Dove, Inc.

Family and friends have started asking me what I want for Christmas this year. Each year it gets more difficult for me to come up with tangible gift ideas. The truth is, there isn' t much of anything I' m lacking. I' m not saying that to brag, but because it' s a realization I' ve come to over the last few Christmase s. A lot of this comes from working at the Christmas Baskets Program here at Dove. I look around a room filled with hats and gloves, toys and gift items that will go to about 350 families - around 1,300 individuals, and it dawns on me every year how lucky I am. How thankful I am. How easily things could change for me and I could be one of those in need of a basket for my family for the season.   Each year I take calls from people who are facing hardship: the recent death of a spouse or provider, a job loss just a couple of months before the holiday season, a family with so many medical expenses that they can' t afford Christmas dinner a...

Dove, Inc. is honored to have been selected to carry on the traditions of the Annual Heritage & Holly Tour. 　NWRAPS, Near Westside Restoration and Preservation Society, 　has hosted this event for 26 years. The annual tour focuses on architectural treasures, local history and Decatur community restoration. When looking for an organization to be the event’s future sponsor, NWRAPS approached their neighbor, Dove, Inc.　 Dove, Inc. Governing Board President, Rev. Jason Butterick, states, "It’s a good fit, focusing on restoring area homes and families inside and out." Dove, Inc. plans to continue the event as an annual fundraiser to support local programs.   The 2017 event will be held the weekend after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 24, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday the 25 th , from noon to 6:00 p.m.   $18 Advance Tickets are available at the following locations through Noon, November 22: All Things Beautiful, 219 N. Main Street Dove, 302 S. Union Street an...

The 2017 Coats for Kids drive is in full swing and we will be collecting good, used coats for families in need through November 30.  Participating Cleaners will make sure the coats are clean and fresh and ready for the clothing rooms to distribute.   Please  think of the good you can do, by clearing out those closets OR by doing a bit of shopping for those hard to get sizes (about 2nd -6th graders.) Participating Cleaners make sure all the coats are clean and also a collection site for donations: Classic Cleaner 2474 N. Main Peerless Cleaners 519 N. Monroe Pride Cleaners and Launderers 2553 N. Main 1804 E. Eldorado 912 W. Eldorado 2056 Mt. Zion Road 1154 E. Prairie Ave. Waite's Dry Cleaners and Launderers 1004 S. Main, Decatur 664 W. Eldorado 115 Magnolia, Forsyth Drop off sites serve as an easy way to drop off your coat donation, while you are out. Decatur Public Library 130 ...

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but domestic violence is something we all should be aware of every day. For so long, domestic violence was considered to be nobody’s business because it usually happened in the privacy of the home.   We realize now that domestic violence IS our business; indeed it is everyone’s business.   The costs to our economy are staggering.   The pain the abuse causes the victims and their families is sometimes unbearable.   Bullying and other forms of violence can result from exposure to domestic violence as well. Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior designed to keep the victim of abuse under the power and control of the abuser.   This occurs in a family, intimate partner, dating or caretaking situation.   Domestic violence has no boundaries; it happens in all income brackets and at all levels of education to people of all races, religions or sexual orientation.   More than one in three women and more th...

As her eyes looked to the floor she said in tears, " I don’t know if I am in the right place. I have no bruises; he does not hurt me." But as she talked, her partner daily called her bitch, whore, and stupid, threatening she would never see her children again if she left. She was experiencing daily verbal and emotional abuse which lowered her self-worth, leaving her paralyzed in fear of doing anything until someone referred her to Dove. After she told her story, she looked at me with tears streaming down her face saying "Do I qualify for an order of protection even though he does not hit me?" Sadly, we hear and see this scenario often. When victims do reach out for help, they are not sure if they qualify for services or an order of protection because they are not being hit. The answer is yes, a victim of domestic violence does qualify for an order of protection for emotional abuse even though there is no physical abuse. There also must be relationships es...

