June Update:

As summer begins, ECHO gets busy working on our Back-to-School project! We pack backpacks with grade-appropriate school supplies to distribute to families who are having a hard time financially. ECHO needs donations of new school supplies as well as volunteers to help us stuff the backpacks. Volunteers must sign up in advance so that we can manage the number of people in the building. Work sessions will be from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Mondays and Thursdays beginning June 27 and ending August 18. Volunteers may sign up for one day or more, but please do not sign up for more than six. Students 13 years old and older as well as adults are welcome to join us, but these hours cannot be used for court assigned community service. Folks can sign up on our Sign Up Genius site https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4DAFAC2FAAF4C16-2022 and can email echobackpacks@gmail.com if they have any questions.

Help stock ECHO’s food pantry and get your sensitive papers shredded at the same time! A Share and Shred event is scheduled for June 18, 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Kirkwood Presbyterian parking lot, 8336 Carrleigh Pkwy, Springfield, and is sponsored by Kathleen Pester, Team Integrity. Items especially needed now are: granola bars, flour, Masa flour, peanut butter, coffee, honey, sugar, bagged rice, dried black beans, dried red beans, canned fish (such as sardines), canned milk, canned fruit, jelly, feminine products, liquid dish soap, deodorant, toilet tissue, razors, shaving cream, and hand lotion.

This month, ECHO’s Clothing Department is hoping for donations of new or gently used men’s and teen boy’s sweatpants and sweatshirts, short sleeve T-shirts in men’s sizes S, M, or L, and men’s jeans sizes 28/32 and 30/32. ECHO also needs donations of queen- or king-sized sheets and comforters, towels, and saucepans with lids. All donations, including non-perishable foods can be brought to the Donation Door at 7205 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, as well as one Saturday morning a month (check echo-inc.org for the date each month). Receipts are cheerfully provided by our Donation Door volunteers.

Here are a few of the current volunteer opportunities at ECHO! ECHO’s Food Room needs two volunteers on Thursday evenings and two for one Saturday morning per month. Knowledge of Spanish is not required, but would be a big plus. Food Room volunteers sort food, restock shelves, and assist clients as they choose food for their households.

One or two volunteers are needed to create Enrichment Packages for the children in families ECHO serves. This volunteer job is done after ECHO’s business hours and the days are at the discretion of the volunteer. It entails choosing small toys and books from among donated items to make individual packages, sorted by age, for ECHO to give to clients who are parents of young children when they come for a clothing appointment.

A couple of times a month, ECHO needs a photographer to record special events both for ECHO’s historical record and for publication in newsletters and social media. A volunteer who enjoys photography and could attend an event from time to time would be most welcome to join our Communications Team. This job does not require a regular commitment, but availability at random times.

ECHO needs volunteers in the following areas on specific days or evenings: Clothing Room, Administrative Support, Fix-It Desk, Client Counseling, and Facilities Maintenance. If you want to know more about how your skills might be used to serve our community (and if you want to work side-by-side with some of the nicest people anywhere), contact Volunteercoordinator@echo-inc.org.

Upcoming Dates to Note
June 18 - Shred and Share Food Drive, Kirkwood Presbyterian
July 4 - Closed for Independence Day
July 9 - Saturday Opening
July 18 - Executive Cmtee Meets

Congregational and Other Food Drives
June - St. Christopher’s Episcopal, St. Mark’s Lutheran
July - Westwood Baptist

For more information about ECHO on the following topics, please click the links to our website:
Find us on Facebook
Donate Money
Needed School Supplies
Tips on Holding a Donation Drive
ECHO’s Amazon Wishlist