WESTVILLE – In an effort to support the people of Ukraine that are facing ongoing military conflict, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) and State Representative Mike Marron (R-Fithian) will be collecting donations in Westville on Saturday, March 19.

“Those who have remained in Ukraine are in desperate need of supplies, and I’m proud to partner with Rep. Marron and Westville to give folks an opportunity to donate,” Bennett said. “We encourage everyone that is willing and able to consider donating in support of Ukrainian families this Saturday.” 

The event will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church located at 231 North State Street in Westville from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The town and church will be collecting donations to send to humanitarian charities in support of families in Ukraine.

“Here in the United States we know our freedom is far from a given, and we all consistently fight to protect our shared values of peace and democracy,” Marron said. “This local event is a great way to show support to the people in Ukraine battling one of their toughest fights against tyranny and destruction.”

Bennett and Marron are encouraging monetary donations so Ukrainians can get the supplies they need.

“The Village of Westville would like to invite all residents of Westville and neighboring communities to come out and help Ukrainian people,” said Mayor of Westville Mike Weese. “Any small or large donations would be appreciated.”

With questions, contact Sen. Bennett’s Danville office at 217-442-5252 or visit SenatorBennett.com.

SPRINGFIELD – A joint resolution was adopted in the Senate Thursday creating the first Soil Health Day and Week celebration in Illinois, thanks to State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign).

“Soil Health Day and Week is a wonderful opportunity to educate people who might not understand how healthy soil can benefit our food and drinking water,” said Bennett, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “I’m glad to bring awareness to the importance of soil health protection through this joint resolution.”

Throughout the Soil Health Week celebration, the Illinois Stewardship Alliance and participating partners will bring together farmers and eaters, organizations, state leaders, legislators and other partners to virtually celebrate with a variety of educational opportunities and resources.

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CHAMPAIGN – The Champaign County Forest Preserve District is set to receive more than $726,000 to make improvements and create new exhibits, thanks to support from State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign).

“Museums provide excellent opportunities for education and give folks near and far the opportunity to learn about our history,” Bennett said. “This grant program is making a significant investment in our local museum that will ultimately attract more visitors, support research, and serve the community for generations to come.”

Overseen by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program is open to any museum operated by a local government or built on municipally owned land. The maximum grant award for projects is $750,000, and matching funds are often required based on museum attendance.

The program will distribute a total of $19.7 million in grants to 36 Illinois museums for facility improvement and development of new exhibits.

Investments for the Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program are funded by Rebuild Illinois. More information about the program is available here.

URBANA – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) and his staff will be at the Urbana Free Library, located at 210 W. Green Street, on Thursday, March 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for remote office hours.

“I’m glad to offer remote office hours to the residents of Urbana,” Bennett said. “My staff and I can offer a variety of services, answer your questions, connect you with state resources and much more.”

These office hours serve as an opportunity for residents to speak directly with Bennett’s staff to receive help with casework and other issues at the state level, as well as provide informational resources.

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