PLESANT HILL, Ill. — The Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service in partnership with the Governor’s Office extends a special thanks to all who applied for the 2023 Governor’s Hometown Award. This award gives formal recognition to those who contributed to projects that improved their community’s quality of life. These projects are sponsored by local units of government that had strong volunteer support, met a need, and made a definitive impact, thereby generating a positive outcome in the community and by extension, the state.

2023 Governor’s Hometown Award Winner – Village of Pleasant Hill (Summer Food Program)

 The winner of The Governor’s Hometown Award was chosen by a panel of six (6) judges who were given 45-minute presentations by each of the finalists. After much consideration by the judges, the winner of the 2023 Governor’s Hometown Award was The Village of Pleasant Hill’s Summer Food Program. For the next year, The Governor’s cup will be displayed at the Village of Pleasant Hill and will have their name engraved on it as the 2023 winner.

The Summer Food Program was nominated for The Governor’s Hometown Award by Kathy Hart in the project category of “Healthy Futures.” Below is a short description of The Summer Food Program:

The Summer Food Program is an all-volunteer and donation-funded program that has been operating since June of 2018. It provides meals throughout the summer break to any child ages 0-18. No financial guidelines or paperwork are required to be completed to get a hot meal and bonus sack lunch on Tuesday and Thursday each week (4 meals total – 2 hot and 2 cold). Over 2,000 meals are served throughout the summer in a village of 963 people. Any child in the surrounding area is welcome to come and participate. Meals are served in to-go containers for easy pickup for families.

To learn more, please visit: http://fbcphill.org/summer-food-program.html