We know that families in Champaign-Urbana are interested in participating in meaningful volunteer experiences, but such opportunities for younger children are not plentiful (although we list some HERE). We have the 411 about one such opportunity coming up in May.
Many of you may be familiar with the National Association of Letter Carrier’s Food Drive and its memorable tag line, Stamp Out Hunger. This is the event, always on the second Saturday in May (May 13 this year), where mail carriers will pick up non-perishable food set by your mailbox.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of this event, which is wildly successful. After all the food is collected, it is sent to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank. Last year, over 30,000 pounds of non-perishable food was donated to the Foodbank thru this drive. The Foodbank needs your help to sort and repack product for our agencies to distribute to our neighbors in need. Great news for families with younger children — these repacks are open to volunteers 8 years old and older.
• Thursday, May 18 from 3:30-5:30pm & 5:30-7:30pm
• Wednesday, May 24 from 3:30-5:30pm & 5:30-7:30pm
• Thursday, May 25 from 3:30-5:30pm & 5:30-7:30pm
• Wednesday, May 31 from 3:30-5:30pm & 5:30-7:30pm
All repacks are held at the Eastern Illinois Foodbank – click here for directions. The EIF warehouse is located in north Urbana off of Lincoln Avenue on the north side of Interstate 74.
Click here, to sign up to volunteer for a repack. Repacks tend to fill quickly as spots are limited.
***Please note: Any volunteer 8 to 13 should be accompanied by a responsible adult; one adult per each child.***
Tips: How do you prepare for a repack?
1. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Be prepared to get dirty and sweaty; you’re in a warehouse, after all.
2. Bring your own water bottle, although EIF is usually very gracious to volunteers and often has water and even snacks.
3. Repacks are very gratifying, but they are sometimes tedious work. Prepare your kids that they are there to help, which isn’t always “fun.”
4. Don’t bring a lot of stuff, there’s nowhere to put it.