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Community Corner

Spring Break Staycation Ideas: No. 1, Do Something Good

Hey, it's March, and that means spring break is just around the corner. Here's a series of three ideas for things to do, starting with volunteer work.

March is here, which to parents who have school-aged children is also the month which includes Spring Break—a week where if you are not traveling by plane, train or automobile, finds you taking on the role of “cruise director."

No worries. Here are some innovative and unique ideas to keep the whole family busy and active locally during that week, starting with No. 1.

1) Make a Difference and Volunteer

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Northern Illinois Food Bank – 600 Industrial Dr., St. Charles

  • The 9 a.m. to noon shifts are still available for families to participate on Tuesday, March 29 through Thursday, March 31. Volunteers can be as young as 8 years old and must contact NIFB in advance to sign up. Individuals and families should contact Rachael McGarry, Volunteer Coordinator at 630-443-6910 ext 129. They can also email volunteer@northernilfoodbank.org.

Anderson Animal Shelter — 1000 S. LaFox, South Elgin

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  • WISH LIST DRIVE — A group can do a wish list drive to help raise needed items. Wish list items are available at www.andersonanimalshelter.org
  • BUILD A CAT TREE — An individual or a group could build a cat tree for shelter cats. There are a number of cat tree directions that can be found online. Some are pretty easy while others are more difficult.
  • BUILD A FERAL CAT HOUSE — An individual or group can build a feral cat house. These also can be found online with varying degrees of difficulty.
  • VOLUNTEER AT THE SHELTER — Students 13 and older can volunteer at the shelter. They need to fill out an application, which can be found on the website, www.andersonanimalshelter.org. or by calling 847-697-2880.

Marklund — 1S450 Wyatt Dr., Geneva

  • Monday through Friday (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 3:30 to 8:30 p.m.) and Saturday and Sunday (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) volunteers are needed in Marklund's Developmental Training Program at the Geneva Campus. Volunteers will help with arts and crafts, sports games, reading, or playing board games. This is great family/kid friendly fun. For more information or to volunteer for any of these opportunities, contact Stevie Armbruster at 630-593-5473 or at sarmbruster@marklund.org.

The Friends of TriCity Family Services - 1120 Randall Ct., Geneva

  • Create a basket of food items that would complete a ham dinner (sponsor is providing gift certificates for hams), provide Easter decorations and candy, gift cards, paper goods and any special seasonal treats you wish.  You will have the age and gender of each member of the family you adopt and information on food allergies, etc. so you can personalize your basket accordingly.
  • Adopt-a-Family Easter Program is for TriCity Family Services client families who live in the Geneva, Batavia and St. Charles community and are in financial need. Adopt-a-Family Baskets will need to be delivered toTriCity Family Services April 11-13. Their hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Food donated should be able to sit unrefrigerated for two weeks without spoiling. If you would like to adopt a local family in need this Easter, please call or email Mary Kay Dowling at TriCity Family Services, 630-232-1070 or mkdowling@tricityfamilyservices.org. Families will be ready to be adopted by March 18.

FoxValley Special Recreation Association — 2121 W. Indian Trail, Aurora

  • SPRING BREAK MINI CAMP — Monday, March 28, to Thursday, March 31, FVSRA has a Spring Break Mini Camp where volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Batavia Civic Center in Batavia. Volunteers need to be 16 or older and would be assisting participants with special needs in daily living skills, camp activities, field trips, and swimming.
  • CHICAGO BULLS GAME — Saturday, April 2 FVSRA will be taking a group to a Chicago Bulls Game. The game is from 7-10:30 p.m. FVSRA will leave Aurora at 5:20 p.m. and return at 11:40 p.m. Volunteers will be eligible to ride FVSRA vehicles to the game. Volunteers need to be 18 years or older and will be assisting participants with special needs in daily living skills at the United Center in Chicago. Any volunteers that are interested should contact Alex Redenius, Support Staff Coordinator, at 630-907-1114 or at alexr@fvsra.org 
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