Literacy at the laundromat

Family Pride Laundry in Springfield has a new spin for its customers: a children's library.

The idea of turning a corner of the laundromat into a place where youngsters can read originated with Amanda Brown, a 20-year-old student at University of Illinois Springfield.

"I was just really attracted to it because I love working with kids. And I thought this would be a perfect way to be able to help the community," said Brown, who is studying elementary education and communications.

UIS students trick-or-treat for a cause

University of Illinois Springfield students went trick-or-treating for a cause Sunday.

Seven teams of students traveled around the Capital City asking for canned food donations to be donated to the Central Illinois Food Bank.

Organizers say that the annual event is an important one, and that the goal this year was to collect 10,000 pounds of food.

This story aired on WICS Newschannel 20 on Oct. 31, 2021.

Read the entire article online.

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Pandemic heightening food insecurity for college students

The pandemic heightened food insecurity for families across Illinois.

Now, research is showing students on college campuses are also feeling the impact.

At the University of Illinois Springfield, they have a food pantry where students can come and get food at no cost.

Jill Hawkins-Wright, the director of the Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center at UIS, said students are tight on time and also paying for costs that come with schools like books and transportation.

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UIS students collect 15,779 pounds of food to help fight hunger on Halloween night

More than 200 University of Illinois Springfield students helped to collect 15,779 pounds of food to help fight hunger in central Illinois on Halloween night. The majority of the food, 14,779 pounds, will be donated to Central Illinois Foodbank, while 1,000 pounds will go to the on campus UIS Cares Food Pantry.

A total of 11 teams, consisting of 228 students, went door-to-door in several Springfield neighborhoods collecting canned goods and other non-perishable food items.

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UIS students collect 18,095 pounds of food to help fight hunger on Halloween night

More than 200 University of Illinois Springfield students helped to collect 18,095 pounds of food to help fight hunger in central Illinois on Halloween night. The majority of the food, 17,171 pounds, will be donated to the Central Illinois Foodbank, while 924 pounds will go to the on campus UIS Cares Food Pantry.

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UIS welcomes hundreds of new students on Freshmen Move-In Day

The University of Illinois Springfield welcomed nearly 300 new students and their parents to campus during Freshmen Move-In Day on August 22, 2018.

“Today we have all of our first-year students moving into Lincoln Residence Hall and Founders Residence Hall,” said Brian Kelley, UIS director of residence life. “We’re really excited. There’s a lot of energy.”

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