OPEN FOR DINE IN OR TAKE OUT! PATIO DINING ALL DAY!
Charity Peoria Nonprofit Spotlight: Outreach360
Your Traditional Mexican Food Restaurant!
6791 W HAPPY VALLEY RD Just West of 67th Ave & Happy Valley Rd PEORIA FAMILY OWNED
623.440.5588
Mon-Thurs 11:30am-8:30pm » Fri 11:30am-9:30pm Saturday Brunch 9am - 2:30pm » Dinner 2:30pm-8:30pm Sunday Brunch 9am -2:30pm » Dinner 2:30pm-9:30pm
FREE APPETIZER
with purchase of two entrees For dine-in only. With coupon only. One coupon per customer, per table. Expiration date 8.31.2021
SENIOR DISCOUNT WEDNESDAYS Take 15% off your bill @Mochilero Kitchen View our menu online at www.MochileroKitchen.com
IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL PRIVATE PARTIES BOTH FOR KIDS AND ADULTS!
IN-PERSON PARTIES: We bring the studio to you! We provide all art materials, tables, chairs, protective coverings, aprons, lighting, and music. We bring our talented artist to guide you through a painting of your choice! VIRTUAL PARTIES: We provide all art materials needed to complete the painting of your choice! We can ship the supplies anywhere and instruct everyone via Zoom. We also offer delivery and curbside pick-up if you are local.
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ince 1995, Peoria-based Outreach360 has provided educational opportunities to disadvantaged youth in Latin America. The mission of Outreach360 is to inspire and empower people to reach their full potential and give back by expanding educational, leadership, and service opportunities. Peoria resident Tom Eklund founded the nonprofit organization after visiting an impoverished orphanage in the Dominican Republic. He began assembling small teams of volunteers to visit the orphanage on weeklong service trips. The groups would help provide basic necessities, improve the orphanage facilities, and provide muchneeded educational assistance to the children. After a few years, children, families, and schools outside the orphanage began requesting the volunteers work with them as well, primarily teaching English. The organization was blessed with many volunteers and began teaching English in local public schools. By 2011, Outreach360 also had its own after-school learning centers in both the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. “In Latin America, knowing English can provide huge educational and career opportunities,” Eklund says. “And opportunities to learn English from native English speakers are extremely valuable, especially in the rural areas where we work.” By 2020, nearly 25,000 American and Canadian volunteers had served with Outreach360 in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. Most volunteers participated in one-week service trips. Families, junior and senior high school students, college students, church groups, and seniors were all involved. Thousands of Dominican and Nicaraguan students received life-changing educational opportunities. A number of students from the orphanage and community received college scholarships, supported by Outreach360 donors. In March 2020, COVID-19 interrupted Outreach360’s
international volunteer program. However, the organization quickly pivoted to a virtual education program. Since May 2020, over 400 virtual volunteers have continued teaching Outreach360 students. Outreach360’s Virtual Impact Program has produced some unexpected and significant breakthroughs. First, rather than being limited to two small communities in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, students from throughout Latin American are able to participate. Students from eleven different countries are now learning from Outreach360 volunteers. Second, volunteers no longer have to commit a full week and get on a plane to join Outreach360. Virtual international volunteer opportunities are available for as little as 75 minutes each week. Virtual volunteer opportunities are available for experienced education professionals to serve as Lead Teachers, for adults and gap year students to serve as English teachers, and for volunteers from any background (as young as 13 years old) to serve as English and/or Spanish Enrichment Volunteers. Outreach360 virtual volunteers find the experience extremely rewarding. Local high school student Paloma Guerin says, “In this Outreach360 family, I have found kindness, passion, dedication, and a sense of community. I am so grateful to have been able to experience such a wonderful program, and I will definitely be coming back in the future.” To learn more about Outreach360 virtual international volunteer opportunities, visit outreach360.org/ virtualimpact.
NOT FEELING THE GUIDED PAINTING? You want to have a party at your own pace? Make it a DIY party! We offer DIY kits for kids and adults! They come with all supplies needed to complete your own masterpiece. We also give you a picture of the finished painting with tips from the artist.
CALL TODAY TO BOOK A PARTY!
623-500-9592 • the.happy.canvas19@gmail.com yourtokenpaintparty •
@the.happy.canvas
12 • August 2021 • UPPER WESTSIDER
myhyperlocalnews.com
