Parents in Illinois can enroll children aged 0-5 in Dolly Parton’s “Imagination Library Program,” which offers free, age-appropriate books. Funded by the state and community organizations, this program aims to provide 60 books by kindergarten. As of early 2026, over 97,000 children are enrolled and have received nearly 1.6 million books.
In Champaign County, over 26,000 residents face food insecurity despite being in a fertile agricultural region. The local crisis stems from systemic failures and heightened demand at food pantries. As child food insecurity rises and supply chains strain, the health impacts of inadequate nutrition increase, emphasizing the urgent need for community action and policy reform.
#ProjectZen #Day23 #GratitudeProject Yesterday we received food from the Eastern Illinois Foodbank pop-up pantry in Champaign, Illinois. We are so thrilled! Produce, frozen chicken, snacks, canned goods, and smiles. With me not being able to work right now and as of yet not eligible for aid of any kind, getting a little help and love…
#ProjectZen #Day18 #GratitudeProject I am grateful for our Fedex delivery guy! The 18th day of my Gratitude Project shall be an open letter to all the big-wigs at Fedex, expressing my appreciation for our regular day-delivery Fedex man. He’s awesome! ****************************************** February 18, 2017 Dear Fedex: I wanted to let you know about one of…