As I work to finalize all those little details that go into the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program’s (RSVP) Appreciation luncheon I am filled with pride and so very grateful I get to be the Director of such an excellent program. So many volunteers perform service to so many different and worthy causes that at times it can be difficult to keep up with them. Over 380 volunteers were actively serving community needs and worked more than 63,000 hours. 10% of those hours performed were by volunteers who are no strangers to service, our local Veterans. Every day I see what the power of compassion, dedication, and true grit can accomplish. Did I mention that the average age of our volunteers is 76? The wisdom and experience that RSVP volunteers share with our community members are simply amazing. RSVP volunteers do it all; we have volunteers who help deliver Meals on Wheels, distribute goods at food pantries, and help prepare and serve meals in the soup kitchens, so no one has to go ...

Why are there so many different names for grandparents? Grandpa, papa, paw, gramps is just a few names we lavish on the grandfathers in our families while grandmas get names like me maw, Nana, or Ninny. Whatever you may call your grandparents you can be sure of one thing, when you call they come! Names for them are often something that has been passed down from one generation after another.   Many of us honor our grandparents, but for children to be able to invite their grandparents to school for a day is very special to them. They love to be able to share with their friends their very own grandpa or grandma. Children get to participate in special lessons or special assembly programs during grandparent’s day at school. Sometimes this is the only time grandparents are asked to share the day with their precious grandchildren.   This year Grandparents' Day is September 10, 2017, and I challenge anyone with a grandparent to make their day special. Grandparents Day is the pe...

The back to school season is quickly approaching and for some it has already arrived and with it comes the back to school shopping for supplies, shoes, and clothing. Have you ever asked “what happens for the children whose parents are just making ends meet?”   How do those parents supply everything on the never-ending supply lists, only to see the list grow one the first day of school?   Where does the money for shoes, supplies, and clothing come from if you are barely making the rent? Thankfully, Dove Inc. Children’s Clothing Room offers clean gently used clothing to any parent in need. Parents can select up to three outfits per child every thirty days. We try and offer new socks and underwear to all children as well but as summer winds down so does our supply.     The beginning of every school year can be overwhelming and exciting at the same time, but it is not all about the No. 2 pencils, new shoes, or even new books, it is about the children. So,...

Dove, Inc. is honored to have been selected to carry on the traditions of the Annual Heritage & Holly Tour. 　NWRAPS, Near Westside Restoration and Preservation Society, has hosted this event for 26 years. The annual tour focuses on architectural treasures, local history and Decatur community restoration. When looking for an organization to be the event’s future sponsor, NWRAPS approached their neighbor, Dove, Inc. Dove, Inc. Governing Board President, Rev. Jason Butterick, states, "It’s a good fit, focusing on restoring area homes and families inside and out." Dove, Inc. plans to continue the event as an annual fundraiser to support local programs. The Heritage & Holly Tour will continue to bring area history to light and feature area historic homes and businesses.　The Trolley will be available to transport visitors to sites on the tour. New this year will be a bit of the rich history of Dove and its programs. Donna Williams, who has organized the tour for more t...

As the calendar turns to August, the trees and grass and flowers have begun to look a little tired.   Advertising turns from summer fun equipment to Back-to-School sales.   Harried moms begin to look hopeful and kids are either excited or sad, depending on how they feel about school.   I was always one of the excited ones because I liked school.   I also loved summer vacation, but by August I was ready to return to a familiar routine.   I liked the new clothes and shoes that back to school time brought, but I was also excited to get new school supplies.   One of my favorite things was a new box of crayons.   I can still remember begging and pleading for the biggest box of crayons available.   When I opened my new box of crayons, all sorts of possibilities loomed------beautiful works of art (although I was never really blessed with artistic talent); graphs to color for math or science   projects; maps to mark with separate colors for each ...

