Your volunteer hours may go even further if the company you work for offers a corporate matching contribution.  Several corporations will donate funds to a non-profit group if their employees donate a certain number of hours per year.

If you don’t have time to donate but would like to help financially, some corporations offer a corporate match of their employee’s donations.  If you are interested, please check with your employer to see if it offers matching contributions and if so, what procedure must be followed.

Once again Outreach will have their Christmas Shop open for parents or legal guardians to shop free for their children.  This is always a very rewarding time of year for us at Outreach as we accept donations to buy toys and gifts for children of low income families so they may have a happy and joyous time at Christmas. If you would like to donate you can mail your check to Outreach, P.O. Box 101, Farmer City IL.  61842 (mark Xmas shop in the memo line) or you can drop off your donation to Sharon at Outreach. This year’s Christmas Shop is Dec. 10, 9am -11am.

Something special we also do for the kids is keep them busy with crafts while their parents shop.  This is a fun filled day for all involved. If you would like more information please contact Sharon at Outreach, 309-928-9400.

Do you have some time on your hands? Say an hour or two a week? I have need of someone to clean the Outreach Activity room.  This would involve dusting, running the sweeper, mopping the kitchen and bathroom and emptying the trash cans.  This takes an hour to hour and a half a week. If you are interested please stop by or give me a call 309-928-9400.

Also I have need of drivers to take people to doctor appointments. If you would like help in this capacity please give me a call (309-928-9400) or stop by and let’s discuss this.  For driving you will be reimbursed for mileage by the RSVP of DeWitt County.    

As I mentioned elsewhere in this newsletter, I am wanting to have some “craft days” for the young ones in the community. If you enjoy crafts and would like to help let me know. Call 928-9400 or stop by and let’s talk. I am always looking for some ideas for crafts so if you have any get with me.

The future of Outreach is currently in question because we are not receiving the donations needed to continue the services we provide.  We not only desire to continue the services we currently provide but are also open to other needs in the community.

You, the reader, can help with the future of outreach by identifying additional needs in the community and by providing assistance, financial, time or both.  If you have an idea for a program, event or class you would like to see, please contact Outreach but keep in mind we would also need someone to volunteer to lead the activity.

ty since the beginning of 2016.  The services provided include but are not limited to events and referrals to organizations with resources to meet their needs. Over 100 volunteer hours have been utilized to provide these services.  Volunteer hours have been used to call bingo, check on seniors, plan and arrange events, and provide rides to appointments.  Although we currently have a reliable group of volunteers, we are always in need of and searching for more.

If you are in need of service, start at Outreach. If Outreach is unable to meet the need, we will help you find organizations that can assist. We have a network consisting of dozens of non-profit organizations and government agencies (Outreach does not receive any government funding.) we can consult to connect you to those better situated to meet your needs. A small sampling of these organizations include; low vision care; hearing impairment; legal help for seniors; AARP. Many of the services offered do not require you to be a senior to receive assistance.  Let us know your needs and we will help get you to the right people.

I am in need of drivers to take people to the doctor, physical therapy, pharmacy, etc.  We have many seniors in our community that no longer drive or don’t drive out of town and are in need of transportation.  If you could offer transportation for some of these folks please let me know. It won’t be every day, just once in awhile. This is a great opportunity to meet new people or even renew old friendships by helping someone get to where they need to go. If interested give me a call 309-928-9400.    

Outreach was born in early 2006 and has become a vital part of many lives in and around Farmer City.  Over these years, we have helped many people in the area with the many services that we offer. In these difficult times, we have experienced a gradual reduction in both financial donations and volunteer hours. In the next few months, we will be forced to reduce the services we offer, unless there is an increase in both financial donations and volunteer help.

Outreach is housed in the east end of the Sunshine Center (by the Motel) and we offer social and educational activities for seniors and youth.  A computer lab is also available. Outreach is open each Mon., Wed. and Thurs. with many regularly scheduled activities taking place. Activities include Bingo on Mondays beginning at 2pm, Quilting and sewing the second and fourth Mondays at 6:30 pm, Bible Study on Tuesdays at 6:00 pm, Gentle Stretching on Wednesdays at 12:30 pm, Adult coloring on Thursdays at 1:30 pm, Tai chi on Thursdays at 5:30 pm,  and Knitting, crochet, crafts and coloring on the first and third Thursdays at 6:30 pm.  We also offer day trips on a bus from Piatt Tran on the second and fourth Tuesdays from March through November going to many different locations around the state.  Make-It Take-It classes are offered throughout the year.  We host a Chicken Dinner for all “Spring Chickens” in the area each spring.  We have a six week “Reading Buddies” program in the summer for kids to meet with a volunteer to work on reading skills.  Teachers have provided positive feedback on the success of this program.  We host a “Christmas Shop” each year for parents to shop for free gifts for their children.  Without this program, many children would not have a gift to open on Christmas morning.

Of course, none of this is possible without financial donations and volunteer help.  To help meet these needs, we schedule fund-raisers throughout the year.  Unfortunately, these efforts have not kept up with the financial needs.

How can you help?

You can provide financial assistance, monthly or a one-time donation.  We also offer automatic withdraw from checking or savings accounts, if you can give monthly but prefer not to mail a payment each month. Are you looking for a meaningful way to recognize someone special?  You can give a gift to Outreach in their name to support the programs we offer.  Please send your check along with the name of the person/persons you would like to recognize. All recognitions will be listed on a memorial board at Outreach.

Outreach has many volunteer opportunities available for you to reach out and help people in the community. Along with all the scheduled events above we also need drivers to take seniors to doctor appointments, physical therapy appointments, and/or grocery shopping. There is always a need for people to just visit with someone to ease their loneliness.  If you enjoy being around the younger crowd, teenagers and pre-teens, we need someone to plan and chaperon youth nights once a month for high school and junior high kids. We are also in need of someone to clean the activity room.  These are just a few of the volunteer opportunities at Outreach, if you have some time available please contact the office at 309-928-9400.

Many of you have helped Outreach by supporting events, volunteering your time and/or providing financial support.  We thank you for your past and future support.  None of this would exist without your help.

If you would like more information or would like to sign up to volunteer, just stop by and speak with Sharon or call (309) 928-9400. Again, donations can be dropped off at the office or mailed to: Outreach P.O. Box 101 Farmer City, IL 61842

Our Mission Statement:

Outreach Ministries enriches the lives of Seniors and Youth through Support, Socialization Opportunities, Education and Services in Farmer City and the Surrounding Area.