Alumni Across U.S. Volunteer as Panther Service Day Goes National

Eastern Illinois University's Panther Service Day, an annual tradition in Charleston since 2003, grew this year to include alumni helping out in their communities across the country.

“We’re very excited to see Panther Service Day expand into the communities of our alumni across the United States,” said Steve Rich, director of EIU Alumni Services. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our graduates to meet or reunite while making a difference where they live.”

Most events were held on April 19. Here's a rundown of events that were held this year:

• BLOOMINGTON: EIU alumni helped during the third annual Bloomington-Normal Community Cleanup Week. Clean-up activities included picking up litter, trash and debris in Miller Park.
• CHARLESTON: Panther Service Day earned Charleston a 2004 Governor's Hometown Service Award, and the event is still going strong. This year's event again included yard work and cleanup of streets, alleys, parks, recreational areas and campus.
• CHICAGO: EIU alumni helped with the Lakeview Pantry Green Bag Drive bag distribution, in which volunteers delivered 1,000 paper bags to the doorsteps of nearby residences, in hopes of collecting donations of non-perishable food items.
• DALLAS, Texas: EIU alumni helped with March for Babies, a March of Dimes fundraiser that supports life-saving research, service, education and advocacy that help babies get a healthy start.
• DECATUR: EIU alumni worked a week early (April 12) at the Weed and Seed community clean-up effort, picking up litter, trash and debris in public parks and neighborhoods and along public roadways.
• EDWARDSVILLE: EIU alumni helped the Metro East Humane Society with various tasks, including walking dogs; socializing with cats; and assisting with bathing, grooming and cleaning.
• KANKAKEE: EIU alumni helped the Kankakee Salvation Army by sorting and stocking various food and clothing donations.
• LIBERTYVILLE: EIU alumni helped with the fifth annual Take a Step for Kids run/walk hosted by the Community Youth Network.
• MATTOON: EIU alumni hosted a book drive to benefit the Mattoon Public Library.
• ORANGE COUNTY, Calif: EIU alumni inspected, sorted and stocked food donations at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, which helps to feed an average of 200,000 people each month.
• PHOENIX, Ariz.: EIU alumni sorted and packaged emergency food boxes for the Saint Mary's Food Bank Alliance on March 29.
• SPRINGFIELD: EIU alumni conducted a toy drive to benefit St. John’s Children’s Hospital's treasure chest program and its child life playroom.
• ST. CHARLES: EIU alumni helped the Northern Illinois Food Bank (600 Industrial Drive), which annually distributes more than 22 million pounds of food to local families and individuals in need.
• WHEATON: EIU alumni sorted and stocked food donations at the People's Resource Center.