Staying involved in the Bloomington/Normal area, and beyond.
Where do you fit... Beyond the Bricks?
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Welcome... to the latest issue of
Beyond the Bricks!
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Dear Christian Friends,
When we started Beyond the Bricks several years ago we wanted to help you be involved in our community and world beyond the four walls of the church. I hope you’ll look over this issue of Beyond the Bricks to see where you can make a difference.
Look for opportunities to learn about racism in our country, support Integrity Counseling, PATH, and Faith in Action, and make your home or apartment more eco friendly even in these bitterly cold temperatures.
And remember to keep praying for those who must work or live outside. PATH has been working to give people a warm place to stay, and you can read in this newsletter how you can help PATH in this life-saving mission.
Stay warm!
Peace,
Jim Warren
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Attend a Black Lives Matter in B/N Book Club's Public Discussion
Thursday, February 25, 2021
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
The February 25 meeting will be about American journalist Isabel Wilkerson's new work Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.
"Caste," according to Wilkerson, is a concept much older than race and it "is the term that is more precise [than race]; it is more comprehensive, and it gets at the underlying infrastructure that often we cannot see, but that is there undergirding much of the inequality and injustices and disparities that we live with in this country."
Our intersectional book club welcomes everybody. Feel free to invite a friend.
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Support INtegRIty Counseling by Volunteering at the Front Desk
Looking to become a volunteer? INtegRIty Counseling is in need of Front Desk Volunteers, including Spanish speaking volunteers, to answer phones and help coordinate scheduling.
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Support INtegRIty Counseling by Eating Out
Dine in, Drive Thru, or Carry Out at That Burger Joint AND/OR Oberweis
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Help INtegRIty Counseling serve the uninsured and under-insured in McLean County. Be sure to mention that you are there for the INtegRIty Counseling fundraiser and INtegRIty will receive 20% of all sales!
We need 20 people to commit to eat by following this link and clicking, "Commit to Eat." You will need to give your name and email address and how many people are with you. GroupRaise will send a reminder to eat the day before.
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Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate
Classes Begin February 23
Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Zoom
McLean County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) invites you to help change a child’s story by becoming a CASA volunteer.
McLean County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) trains and supports volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children residing in foster care. McLean County research indicates that children who have a CASA volunteer achieve a safe and permanent home sooner than those who do not.
Please contact Eric Hansen at 309-888-5855 or eric.hansen@mcleancountyil.gov for an application or more information regarding the role and responsibilities of a CASA.
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Support the PATH Crisis Center
We are requesting assistance for sheltering and caring for our homeless community as the days and weeks grow colder.
Salvation Army’s Homeless Shelter is currently closed to new intakes due to a COVID-19 outbreak, and PATH’s Homeless Services Department has sheltered more people in motels than ever before.
Any assistance you could offer would be greatly appreciated and possibly save lives. Please consider donating through PayPal on our website: https://www.pathcrisis.org/ Or donate sleeping bags and blankets to our business office at: 201 E. Grove Street Suite 200, Bloomington.
Thank you, and please have a safe and warm week!
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Support Faith in Action by Shopping Their eBay Site
Support Faith in Action with this ongoing Fundraiser!
Follow these steps to find what is currently for sale on FIA's eBay site:
2. Click on the FIA eBay button on the top left of the page
3. Click on the words "Click to Shop"
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Learn More about Being an Anti-Racist
Subscribe to a daily blog that gives guidance on how to be an anti-racist:
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Participate in the Miller Park Zoo Stampede
Saturday, March 6, 2021
This 5k run, 3k walk, and Fun Run (¼ mile for children 10 and under) is the first on the Lake Run Club (LRC) calendar for the year and is held in historic Miller Park, the surrounding neighborhood and Miller Park Zoo.
Proceeds from the 2021 event will be used to expand the Children’s Petting Zoo including the addition of Mule Foot Hogs.
We intend to have a 2021 race. Our goal is to give you, the runners and walkers competing in our event, a competitive racing experience in compliance with all CDC social distancing and health safety guidelines.
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Support the Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest
West Bloomington is known as a food desert because many people in the community lack access to affordable fresh vegetables. Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest, located at the west end of Illinois Street in Bloomington, was established May of 2016 by Col Connelly and Jan Turner to help combat this lack of access.
The mission of Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest is to provide fresh, organic produce to low-income families in West Bloomington and to facilitate learning opportunities for children and adults through gardening, harvesting, and marketing food grown on site, using sustainable practices.
If you would like to make an online donation to the Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest Fund, or to learn more about the garden and its efforts, please click on the button below.
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Give These Mid Central Community Action Green Tips a Try
Winter is in full swing. Hopefully you’ve managed to stay comfortable thus far, and ideally without boosting your energy consumption too much. If you’re concerned about your carbon footprint, follow these tips for eco-friendly winter living that won’t force you to choose between freezing and wearing five layers indoors.
Nudge down the thermostat
Challenge yourself to keep your thermostat just two degrees cooler than you normally do in the winter. You shouldn’t feel a huge difference, but the environment will notice your efforts. Offset the change in temperature by drinking more hot beverages and using throw blankets more often. If you have a programmable thermostat, set it so your heater is not working hard while you’re at work. Program the heat to kick in 30 or 45 minutes before you return from work so your apartment is comfortable when you arrive.
Grow indoor plants
Indoor plants can brighten up the atmosphere of just about any space. By releasing moisture, they can also help your apartment trap heat and combat that dry winter air your skin disagrees with. Consider using them in your kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and living room.
Open oven door after baking
Simply using your oven more can help warm up your apartment. To get even more heat from your oven, open the over door for a few minutes after using it to bake. Just be sure it’s turned off first so you don’t burn yourself or create a fire hazard.
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Memorialize Your Loved One in a Bloomington Park
The Memorial Tree & Bench Program was created to give community members the opportunity to memorialize their loved ones in Bloomington parks.
A tree or a bench memorial is a wonder way to remember your loved one and benefit the whole community.
To begin the process call the Bloomington Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts department at (309) 434-2260.
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Volunteer at or Donate to the WBRP
(West Bloomington Revitalization Project)
WBRP
724 W. Washington Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
Focus on the Tool Library: The Tool Library is open for walk-in customers! Tool Library hours are Tuesday & Thursday 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and Wednesday & Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
Because the library is a small space, and to protect our customers and volunteers, we can only allow one person to browse at a time. Make an appointment with the button below or by calling the WBRP at 309-829-1200. You can also just stop by the building during our open hours. You can check the inventory in advance at westbloomington.org/tool-library.
The WBRP has many goals:
Driven by the voice of residents, the WBRP leads impactful, collaborative efforts of neighbors and local stakeholders that honor our historical and cultural roots, build on the pride and strengths of our neighborhoods and empower residents to be leaders and achieve a vision for a better community.
Maybe you can help! Find out more by clicking the button below. And the WBRP is hiring, so check out their website for details.
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Around the Community
Click on any organization to access its website and learn about support/volunteer opportunities
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401 West Jefferson St. Bloomington, IL 61701
Bloomington's Oldest Continuing Congregation
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