Project LINK: ICCS- Monica Reiher

1. I volunteered for two hours at the Illinois Coalition for Community Services (ICCS) in Charleston on 18^th street with Melissa Shain. Melissa gave me a tour of the facility and Teen Reach. To raise money for ICCS they are organizing a rummage sale for this Saturday. I volunteered my time on June 3 from 10:30-12:30 by organizing clothes and sorting it into categories and pricing the items.

2. The ICCS refers resources to people and families who are in need. They will aid them by giving free food, gas cards, counseling and also referring them with information on how to get other resources from other agencies.

3. I networked a lot with the five ladies who work in the office. They were all extremely nice and knowledgeable. While talking to Melissa she gave me other contacts that I may be interested in doing an internship at for graduation. Before leaving she gave me her business card and said to call for anything and she would be happy to help. She is an Eastern Illinois alumni and after volunteering for the two hours, I feel I have networked which will help me get an internship.

4. This organization is extremely needed in the community. They offer many resources and referrals to people in need as well as helping children who have ran away from home or are locked out of their houses. If a parent no longer wants the child Melissa must fill out paper work and either place them in a group home in Decatur or Champaign or DCFS takes over the case as well as custody of the child. The mission of ICCS is to aid as much as possible individuals within the community.

5. I absolutely loved my two hours volunteering at ICCS today. I learned so much about all the resources available to people within Charleston. I did not know anything about the ICCS prior to going there to volunteer except that they help people but I was not exactly positive on how. I am now very interested in either doing an internship at ICCS or at the other two agencies she mentioned to me. I enjoyed this experience and would like to volunteer again there maybe even at Teen Reach with working with the children.