The Autism Place will raise money and awareness with yard sale

TAP is accepting donations for its yard sale on June 2. (Wikimedia/Michael Rivera)

By Crystal Donaldson

BLOOMINGTON – The Friends of the Autism Place are collecting items for a community yard sale on Saturday, June 2.

The sale will fund programs for the Autism Place at Illinois State University.

“They have an early intervention preschool program,” said Friends of The Autism Place board member, Michele Evans. “They have social skills groups. They offer individual services. So there’s alot of behavior therapy and behavior based programs that help kids with autism.”

The sale will be held at Milestones Early Learning Center on Six Points Road in Bloomington.

Community members can drop off items the night before the sale, Friday, June 1 at Milestones from 5:30-7 p.m.

TAP is accepting furniture, tools, clothing, baby items and more. Evans said they will take just about anything except electronics and kid’s toys.

Sofas, kids’ play houses, books and clothes have already been donated for this year’s sale.

To schedule an alternate drop off or pick up time, e-mail [email protected].

Last year the organization raised $2,500. Evans said one of the goals is to pass that number this year.

She hopes the sale will not only raise money, but act as an educational opportunity.

“I think it’s also an awareness for the community,” said Evans. “A lot of people don’t understand what the Autism Place is or don’t understand what autism itself is and the various disorders on the spectrum.”

Left over items will go to Home Sweet Home ministries.

Crystal Donaldson can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…