Since 1970, 47 years ago this week, Dove, Inc. has been providing services to the community in Central Illinois.  These services are the services the community, our churches, our state, and our country have asked us to provide.  We have stepped up time and time again to address unmet needs and social injustices.    At Dove, we operate with minimal staffing, a wonderful pool of passionate staff and volunteers, and significant cost controls.  The new budget will pay approximately 87% of the work which the State contracted with Dove to provide in the 2016-17 Fiscal Year. Dove will take a hit of a bit over $100,000 for the year for services which we have already provided in good faith.  While this is difficult, we understand that this is a necessary part of beginning to unravel the State’s ongoing financial issues. We are grateful to the many community members who have stepped forward with donations and grants to keep us able to serve the needs of our...

I would like to personally invite everyone to this year = s Annual Garden and Tea Luncheon! This year we are going to be doing something different. Instead of a tour of the lovely gardens in DeWitt County, we are having a presentation put on by the well-loved Bloomington Tea Ladies. It will be titled A The Beauty of a Victorian Garden @ .  The Garden Tea Luncheon will also be a sit down lunch with a dessert buffet. This will take place before the presentation. Date:   Saturday June 17 Place: First Church of the Nazarene, 1220 Kleemann Drive, Clinton Time: Luncheon will be at 11:30 a.m. the presentation will begin at 1:00 p.m. Ticket Price:   $15.00 Where to purchase tickets:   CADV committee members, Dove and The Flower Corner. **Please note that since this is a luncheon, in order to make sure we have enough food for everyone, tickets will only be sold in advance. We will not sell tickets at the door....

Dove's Annual Meeting was held on Monday, May 8.  At that time, the following slate of Board Directors were elected to serve the July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2019 term, Mrs. SuEllen Brauer Rev. Jason Butterick Rev. Vivian Clarington Ms. Keturah Owens Mrs. Amanda Podeschi Mrs. Marianne Taylor Mr. William Taylor Thanks to all who are choosing to serve on the Board. They will be serving with the following who are serving a July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018 term Ms. Jo Carter Mrs. Tami Crouch Mr. Darrel Parish Ms. Teri Fickes Mrs. Kim Stahl The Rev. Richard Swan The complete list is always available on the Dove website www.doveinc.org Fr. Swan who is currently serving as the Vice President of the conducted the election of the Board of Directors.

 Unfortunately, some children are not in a loving relationship with their Mother. I found this poem below from the St. Paul Almanac, created in 2005. It is a tribute to women. I feel it is appropriate post to share for Mother’s Day, entitled "The Strength of a Woman."  The St. Paul Almanac is a "literary-centered arts organization that shares stories across cultures and cultivates dialogue to promote understanding, relationships, and collaborative action". The Saint Paul Almanac helps to center the people of the St. Paul community into the heart of storytelling. Please enjoy and please honor the supportive women in your life. Teri Ducy Domestic Violence Program Director The strength of a woman is carrying the burden of family without expectation that someone will feel her pain or cry her tears. The strength of a woman is the first one to wake up and the last to go to bed. The strength of a woman is to pretty and doll up all the masks sh...

Did you know that May is Older Americans Month? Each May, the Administration for Community Living (ACL) leads our nation’s celebration of Older Americans Month (OAM). Their theme this year is “Age Out Loud”. What it means to age has changed, and celebrating Older Americans Month is a great time to look and see what our retired and senior volunteers are accomplishing as they age out loud. Every day our RSVP volunteers “Age Out Loud” and respond to the needs of our communities. Many of our volunteers serve in places that ensure “Healthy Futures” for so many people in our communities. This includes giving to those aging in place by helping with transportation, meal delivery, companionship, coaching exercise programs, and distributing information, or staffing hotlines, food pantries, and soup kitchens. Within the last fiscal year, our volunteers served over 27,000 hours in this category alone. According to the Independent Sector, a volunteer’s time in Illinois is worth $25.34 ...

