We want your Business Card

Here at It Takes a Village, our families have needs that we are unable to fulfill, such as: firewood, plumbing, electrical and other various needs. We would like area Business Cards to put into a binder to share with families. You can send them to It Takes a Village Central IL PO Box 245 Mahomet IL 61853. 

It Takes a Villages goes to Maple Point

This Valentine's Day It Takes a Village members came together to hand-make and purchase Valentine's Day Cards for Seniors in the community. We were invited to share the cards at Maple Point, in Monticello, during their Valentine's Day Tea Time. Please enjoy the captured moments!

Jalyse Marie from Grandma's Place Daycare

Brookelynn 

Touching moment between Jackie and Norma, as Lynn is fixing her hair

Jeremiah and Samantha making room deliveries  

Jeremiah and Brookelynn ready to give out love

A simple project brought joy and happiness to many! 

Atwood Armory Lends a Helping Hand!

It Takes a Village was recently contacted by Atwood Armory, in Atwood Illinois. Each quarter for the past several years they do a fundraiser to help a local organization that helps the community. Atwood Armory has chosen It Takes a Village for their first quarterly fund raiser.
Last year alone Atwood Armory raised over $52,000 for local charities! They have made headlines across the United States! This year, and with their 1st Quarterly fundraiser, they plan to break their fundraising records!
From Atwood Armory:
"For each $20 donation that you make to benefit It Takes a Village Central Illinois, your name will be entered into the drawing to win this Limited Edition Ruger SR1911 .45acp. There are only 300 of these in existence! Drawing to be held March 29. Tickets can be purchased at ATWOOD ARMORY or by mailing a check or money order to ATWOOD ARMORY, 65 E CR 1175 N, Atwood, IL 61913. For those of you that don't live in our area, should you win this beautiful firearm, it will be shipped to an FFL in your area."

Check out ATWOOD ARMORY on Facebook! For all your Firearm needs please check out Atwood Armory today! 

Bryan & Charidy Butcher

Owners of The Atwood Armory

217-578-2767

Christmas Giveaway 2013

A note from our Founder:
"I'm overwhelmed with the success of It Takes a Village Central Illinois Christmas Giveaway! We were concerned with the amount of families registered, and had to somehow get 15 families through the line in an hour. But we were so organized and prepared we got them all through in 20 minutes, giving us 40 minutes to restock, organize and rest before the next group came through. We soon realized we were going to have tons of extra so we raised our limits and then for the last hour we opened up to the public. The whole experience was awesome! And "thank yous" have been pouring in. This would not have been possible without the help of our community for giving us gifts to give, Slot and Wings Hobby, Dinosaur Motorcycle Club, James Dirt Dorner, Mahometdaily.com and many other businesses in Mahomet. Also, the many volunteers throughout the year who helped, and those who came and helped during the event. Also all the people who donated snacks and drinks, the support was unbelievable. We also had a surprise visit from Mahomet Citizen.
At It Takes a Village we work year round to throw this event and this year it was another huge success! Again Thank You for all your support, love and kindness!
A special Thank You to: Kim Melchi- Conder, Jess Conder, Cheryl Melchi and her mom Betty, Jackie Butler, Abby Ziegler LaBoyteaux Shawn Butler, Shannon Cross,Amanda Stewart Berry, Michelle Pointer, Janice Stewart, Heidi D. Ponder, Mandi Pryor. I know I'm forgetting some, I'm just so overwhelmed with all the gratitude I have for everyone, I can hardly think straight. If I didn't mention your name your help has not gone unnoticed, the success is proof of all your hard work!"
Heather Denam, President of It Takes a Village Central IL. 

It Takes a Village Central IL helps 239 Children that Pre-Registered for the event, and the last hour the event was open to the public. Enjoy our pictures!

Donations from Slot and Wings Hobby

Donation from Slot and Wings Hobby

Donations from Slot and Wings Hobby

Shawn Butler (Please note last year's picture of her dressed up)

Jackie Butler and Heidi Ponder

Interview with Mahomet Citizen Newspaper 

Volunteers taking a much needed break!

2013 Winter Giveaway

Today It Takes a Village helped 50 FAMILIES!!! We handed out more than 1,000 pieces of clothing! 

Many families were able to get jeans and warm fleece pajama's for their little ones, some even found winter coats that fit. We still have families in need, please check out Community Needs List up top to see if you can help. 

2012 Presentation for a local troop of Brownies

It Takes a Village was asked, back in 2012, to do a presentation for a local group of Brownies working on their Philanthropy Badge. During the meeting we explained to the young group of girls the purpose of our Organization and the importance of giving. In the end the girls gave each of us a box of "Thanks-alot" cookies, and donations of clothing for the families in need, and nonperishable food. It was a wonderful experience for both parties. 

What has been going on, you ask?

Jackie Butler has been working at It Takes a Village weekly to organize and sort our new donations and put them away.  During those days she opened to the public to "free" shop for items they needed. We've found that the weekly giveaways are a wonderful thing, we will continue this after we complete our transition from summer to winter clothing.

I want to give a special Thank You to Jackie Butler, Kim Conder, Jess Conder, Cheryl Melchi and Shawn Butler for volunteering on Thursdays. 

We participated in the  Sangamon River Music Festival this past August, in Mahomet IL. We had many wonderful raffle prizes (thank you to Abby LaBoyteaux for your prize donations), a 50/50 drawing, and a Duck Pond for the kids. The most important thing we took away from River Fest was getting our name out into the community. We've had a few contacts since then. 

A big THANK YOU to Abby LaBoyteaux for organizing this event! You're a Rock Star!! 

Enjoy our River Fest pictures below. 

Abby LaBoyteaux, Heather Denam, Jess Conder, Kim Conder

Day 2 - Abby LaBoyteaux

We were able to enjoy listening to Big Daddy Weave from our booth

Big Daddy Weave 

This Saturday we will hold our 1st It Takes a Village Central IL Annual Summer Garage Sale. We are selling our summer inventory for 50 cents a piece. With the money raised we will save it towards our Annual Christmas Giveaway. If you are local please come out and support us. If you are not local but would still like to help, please click the PayPal link on the top right of the page.

Today, Wednesday September 4th, I had an interview with The Mahomet Daily, an internet newspaper. I will post a link when the interview is published. 

We will be having our monthly Board Member meeting in a few weeks. If you have any questions, comments, complaints  concerns please send us an email at ittakesavillagemahomet@yahoo.com

God Bless,

Heather Denam - President