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,
What a beautiful day we’re having! The sun’s out, the flowers are blooming, and the trees are bursting with color. This is a beautiful time of year!
We’ve passed the one-year anniversary of the pandemic. It’s been a tough year on many people. Isolation, fear, depression, and anxiety have all been common experiences through it all. How are the people around you doing? Your family? Your friends? Your neighbors? How are you doing?
May this issue of Beyond the Bricks be a reminder that although it’s a gorgeous day outside, many people are still hurting and in need. What can you do to make a difference?
I hope you are enjoying spring’s miracle of new life!
In Christ’s love,
Jim Warren
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Participate in the Black Lives Matter in Bloomington Book Club
Thursday, May 13
7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Zoom
Join our intersectional book club to discuss the 2020 Netflix production of August Wilson's 1982 play Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, one of the ten-play Pittsburgh Cycle that chronicles the 20th-century African-American experience.
Discover more about this book club and event at the BLM in Bloomington Book Club Facebook page.
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Reduce Your Waste with Sugar Grove Nature Center
First Tuesday and First Saturday through December
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Various Locations
We are excited to announce our recycling initiative! There are so many ways that you can decrease the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. If your community offers recycling, we sure hope that you take advantage of curbside pickup or drop-off bin locations. Here are some great ways to recycle even more!
2021 collection drives will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the 1st Tuesday and 1st Saturday of every month through December 2021. We will also have collection drives during each of our special events throughout the year.
Items can ONLY be accepted during our scheduled collection dates and times and should be pre-sorted for a smooth experience. For a full packet of information regarding which recyclables we will accept, please email angela@sugargrovenaturecenter.org.
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Help with Paper Goods Distribution with the Wesley Distribution Ministry
Donate Now, Distribute Saturday, April 17, 2021
The Wesley Distribution Ministry is low on baby wipes and ALL feminine hygiene products. If you happen to have any extra room in your cart and extra money in your budget, these are most needed items for our April 17 Drive-Thru Distribution.
Donations can be dropped off in the collection box located at the entrance door of Wesley West (413 E. Washington St) at any time. The Wesley Distribution Ministry is held the third Saturday of every month from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. Collected paper products are available free at Wesley UMC’s smaller annex, Wesley West. Find out more at (3rd Saturday Distribution).
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Participate in the Pregnancy Resource Center's Annual Walk
Saturday, April 17
10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
Tipton Trail North Pavilion at Tipton Park
The Walk is a fun event with a serious goal; to continue the mission for which God has called the PRC. We know that COVID has changed our world but some things remain the same. We love and need community! So, we are planning to proceed with our Walk event this year because we missed seeing everyone in 2020. We have planned it for an outside venue so that we can maintain distance and keep everyone safe.
Click the button below for more information about The Walk and how to register.
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Support The Red Cross by Giving Blood (Sign Up Now!)
April 20 from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Eastland Mall in the Old Navy/Bergner's Wing (Veteran's Parkway & Route 9)
Bloomington, IL 61701
This blood drive is "hosted" by First Christian Church and we are adding it to the Beyond the Bricks newsletter as an extra source of advertisement. Register at www.redcrossblood.org. Your donation is greatly appreciated.
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Attend a Candlelight Vigil Supporting AAPI Community
April 23 at 7:15 p.m.
Uptown Normal Circle
NIOS and AsiaConnect at ISU are hosting a candlelight vigil celebrating the AAPI community and giving our town a space to mourn together. The vigil will feature speakers. A memorial will also be unveiled at the vigil and later preserved in another location, and attendees are encouraged to bring candles, tokens, and flowers. We hope to see you there or at the livestream of the event on Facebook.
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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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Find Comfort, or Help Someone to Find Comfort, at a Carle Grief Support Group
Second and Fourth Mondays of Each Month at 5:00 p.m. via Zoom
Do you know someone who is struggling with grief or loss? The chaplains of Carle BroMenn, Carle Eureka, and Carle Cancer Institute are offering a grief support group at 5:00 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays of each month via Zoom.
For a Zoom Link or more information, call 312-626-6799.
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Support the PATH Crisis Center
We are requesting assistance for sheltering and caring for our homeless community.
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.
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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 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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Tell a Young Musician about Pratt Scholarships
Do you know a student who would benefit from private music lessons but who is restricted by finances?
The Pratt Music Foundation’s mission is to provide talented youth an opportunity to enhance their musical ability through private lessons. Music lessons are expensive and simply not an option for some children and families: this is where the Pratt Music Foundation comes in. The Foundation grants annual music lesson scholarships through the Illinois Wesleyan University Music Preparatory Program.
Instruction is available in piano or strings (violin, viola, cello).
Our scholarships are awarded to area children each spring in grades from 2 through 12, and are based on financial need, motivation, and talent.
Applications are due by May 1.
Each scholarship covers one school year of instruction, starting in the fall (2021-2022) and includes summer lessons (2022). Free music books are supplied by The Music Shoppe in Normal.
Downloadable applications are available: Go to
For questions or to request an application by mail, call 309-827-5534, or
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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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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, honoring historical and cultural roots, building on pride and strengths of neighborhoods, and empowering 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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