Volunteer Evanston: July Organization Spotlight

City of Evanston, Illinois sent this bulletin at 06/29/2012 03:35 PM CDT

Keeping YOU connected to Evanston's Volunteer Community

What is an Organization Spotlight?

An 'Organization Spotlight' is a new, semi-monthly e-newsletter from Volunteer Evanston designed to keep you informed about and engaged in Evanston’s volunteer community. In each newsletter, we will highlight the contributions that an Evanston nonprofit is making in our community.

To nominate a outstanding volunteer or phenomenal organization, please email volunteer@volunteerevanston.org.

Infant Welfare Society of Evanston (IWSE)

The Infant Welfare Society of Evanston (IWSE) began with volunteers distributing milk to impoverished families with infants and toddlers nearly 100 years ago. Today, IWSE is dedicated to “serving Evanston and its surrounding communities with programs that nurture, support and educate the whole family.” As an Early Head Start agency, partnering with CNE to provide Early Head Start services, IWSE believes that all families deserve access to high-quality child care and early childhood.

Get Involved in the IWSE:

Click here for VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Click to learn more about the IWSE MISSION AND WORK

Click to see upcoming IWSE EVENTS

FIRST STEPS AND BEYOND!

Since 1913, IWSE has been there for the first steps of all Evanston babies. IWSE serves over 400 community members annually and has three core program areas:

Baby Toddler Nursery (BTN) - Launched in 1971 as the first licensed child care center for infants and toddlers in the State of Illinois. BTN currently serves 70 children aged six weeks to five years old in eight classrooms. There is an intense focus on relationship based care as teachers focus on using every moment for positive interaction designed to support learning and development.

Teen Baby Nursery (TBN) - Opened in 1989 to provide care, early education and early intervention to the children of teen parents enrolled at ETHS. TBN provides full-day care to 16 children whose parents attend ETHS. The staff is skilled at assisting young parents as they prepare for and face the challenges of parenthood. Ninety-nine percent of Teen Baby Nursery participanting parents have graduated in recent years.

Family Support Program. Began in 2005, this program reaches more than 80 families and provides services that are crucial to the academic and social success of children ages 0-3 years old. Intensive supports and services aim to prevent child abuse, increase future school life success, promote positive and appropriate parenting and teach families about their children’s development. Specialists work with parents on a weekly basis and provide one-on-one parental training with regular goal setting; twice-monthly family events that offer education; and parent-child activity; and, yearly developmental screening.

IMPACT VOLUNTEER

Babs Maltenfort has been spending two days a week in the Teddy Bear 1 classroom for the past year. She learned of IWSE from a contact at the Chicago Community Trust with whom she consulted about opportunities to volunteer with children. Babs views her role as a classroom volunteer as part of the team, working closely with the room’s teachers. Babs’ interaction with the children in her classroom includes giving them bottles, reading, cuddling and playing with them. Being able to impact children in need is what motivates her volunteer work and keeps her invested in IWSE. When asked what was most special to her about her time here, Babs related the story of a time when she had not been able to volunteer for several weeks due to her schedule. Upon her return to the classroom, the children were so excited to see her that they instantly engulfed her in hugs before she even got past the doorway. This close, personal and emotional attachment to the children is hugely fulfilling.

BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD!

IWSE is looking for multiple types of volunteers to help.

Classroom Volunteers: These volunteers commit to volunteering on weekly a weekly basis in a classroom environment. Typically 2-3 hours per visit is encouraged. Volunteers who have experience with infants on a personal level and can engage with children in meaningful play and interaction are sought.

Leadership Volunteers:

Centennial Committee will be focused on organizing outreach and engagement events for the celebration of IWSE’s 100th year serving Evanston.
Committee Volunteers support the mission and vision of IWSE in all areas of governance, including: fundraising, programs, and special events, etc.
Board of Directors provide the same level of organization support as committee volunteers but also commit to fiscal support and attending quarterly meetings.

If you cannot give your time to IWSE, there are other ways to make a difference. IWSE is seeking in-kind contributions, including: company discounts for printing costs; food for their twice monthly dinners which serve local at-risk families; or, “Adopt a Family” Program for the holiday season.

THANK YOU IWSE FOR YOUR NEARLY 100 YEARS OF EVANSTON SERVICE!

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES

July 14: “It’s EASY being green!” the City of Evanston Public Works Department needs all hands on deck to help staff the 2012 recycling fair. Click here to give a hand!

CLICK HERE TO HELP US REACH 500 FACEBOOK FRIENDS BY FALL!!!

July 14-15: The Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN) has multiple opportunities to support the 2012 Ride for AIDS Chicago, an annual 200 bike ride from Evanston, IL to Lake Geneva, WI. Sign up here for one of these great opportunities.

Northwestern University is looking for organizations in need of student volunteers! NU is planning its second annual service day for all 2,400 incoming students on Sunday, September 23, 2012 from 2:00-5:00pm. If you know of an organization that has an opportunity to engage a volunteer group of 10 students and welcome them to the Evanston community, please contact Josh McKenzie at (847) 467-5204 or j-mckenzie@northwestern.edu.

A Joint Partnership between the City of Evanston, Northwestern University, Evanston Community Foundation, School District 65 and School District 202

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