Three Spinners joins our New American Welcome Center on campus!

Three Spinners joins our New American Welcome Center on campus!

Opening in early June, the Three Spinners Community Resource Center will provide refugees, immigrants, and newcomers to the community with support and advocacy services when they are faced with the difficult task of starting their lives over in a new country and culture. 

As part of the YMCA’s New American Welcome Centers effort to build a more inclusive and welcoming communities, we welcome all people without regard to nationality, religion, or legal status. Some of the services that will be offered include material aid, language practice, job preparation, and acculturation. 

To learn more or volunteer, visit 
threespinners.org/community-resource-center

Ready to be the change? Learn more at the AmeriCorps VISTA virtual info session.

Are you ready for the next step in your career? 

Are you passionate about making a difference and working alongside communities to fight poverty? 

Want to learn valuable non-profit management and sustainable community development skills? 

Consider joining AmeriCorps VISTA! To learn more about the program, and hear from some currently serving members, tune in to our Virtual Information Session on Wednesday, May 24, 2017  3pm ET (12pm PT).

Register here.

We have year-long and short summer service opportunities available and are looking to hire now! From Alaska to Puerto Rico and everywhere in between, AmeriCorps VISTA members work alongside community leaders to find sustainable solutions to poverty including: developing job opportunities, increasing access to education and housing, promote healthy living, and much more. During this session, learn about the AmeriCorps VISTA program, hear from currently serving members, and have all your questions answered!

WE'RE HIRING NOW!

Learn more about the University YMCA's AmeriCorps VISTA postings

The University YMCA seeks two full-time VISTA Members who will build infrastructure of our immigrant and student programs, develop partnerships within our community, and investigate and develop new possible resources to support these programs. VISTAs will develop leadership skills in fundraising, program development, volunteer coordination, nonprofit management and more.

One VISTA will focus on our New American Welcome Center work and help build capacity for our immigrant outreach services. The other VISTA will focus on our YMCA student programs. Applicants are welcome to apply to one or both.

VISTAs serve for one full year and have access to fantastic benefits through the AmeriCorps program (click here for more information), including a living allowance (approximately $1000 a month in Champaign County), relocation allowance if you move 50+ miles, an end-of-service award of either $5,815 for education expenses or a cash stipend of $1,500, healthcare benefits, professional development trainings and more. 

The YMCA hopes to start VISTAs in June or July, but actual start date depends on the training schedule of the Americorps program. For best chance at consideration, please apply by Friday, May 19 at 11:59pm. 

The Immigrant Outreach Capacity VISTA posting can be found here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=73353&fromSearch=true 

The Youth-at-Risk Capacity VISTA posting can be found here: https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=73355&fromSearch=true 

Apply now at my.americorps.gov. 

For questions, e-mail Emily Cross at emily@universityymca.org or Megan Flowers at megan@universityymca.org. 

Make one of the biggest recycling events in CU happen. Join us for Dump & Run!

PSA/Press Release

For Immediate Release

May 3, 2017

For media inquires, contact: 

Megan Flowers, University YMCA Communications Director

[217-337-1500; megan@universityymca.org] 

WE NEED YOU (AND YOUR STUFF) FOR ONE GREAT CAUSE

Dump & Run, A Community Recycling Event

YMCA of the University of Illinois

Be a part of reducing litter and consumer waste, saving space in landfills, & providing inexpensive items for folks to purchase in the fall. The University YMCA is seeking volunteers to help with collecting, sorting, and packing donations during May collection days for their annual Dump & Run recycling sale in August. The Y's Dump & Run program has been a completely volunteer-run program since its inception 15 years ago as a small garage sale at the University YMCA. Each year, the Y relies on volunteers in the community and on campus to make one of the biggest recycling events in Champaign-Urbana happen. 

To sign up to volunteer, please visit: universityymca.org/dump_and_run/volunteer/ When you volunteer, you get first dibs on the things collected (after only 6 hours of volunteering) - and we get an unbelievable amount of great things donated!  Dump & Run volunteer opportunities during May Collection Days start May 8 and run trough May 24, 2017.  The Y especially relies on the help of volunteers during peak collections activities on the dates of Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13. Volunteer drivers are also greatly needed! If you are interested in driving to pick up and drop-off donations, please indicate that you are willing to drive in the "comment" section of the volunteer sign-up form. 

The University YMCA also asks community and campus members to donate any gently used, accepted items at the University YMCA (corner of Wright & Chalmers) during May 2017 collection days of the Y's Dump & Run recycling program. The Y is also hosting free pick up days for unwanted furniture and bikes in the community from May 10 & 11 from 9am to 4pm only. Please visit our website at universityymca.org/dump_and_run to schedule an appointment for us to come pick up your donated furniture or bikes for free. Please note that do NOT take sofa beds or TVs.

For more information about the University YMCA's Dump & Run program, please visit: universityymca.org/dump_and_run/

May 2017 Collection Days

Donation Drop-Off Location: University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright St, Champaign, IL 61820 (Corner of Wright and Chalmers on the U of I campus)

Collection Dates & Times:
Monday-Friday, May 8-12 from 9am to 4:00pm

Saturday, May 13 from 9:00am-12:00pm 
& May 15-19 from 9:00am to 4:00pm

OPEN LATE until 7:00pm on Thursday, May 11!

Free pick-up days for donated furniture and bikes
Tuesday, May 9 & Wednesday, May 10
9:00am-4:00pm

By appointment only. Please schedule an appointment for us to come pick up your unwanted furniture or bikes for free at univeristyymca.org/dump_and_run/

We collect furniture, dishes, glassware, pots & pans, small household appliances, computers, electronics, bicycles, office & school supplies, nearly-new clothing, books, toiletries, lawn & garden, artwork, vinyl & cds, musical instruments, sporting equipment & other household goods.

We do not collect televisions, paint, child/infant car seats, stoves, washers, dryers, non-working electronics & computer parts, sleeper sofas, mattresses, televisions, or large exercise equipment.
The University YMCA reserves the right to refuse any donation offered, based on but not limited to, its size, weight, and condition.

Questions? Contact the University YMCA at 217-337-1500 or email us at dumpandrun@universityymca.org 

Visuals: During May Collection Days, the University YMCA's Latzer Hall becomes a fine-tuned collections hub; volunteers collecting, sorting, and packing items donated from campus and community members alike.

Photo Opportunities: Friday, May 12 from 9pm to 4pm and Saturday, May 13, from 9am to 12pm will be peak collection activity times, in which we are loading and unloading donations from dormitories and sorority and fraternity houses, sorting and packing donations at the University YMCA in preparation for the Sale in August.

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