From the January 1987 DoveTales newsletter - below is a copy of  the Domestic Violence Program "wish-list"   Child's record player Wooden building block Large wooden dollhouse Child Guidance toys table and chairs Hand Puppets Felt, assorted colors Stuffed animals Scrap lace, ribbon and ruffles Tape Recorder Puzzles Popcorn popper   Sound fun doesn't it?    The current list going in the May 2017 newsletter is below.  Little more practical.  So if you can help us out with a few plungers or dishwasher pods or even a tablet, maybe thrown in a hand puppet or two!  It will all be greatly appreciated.   Domestic Violence Shelter Needs   BOX FANS TOILET PLUNGERS NIGHTLIGHTS RADIO/ALARM CLOCKS, ELECTRIC WHITE NOISE MACHINES (2-3 for 2 nd /3 rd shift working clients trying to sleep, as well as large families, to mask noise) TABLET (for Group use) 9V BATTERIES GAS GIFT CARDS NEW STROLLERS WALMART ...

During the dark, cold days of January----possibly inspired by the “clean slate” of a brand new year-----I undertook a major clean-up of my office.   Evidently, when I started this job many years ago, I thought every piece of paper I received was sacred.   I was rapidly running out of storage space, so I began the process of cleaning, sorting, shredding and tossing.   As the job progressed, a few things became apparent.   First, I was probably about one ream of paper away from a visit from the nice folks at the Hoarders TV show.   I had a lot of moments asking………Why did I save that?.....How long has that law been obsolete?……Whatever were you thinking when you saved that???   As I sorted, cleaned, tossed and carted off to the dumpster, I had an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and a new sense of organization.   Coming to the office, opening a desk drawer or file drawer became a much more pleasant experience. As I reflected on how cathartic thi...

When people become involved in their communities they take ownership of the problems facing all residents.   Community engagement is about people working and learning together, gaining strength from each other and sharing visions and actions that lead to a common goal.   Volunteering is a great way to begin your community journey, but did you know there are already many dedicated volunteers serving in our community? There are opportunities for volunteers of all ages to get involved and make great things happen. We have national, state, and community-based organizations that help mobilize all of those cherished volunteers, but did you know the need for volunteers never decreases? There is always an opportunity to get involved with something you care deeply about. Do you want to help build homes, help keep our environment clean, teach someone to read, delivery a nutritious meal to a shut in, rock and read to babies, or respond when disaster strikes? All of these volunteer op...

The Dove Children’s Clothing Room is a place where families may select free, good quality clothing for infants and children. The Clothing Room is located at Prairie Avenue Christian Church, 2201 E. Prairie Avenue in Decatur. It is open Monday through Thursday 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.. Families can "shop" for their children once every 30 days and are allowed 3 outfits per child, as well as 2 new pairs of new underwear and socks if available. The Clothing Room serves children and young adults from infants to age 18. We do not require referrals, but we do ask for each child’s age and gender for our records. We count on the help from the community and always welcome donations of gently used items, including clothes for infants, school aged children, and teenagers, and baby items. We are always in need of new socks and underwear and will gladly accept monetary donations to purchase these items. There is a locked, blue drop box in the church parking lot where donations can...

After spending several months on the back half of 2016 talking about abusive behaviors, we decided to take a different spin going into 2017.   You see we spent a long time slowly working through and examining different forms and subtypes of abuse including the many forms of emotional abuse.   This gave a very realistic look at some of the more “incognito” forms of violence that abusers get away with such as blaming, confusing behavior, corruption, destructive criticism, intimidation, isolation, manipulation, and even obsessive behavior.   What we realized in closing out the year was that we had developed a very strong sense of what kind of traits and behaviors that we don’t want in our lives.   On the flip side, we hadn’t really answered the question of what we do want in our lives. It was a striking realization that while some victims of abuse started with a very pleasant life full of positive relationships, others have not been so fortunate.   For those...