Community wish lists

Holiday help for nonprofits

If you’re like most Illinois Times readers, your life is safe and secure and the holidays are a time for family fun and delicious meals. Sadly that isn’t the case for everyone in our community. Many won’t have packages to open or a festive celebration to look forward to. Thousands around the area count on help from a nonprofit organization just to have the most basic comforts in life.

Below are several of nearly 20 holiday wish lists IT has assembled from local nonprofit organizations. These groups need your help all year round but they are especially eager for help during the holidays. Look for this feature each week during the holiday season; we’ll publish as many wish lists as space permits in print each week, but a complete listing of wish lists is available online at www.illinoistimes.com. If you represent a nonprofit organization that has not yet submitted a wish list, please send email to swhalen@ illinoistimes.com or call 622-6700 for details.

M.E.R.C.Y. Communities

108 E. Cook Street, 753-1358 www.mercycommunities.org Email: [email protected] Contact: Joan Hysler, marketing director, [email protected]

M.E.R.C.Y. Communities provides housing and supportive services to homeless and at-risk women and children. MERCY started in 1999, serving 10 transitional families and has grown, with our Permanent Supportive Housing, to 30-plus moms and 55-plus children. The children’s ages range from infants to 17 years old. Our families are working hard to become independent and self-sufficient, through educational classes, life skills training, and a variety of job training opportunities. We have a volunteer base of 30-35, with additional volunteers helping throughout the year on various projects.

Wish list:

• New towels and washcloths

• New dish towels and potholders

• Sheets – full and twin sets

• Laundry and cleaning supplies

• TV converters, bus passes

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Illinois Capital Region

928 South Spring St., 753-1216 www.bbbscapitalregion.org Contact: Carissa Brownback, director of programs

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Illinois Capital Region (BBBS), an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, was organized and incorporated in 1972 in Sangamon County. The mission of BBBS is to help children reach their full potential through life-changing, professionally supported, one-to-one mentoring relationships. BBBS serves youth in five counties: Christian, Sangamon, Logan, Macoupin and Montgomery.

Wish list:

• Mentors, mentors, mentors!

• Child-size scissors

• Markers

• Individually wrapped snacks

• Copy paper

Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery

1011 North Seventh Street, 525-6800

founded in 1975 to provide a safe place to help victims of domestic violence. Sojourn currently provides 24-hour emergency shelter and hotline services, court advocacy, prevention and education, volunteer opportunities and operates Sojourn Westside Fashions. Each year Sojourn assists approximately 1,600 victims of domestic violence and their children.

For women:

• Winter hats, gloves, scarves

• Slippers (all sizes)

• Bras (all sizes)

• Bathrobes, pajamas

• Socks

• Journals/diaries

• Shampoo, conditioner, lotions, deodorant

• Combs, brushes

www.miniobeirne.org Karen Cox, executive director [email protected]

MOCN’s mission is to prevent child abuse and neglect by providing emergency care for children who may be at risk or whose parents are experiencing some type of crisis. We are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The nursery opened on May 15, 1989.

Nursery programs: Infants and children from birth to age six are cared for by trained, nurturing staff in a homelike environment, free of charge. The children we care for participate in learning activities, interacting with other children and staff. Developmental and medical screenings also are provided.

Family support: Support services from our professional staff are available 24 hours a day to help families though a crisis. Family services include:

• Crisis counseling and follow-up home visits

• Parent education classes and support groups

• Referrals for food, clothing and shelter

• Referrals for drug/alcohol treatment or domestic violence protection

• Necessities for children such as diapers and formula

Wish list:

• Updated furniture and supplies for all the children’s areas

• Metal shelving units

• Three-drawer horizontal (lateral) filing cabinet 42X18X40

• Weekend volunteers to help in the nursery with children

• New stove/oven

• Digital camera

• Children’s winter clothes, socks and underwear (size newborn to 8/10)

• Office furniture for our intake office (desk, storage credenza, etc)

• Financial donations are always welcome

Sojourn Shelter & Services

1800 Westchester Boulevard, 726-5200 (24hour

hotline), 726-5100 (office) www.sojournshelter.org Sojourn Shelter and Services, Inc. was

For children:

• Winter hats, gloves, scarves

• Snow boots (all sizes)

• Slippers, socks (all sizes)

• Bathrobes, pajamas (all sizes)

• Board games, puzzles, books

• G-rated DVDs

• Action figures

• Dolls

For shelter:

• Rock salt

• Alarm clocks

• Cough drops, allergy medicines, chapsticks

• Toilet paper

• Umbrellas

• Paper towels

• Garbage bags (39 gallon)

• Clorox wipes

• Prepaid calling cards

• Canned foods

• Clear garbage bags for recycling (39 gallon)

The Phoenix Center

109 E. Lawrence Ave., 528-5253

www.phoenixcenterspringfield.org Contact: Jonna J Cooley PhD, executive director

The Phoenix Center provides quality, confidential HIV/AIDS-related services to the community including free testing, counseling and outreach as well as transitional housing for homeless men and women who are HIV+. The Phoenix Center is also Springfield’s LGBTQ Community Center, offering groups and services for the LGBTQ community as well as organizing Springfield PrideFest.

Wish list:

• We are in desperate need of a chest of drawers

• Van for client transportation to medical appointments and grocery runs

• Bath towels

• Personal hygiene products

• Dish and laundry soap

• Twin-size bedspreads and blankets

• Nonperishable food

• Toilet paper and paper towels

• Two vacuum cleaners