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Herrin City Library holding Holiday Party

Herrin City Library holding Holiday Party

HERRIN, IL (KFVS) - The Board of Trusteees of the Herrin City Library will be meeting on Tuesday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. 

Right before the library board meeting, there will be a Holiday Party from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The library board trustees and library staff have invited members of the Friends of the Herrin City Library for a meet and greet holiday party to celebrate their generosity and support of the library. 

Drinks and treats will be available for all guests.

Copyright 2012 KFVS. All rights reserved.

Holiday Open House Extravaganza Dec. 12 in Marion

Holiday Open House Extravaganza Dec. 12 in Marion

MARION, IL (KFVS) - The Pavilion of the City of Marion will host a Holiday Open Hosue Extravaganza on Wednesday, December 12 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The public is invited and admission is free. Organizers say Santa will arrive by helicopter at 4 p.m., provided by Black Diamond Harley Davidson. There will be a Parade of Lanterns, bicycle give away at 4:30 p.m. and more.

The event is for all ages.

Copyright 2012 KFVS. All rights reserved.

Labor Council, Kroger raises $22,500 for Southern Ill. counties

Labor Council, Kroger raises $22,500 for Southern Ill. counties

(KFVS) - As part of the annual food drive, the Southern Illinois Central Labor Council has raised $15,000 to support food pantries in 16 Southern Illinois counties.

As in previous years, the council says Kroger matched 50 percent, bringing the total to $22,500.

“Kroger is proud to once again give back to our community during this holiday season, said District Manager Gina Sherland. “Efforts to end hunger in the communities where we operate stores has long been Kroger’s top charitable initiative. It is an honor for us to partner with the Labor Council Local 881, to help restock the food pantries during this time of year.”

The donated product will be delivered by Kroger on Saturday, Dec. 8 to the Operating Engineers Hall located at 3310 Water Tower Rd. Starting at 8 a.m., volunteers will transfer the product to trucks for delivery to the various food pantries.

Members of Police Fraternity donate to 'Santa's Bike Give-Away'

Members of Police Fraternity donate to 'Santa's Bike Give-Away'

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, IL (KFVS) - Members of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #197 says they are proud to be able to help the Tourism Bureau, The Pavilion of the City of Marion, and Santa see to the wishes of area children during this Christmas season.

In the picture: Karl Gusentine, President of the Williamson County F.O.P. Lodge #197, stands with the F.O.P. donation to the Williamson County Tourism Bureau's "Santa Bike Give-Away."

FOP #197 is the Fraternal side of area law enforcement, made up of sworn full-time peace officers in Williamson County. It includes Officers from Herrin, Marion, Johnston City, Carterville and Deputies from the Sheriff's Office.

Copyright 2012 KFVS. All rights reserved.

IDVA to host Pearl Harbor Day Remembrance Ceremony at Lake Springfield

IDVA to host Pearl Harbor Day Remembrance Ceremony at Lake Springfield

(KFVS) - The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs will be hosting its annual Pearl Harbor Day Remembrance Ceremony at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 7.

The ceremony will be at the Disabled American Veterans Hall Hagler #15, 25 Club Area (Lake Springfield) in Springfield, Ill.

It will honor all Pearl Harbor survivors and pay tribute to the more than 2,400 Americans who lost their lives. IDVA Assistant Director Rodrigo Garcia will lead the tribute and the ceremony will include a special wreath laying ceremony at the shores of Lake Springfield.

For more information about IDVA, please visit www.veterans.illinois.gov.

Copyright 2012 KFVS. All rights reserved.

Hospice of Southern Illinois receives donation from Marion Ford

Hospice of Southern Illinois receives donation from Marion Ford

MARION, IL (KFVS) - Marion Ford hosted the “Go Further with Ford Night” on Thursday, November 15 a fundraising night to benefit Hospice of Southern Illinois.

For every person who came in to test drive the new 2013 Ford Fusion Marion Ford donated $10 per person.  Shown in the photo L to R Jennifer Vinyard, Event Coordinator for Hospice of Southern Illinois and Sarah Hogan, Marion Ford Internet Director presenting the check.

Copyright 2012 KFVS. All rights reserved.

Marion food pantry says they're still in need of donations, despite food drives

Marion food pantry says they're still in need of donations, despite food drives

MARION, IL (KFVS) - The Marion Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry says their bare wall of shelves is a reminder that the need for donations this year may be greater that what was anticipated..

“I’ve still got a lot of empty shelf space,” Executive Director J.R. Russell said. “This is about as real as it gets.”

During the holiday season, Russell has come to expect the usual increase in donations due to the “spirit of giving.” He relies on that outpouring of generosity to carry the MMA Food Pantry into the spring.

As donations come in, the pantry fills wall-to-wall with food, but most of it leaves as quickly as it comes in. Donations are packed up into boxes for distribution. Other food donations are served to hundreds through daily lunches served in the soup kitchen.

“This year our numbers, and need, are exceptionally high,” Russell said. “It would be a busy month is we served 350 families through our food pantry. In October we helped 434 families.”