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DECATUR, Ill. – longstanding tradition returned on Thursday, Aug. 21, as members of the incoming class of Big Blue students donated some of their day to work among local charitable organizations around Decatur. 

As a part of New Student Welcome Week, the event aims to foster strong connections between first-year students, ADM partners, and the wider Decatur community. 

The Day of Service is a collaboration between ADM and �鶹Լ�� that was made possible thanks to a grant from the ADM Cares charitable organization, which sustains and strengthens ADM communities by funding organizations that drive meaningful social, economic, and environmental change.

"�鶹Լ��’s Day of Service is an important tradition that reflects our mission of learning, serving, and leading with purpose,” said �鶹Լ��'s Executive Director of Admission Molly Berry. “By partnering with ADM, we’re able to expand the impact of this day, bringing together students, faculty, staff, and community members to work side by side in service to Decatur. This partnership demonstrates the power of collaboration and how, together, we can create meaningful change that strengthens both our university and our community."

On Thursday, more than 500 �鶹Լ�� students, staff, and ADM employees – many of whom are �鶹Լ�� alumni – participated in service projects at 17 sites around Decatur, including the Johns Hill Magnet School, Illinois Children’s Museum, Crossing Healthcare, the Northeast Community Fund, the Salvation Army, First Evangelical Lutheran Church, DOVE, West Side Church of the Nazarene, and the James �鶹Լ�� Homestead.

Before loading onto buses and heading out to their volunteer locations, Brian Byers, Vice President of Development at Central Illinois Multimedia Group and Co-Founder of the WSOY Community Food Drive, spoke to the group about the importance of volunteerism and becoming an invested and active member of your community. 

The WSOY Community Food Drive, which gathers food donations, raises awareness about food insecurity, and makes a meaningful difference in the lives of our neighbors, returns to Decatur on Friday, Oct. 3, at the Kroger at Airport Plaza on Route. 36 from 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

New Student Welcome Week events continue through Sunday, Aug. 24, and conclude with the Opening Convocation at 7 p.m. in the Kirkland Fine Arts Center. Fall semester classes begin Monday, Aug. 25.