Macon County recently took home the top honors in this year’s Governor’s Hometown Awards in recognition of the 2016 WSOY Community Food Drive, which was one of the largest one-day food drives in the country.
“At the heart of every hometown is a group of dedicated volunteers who make their community a better place for every resident,” Gov. Bruce Rauner said in a release about the awards ceremony at the Old State Capitol in Springfield. “These projects highlight the incredible kindness of Illinoisans from across the state and the power of neighborly acts of service.”
Macon County won the Governor’s Cup for the WSOY Community Food Drive, which pulled in 1.4 million pounds of food in 2016, the release said.
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner
The county garnered the award following a competitive selection process that saw nominations from throughout the state, the release said. Macon County was among four finalists for the Cup. Other finalists included the city of East St. Louis’ Join Hands Advocacy Project, the city of Kewanee’s Step Ladder Tutoring Program and the city of Waterloo’s Monroe County House of Neighborly Service, the release said.
“In reviewing the Governor’s Hometown Award applications, it has reconfirmed for me that the citizens of Illinois continue to give back to their communities in remarkable and innovative ways,” Serve Illinois Commission Chairman Jeff Turnbull said in the release. “The applicants have shown that when people give back to their communities through volunteering, cities become stronger, neighborhoods become safer, and people become better because of it.”
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