United Cerebral Palsy Land of Lincoln

101 North 16th Street, Suite 5; 525-6522

United Cerebral Palsy Land of Lincoln was founded in 1957 by a group of community leaders and parents of children with cerebral palsy. The first program offered by UCP was a school for children with cerebral palsy that operated in a church basement. UCP Children’s Services is in need of additional toys for their toy lending library. This program helps disabled children practice and learn new skills through play. A play specialist visits the child’s home and creates an individualized service plan with goals for the child to work on. Goals are written specifically for each child’s needs, and can include any of the following: fine and gross motor skills, developmental skills, speech and communication skills and social skills. Children with disabilities may not fit into the age range listed on a toy, and this program helps eliminate the guess work. To find out which toys are needed, please call Ashley at 525-6522 or email her at [email protected].

Wish List:

• Toys that have music and lights
• Toys such as puzzles with knobs and blocks with pieces to practice fine motor skills
• Games are great for targeting social skills
• Learning toys with components, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition
• Toys in the age ranges of birth to 8 years old

Grace Lutheran Church

714 E. Capitol Ave., 522-3965

For over 40 years, the Grace Lutheran Church Food Pantry has provided food for the families of Springfield. The all-volunteer pantry serves

over 1,500 individuals monthly with support from sister congregations and local organizations. Out of the food pantry ministry has grown the Grace Lutheran Church Holiday Food Basket Project. Volunteers assemble food baskets three times a year to assist families at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. The allvolunteer program is currently coordinated by Caroline Guy, a freshman at Springfield High School. Other churches also participate in the project. Recipients are referred by the parent educators and staff of two middle schools, three elementary schools, and Lutheran Children & Family Services Foster families, and local ELCA congregations. The Christmas baskets will serve another 150 families.

Wish list:

• Mashed potatoes
• Stuffing
• Macaroni and cheese
• Cake mix
• Frosting
• Canned sweet potatoes
• Canned fruit
• Canned green beans
• Soup • Gravy
• Pork and beans
• Cranberry jelly
• Jelly
• Peanut butter
• Cereal
• Jell-O
• Corn bread mix
• Canned corn, peas, carrots
• Fresh celery
• Fresh carrots
• Margarine
• Bread
• Ham
• Milk
• Cereal

Readers may adopt a basket, give a smaller gift that will be greatly appreciated or drop off donations of the non-perishable foods listed above between 9:00 and 3:00, Monday through Friday at Grace Lutheran Church.