Help these helping agencies by getting them something from their wish lists

These central Illinois organizations need some extra help this holiday season. We’ll publish other wish lists next week – a much longer list is published online at illinoistimes.com. If your organization needs help send your list to:

[email protected]

Central Illinois Foodbank

2000 E. Moffat Avenue (T) 217.522.4022 | (F) 217.522.6418 www.centralilfoodbank.org

Central Illinois Foodbank, established in 1982 by a coalition of churches, distributes over 8 million pounds of food annually to over 150 food pantries, soup kitchens, residential programs and after-school programs in a 21 county region. The Foodbank is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization and a United Way certified agency.

The Foodbank’s most needed items include:

• Canned vegetables, canned fruit
• canned meat, soup
• boxed meals, beef stew
• pasta, macaroni/cheese, rice
• peanut butter, cereal, chili
• canned pasta sauce

Holiday wishes:

• cranberry sauce,
• boxed stuffing or
• boxed mashed potatoes

Non-food items are also needed:

• soap, laundry detergent, shampoo
• toilet paper, diapers
• toothpaste

(A reminder that we cannot use anything that is opened, expired, unlabeled, homemade or contains alcohol. )

SPARC

232 Bruns Lane, Springfield. Training facility: at 2929 Stanton Avenue. Sparc has been enriching the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1951. Our programs consist of 24 hour residential support, developmental training, supported employment, family support services, supported living and the Epilepsy Resource Center with three of their own programs.

Keeping our 16 homes stocked with the basic necessities is a big challenge so most of our needs are to support the 24 hour residential programs.

We always need

• Toilet paper
• Paper towels
• Disinfectant wipes

We also hope for household goods:

• blankets, comforters
• brooms
• cookware
• dishtowels
• garbage bags
• all purpose cleaners
• light bulbs

Volunteers are needed for events throughout the year. To volunteer call Morgan at 793-2100 ext. 167 or email her at [email protected].

Central Illinois Community Blood Center (CICBC)

1134 S. Seventh St., Springfield, (217) 753- 1530 www.cicbc.org

Central Illinois Community Blood Center is the provider of life-saving blood for 12 hospitals throughout central Illinois, including Memorial Medical Center and St. John’s Hospital in Springfield. A division of Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center (MVRBC), Central Illinois Community Blood Center and MVRBC collect more than 180,000 units of blood annually and serve a total of 80 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Our everyday wish is to have more healthy individuals commit to donating blood regularly. All blood types are needed year round, but we especially encourage donations during the holiday season when needs are high but donations tend to decrease.

All persons age 17 and up (or 16, with parental permission) who are in good health and weigh at least 110 lbs. are eligible to give blood. Additional restrictions apply through the pre-donation screening process. The process only takes about one hour, and you can donate whole blood every 56 days. To find a mobile blood drive or schedule an appointment in CICBC’s Springfield Donor Center, call (217) 753-1530 or visit www.bloodcenterIMPACT.org. Walk-ins are welcome!