If you don't see your question here, please email us or give us a call.  For more information on who we are, our impact on the community (not just Monticello, but all of Piatt County), volunteerism, and much more; please check out our 2022 Annual Report.

FAMILY SERVICE CENTER

How do I receive services from the Family Service Center? 

  1. Call or text us at 217-631-1018. 
  2. Walk-in during business hours at 100 E. Washington. (M-F, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM) 
  3. E-mail andrea@willowtreemissions.org 
  4. If you are not safe right now call 911 or you can go to your police department, sheriff's department or courthouse. (during business hours) 

 What does it look like to get an Order of Protection in Piatt County? 

  • Enter the courthouse and tell security you need an Emergency Order of Protection. 
  • You will be directed to the Circuit Clerk's Office on the second floor. 
  • The Circuit Clerk's Office with contact either a Willow Tree Missions advocate or the States attorney's Victim Advocate to assist you with the court process. 
  • You and your advocate will meet in a private room so you can safely share and document the reason you need help. 
  • You and your advocate will go into court together, where you will be sworn in by a member of the court staff, and asked to share with the Judge why you need an Emergency Order of Protection. 
  • Assuming the order is granted, the Judge will sign and review the terms of the Order of Protection with you answering any questions you may have. 
  • You and your advocate will return to the Circuit Clerk's Office where you can obtain copies of the signed Order of Protection. 
  • At this point you will have an active Emergency Order of Protection. 

What happens next?

  • The Respondent (the individual you have the order against) will now be served a copy of the order by the Sheriff's Department. 
  • This can be as quickly as the same day or can take several weeks depending on the location of the individual. 
  • The Emergency Order of Protection is only effective for up to 21 days. 
  • A new court date will be given on or before 21 days from the date it is issued where you must appear if you wish to maintain the active Order of Protection. 
  • At this assigned court date, you and your advocate will return to court together. 
  • The respondent has the right to attend this court date. 
  • The Judge will ask if you are interested in seeking a Plenary Order of Protection. 
  • This means extending the order for up to two years. 
  • Assuming you want to remain protected, another court date will be set to give you and the respondent the opportunity to seek legal counsel. 
  • From there a hearing date will be needed where you can prove a Plenary Order of Protection is needed. 

 We will help you every step of the way and are here to provide support with the legal system as well as with the day-to-day struggles that come with living with, and freeing from, domestic violence. 

How is Willow Tree Missions funded?

The main source of our funding is from donated merchandise purchased at our two Resale Shops. Funding is also derived from generous community members, local corporations, and organizations as well as grants and several fund-raising events throughout the year. To learn how you can help Willow Tree Missions visit Giving.

 What kind of volunteers do you need? How can I volunteer?

Willow Tree Missions is always in search of dedicated volunteers as we advance in our mission of eliminating domestic violence in Piatt County. Opportunities are available for all skill levels and time commitment lengths.  For a complete list of volunteer opportunities and how to become involved visit Time and Talents.

 How can I help Willow Tree Missions?

  • Volunteer at the shop or in the domestic violence program
  • Become a domestic violence advocate
  • Assist with fundraising
  • Assist with administrative tasks
  • Help with community outreach and education opportunities
  • Shop at our resale shops
  • For specific opportunities, see our How Can I Help? page

RESALE SHOPS

Where are your Resale Shops located? 

Both shops are located in Monticello, Illinois. Our Willow Tree Missions on Washington is located at 100 E. Washington St., and our Willow Tree Missions on Monroe is located at 351 W. Monroe St.

 Will I find different items at each location? 

Yes!  At Willow Tree Missions on Washington, you will find:

  • Family Service Center
  • Clothing
  • Shoes
  • Accessories (purses, scarves, jewelry, etc.)
  • Books, puzzles, DVDs,
  • Housewares, kitchenwares, home decor
  • Antiques and collectible items
  • Electronics

At Willow Tree Missions on Monroe, you will find:

  • Donation Center
  • Home improvement items
  • Furniture

 I have items I would like to donate to the Resale Shops. Where can I take my donations?

We only accept items for donation at Willow Tree Missions on Monroe located at 351 W Monroe St., Monticello.

When do you accept items for donation?

We accept items for the Resale Shops on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

What forms of payment do you take at the Resale Shops?

We accept cash, debit/credit card, Apple Pay, and Cash App. Swipe, Dip, and Tap
are available. We do not accept checks!

When will the new location open?

We currently have a portion of our retail space at Willow Tree Missions on Washington open while our volunteers and staff work diligently to prepare the rest of the space for opening later this year!

May I return items I purchase at Willow Tree Missions?

Only electronic items may be returned within 7 days accompanied by the receipt. We do not provide refunds or exchanges on other items.  We advise everyone to check their merchandise carefully for flaws or common issues before purchasing.  Items in the shop are sold as-is.  There are few exceptions to this policy.  However, if you have a question about an item, please contact the manager on duty.

Are you in need of any items that I can donate? (Our Wish List)

Yes!  We are always in need of specific items for the shop and the domestic violence program and shelter. The following is a list of items that are always in demand. For a current list of needs, visit our Amazon Wish List. 

  • Safety pins
  • Black Sharpies
  • Rubber bands
  • Zip lock bags of all sizes except snack size
  • Clorox wipes
  • Glass cleaner
  • Paper towels
  • Staples
  • Scotch tape
  • Batteries....especially AA and AAA
  • Pens
  • Blank stickers (garage sale style)
  • Liquid hand soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Toiletry items such as shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc.
  • White trash bags - drawstring
  • Shopping bags

How does it work with volunteers’ shopping and buying?

Our volunteers provide us with $100,000+ per year in free labor. We would not exist if not for them. Anyone who volunteers for a 2-hour shift or more is eligible to make their purchases with a 50% discount at the end of their shift. Our volunteer policy allows volunteers to purchase any items that have been researched, processed, and priced by our trained pricing team. There IS AN ADVANTAGE that volunteers get to see items first because they are there working. We are grateful that this advantage is one way we can thank them for their tireless and constant service. Anyone can volunteer if they, too, would like to gain this advantage. We believe they will quickly learn that there are many amazing reasons to be a part of this team that go far above and beyond shopping.

How is the money from the Resale Shops used?

The resale shops are our primary source of funding, supplemented by donations and grants. We do not receive any government funding for the services we provide. The funds we generate through our resale shops go to three primary areas:

  1. Bills and overhead – We have two facilities to pay for and maintain, the resale shop and the Family Services Center. For both facilities, costs include things such as mortgages, insurance, utilities, repairs, and maintenance, etc.
  2. Payroll and payroll taxes – We have a team of 12 staff: 4 are full-time and the remainder are part-time. These staff are supplemented by volunteers who give their time on average of 800-1,000 hours per month.
  3. Client Needs – Many victims of domestic violence do not need shelter but have many other obstacles that get in the way of their freedom and well-being. Our funding allows us to look at each person individually, assess what their obstacles are, and remove as many as possible.