Dove, Inc.

Sammy, Dove Inc.'s unofficial official mascot. One of the best things for me about moving into the Anna B. Millikin home in 2007, was that my office window looks out into the garden area. Over the past few years I've grown fonder of watching the birds flit around--something my mother has done for years. One day in the summer of 2009, I was sitting at my desk working on data entry when I heard a tiny thud. I looked over to see that a squirrel had landed on my windowsill and was peeking in at me. He walked all along the sill, and then moved back to where he'd started, and peered in again. This is probably where I should stop and tell you that I have an affinity for rodents of all kinds. I've had guinea pigs since 2004, and at one point, fostered a hamster for a client who was in shelter. I love them. They're fuzzy and cute and squirrels are no exception. That day I went to Wal-Mart and bought a bag of mixed bird seed. The day after, I sprinkled the seed...

I have noticed a trend on Facebook.   Many people are posting what they are thankful for each day in November.   I have greatly enjoyed reading friends’ “thankful” posts.   The lighthearted ones make me laugh and the serious ones make me reflect on what I’m thankful for in my own life.   Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to shout how blessed we are from the rooftops! Here at Dove, we do our best to say “thank you” all year long, but it never seems like enough.   Our volunteers, staff, donors, religious organizations, and all of our supporters give so much of themselves all year long.   We are thankful for each and every person who is involved with Dove.   We are thankful for the agencies we collaborate with, the opportunity to serve the community, and those who give us the means to do so. As you sit down with your families, friends, and neighbors this Thanksgiving you might be thinking of what you are thankful for.   We’d like you to...

You’ve probably heard the saying that domestic violence is everyone’s business . It is our business, and our responsibility to get involved when someone we know is being abused or terrorized in their home, or anywhere else. It is our business because domestic violence affects us all in some way, shape or form. Often times, however, people don’t have a clear understanding of what domestic violence looks like. So if you’re interested in reading some personal accounts of domestic violence to see how people are affected, I’ve gathered some links for suggested reading, and will add to this post when I find more, so keep checking back! I am not a victim, I am a survivor Actor Speaks Against Domestic Violence at Fundraiser Candice's Story

Next week, November 11 th – 17 th is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week and the Continuum of Care will be participating in several events throughout the week to bring awareness to these two vital issues in our community. Two of the largest events will take place on the same day, Friday November 16 th , Box City and the Community Service Day and Veteran’s Stand Down. The Coalition for Veterans Concerns and Dove, Inc. are co-sponsoring the Community Service Day and Veteran’s Stand Down. This event will include providers from social services, healthcare, employment, housing and other fields coming together in one place to provide those in need with the services they are seeking. The event will take place at Old King’s Orchard, 815 N. Church here in Decatur from 12 noon – 4:00 p.m. Anyone needing further information should contact Joan Meeder at Dove, Inc. 217-428-6616 or Lucy Brownlee, 217-875-1006. The second event that will take place on Friday, November 16 th w...

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Everywhere you look people are draped in Pink to show their support of this worthy cause. ISU and Illini volleyball teams are going to “paint the gym pink”.   Virtually every player on my beloved Chicago Bears is wearing pink shoes, sweat bands, mouthpieces or towels. An animal shelter in Decatur is wearing pink t-shirts all month long. A percentage of my purchase of yogurt, bottled water, and bread is going toward breast cancer research. And don’t even get me started about the pink flamingos. I LOVE PINK FLAMINGOS! The staff at Dove 100% supports the efforts to raise awareness and money toward finding a cure for Breast Cancer. There is another very important awareness campaign in October – National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Our color is purple. The color purple represents the bruises left on the skin of adult and child victims of domestic violence. We don’t have electronic billboards or a “Real Men” wear purple adver...

Today I’d like to share a fun way to get involved with your neighbors and community this Halloween.   The Community Services Program here at Dove encourages getting out in your neighborhoods and improving the communities in which we live.   You’ve been BOO-ed gives is something that gives you the opportunity to get out in your neighborhood AND have fun at the same time! Here’s the gist of it and what the poster says: The phantom ghost has come to town To leave some goodies…I see you’ve found. If you wish to make this a happier fall… Continue this greeting, this phantom call. First, post this Phantom where it can be seen, And leave it there until Halloween. This will scare other Phantoms who may visit. Be sure to participate, you don’t want to miss it! Second, make two treats and two copies from www.beenbooed.com Deliver them to two neighbors, try to stay calm. Don’t let them see you, be sneaky, no doubt… And make sure they put their Phantom...

The 21st Annual Coats for Kids! will begin next Wednesday the 17th and will run through November 30.  It's simple folks, donate a coat you don't want or need anymore.  The cleaners will make them clean.  Then we'll take them to a clothing room so someone who needs a nice, warm winter coat can take it home with them! When this drive started 21 years ago, one of the problems facing area clothing rooms was the lack of children's coats, never enough to cover the need.  Well, the coat drive has helped a great deal over the years.  But there are still cold kids who need a coat and so we keep hosting the program. WAND has been the cosponsor of the drive each and every year.  Each year, one of the meteorologist  lends their time and talent to the drive. RSVP Volunteers keep the coats moving.  RSVP volunteers are amazing and this is just one of many, many projects they make happen each year. 61,252 coats have been cleaned and distributed to c...