reneesgarden.com.  Choose from their wide selection of seeds for gourmet vegetables, cottage garden flowers, and culinary herbs.

2.  Enter the code FR722B in the coupon code box on the check out page.

This is a year-round, ongoing fundraiser, so order regularly for spring, fall, and holiday gifts.  Renee’s Garden will send a year-end check to Senior Resource Center at Family Service for 25% of all orders using this code.  Thank you and enjoy gardening!

Support Group Directory Available

The 13th edition of the Support Group Directory is a service of the Family Service Self-Help Center and lists hundreds of area support groups by category. Copies are available for pick-up at Family Service, 405 S. State St., Champaign. Please call Sharon, Self-Help Coordinator, at 217-352-0099 if you are interested in a complimentary copy. We suggest a $5 donation for each additional copy. The new version is also online by clicking the link at the right under “Find Area Services”.