Local Salvation Army's announce Tree of Lights Campaign totals
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — The Peoria and Pekin Salvation Army's, announced the results of their 2024 Tree of Lights Campaign on Monday.
The event was held at the Northwood's Mall and both groups announced their totals and winners of various awards recognizing many people in the community who went above and beyond.
Both had beaten the goals set for the campaign. The Peoria Salvation Army raised over $9,600 more than their goal of $2 million.
Pekin's salvation Army had a lower goal of $168,000, and they beat that by over $20,000 bringing in $189,000.
The funds will help both of these programs to provide food, shelter and emergency assistance for those who are struggling to get by.
Major Heath Sells with the Salvation Army said the Central Illinois community always shows up for the Salvation Army.
'That's what I love about Peoria, that they do care, That there's so many who step in and see a neighbor who needs help and they can trust that the Salvation Army will do the most good with the resources that were given, whether that's time, talent or treasure. And we're responding in a way that gives dignity to people who ask for help. So we're excited that we live in a community that appreciates that, and that is the moral compass that we live by,' said Sells.
Of the awards given out was the Pinnacle of Achievement Award, which was given to the WMBD TV Creative Services and News Team for 'providing an extraordinary service for the Salvation Army and the community as our media partner throughout the year,' the Salvation Army said.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
On the Record: Tariffs and trade policy winners and losers in Central Illinois
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Volatility from the shifting tariffs and trade policies of the Trump administration is the dominant stressor for businesses in the Greater Peoria area, according to the head of the region's economic development organization. Chris Setti, CEO of the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council, joined 'WMBD News: On the Record' to discuss industry challenges and his recent trade mission to Mexico. 'I think that the main issue really has been uncertainty. Businesses like to be able to plan for the future, right? They want to be able to plan for their supply chains and what their customers might need and pricing,' he said. While the turbulence in trade policy has raised concerns across many sectors, it's not all bad news. Setti pointed to Liberty Steel in Bartonville as a potential winner. 'A 50% tariff on imported steel helps level the playing field for them,' he said. 'They've struggled to compete with cheaper foreign steel, especially from China. This move allows them to invest more confidently in their plant.' But not everyone is cheering. Construction firms and agriculture businesses are worried about rising costs on imported materials like potash, an essential ingredient in fertilizer. 'It cuts both ways,' Setti said. 'There are winners and losers in every policy decision, no matter which administration is in charge.' In April, Setti joined Gov. JB Pritzker for a trade mission to Mexico City to explore opportunities for collaboration. 'It was a fantastic trip,' Setti said. 'There's a lot of trade between Illinois and Mexico for exports and for imports. We met with Mexican business leaders and showcased what Greater Peoria can offer.' He also recently attended SelectUSA, the country's largest summit for foreign direct investment, as part of Team Illinois. 'Trade is so important to economics. It's all relationship-based. People do business with those they know,' he said. 'For a lot of foreign countries and foreign companies, they've never heard of Peoria to the extent they've heard of Illinois. 'They know about Chicago. So when they get a chance to meet with us, and others from central Illinois, we're able to really showcase what we have to offer them,' Setti said. Catch 'WMBD News: On the Record' on Saturday nights at 10 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Scholarship celebration honors Black college-bound seniors
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — Hundreds gathered at a Bloomington church on Saturday to celebrate Black excellence in the classroom. The ceremony was held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 7, at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church. It was sponsored by the Mentoring and Providing Scholarships Program, a local non-profit that mentors black students to learn etiquette, financial literacy and public speaking skills. More than $80,000 in scholarships were awarded to Black college-bound seniors for their academic achievements and community service. 'The annual Joint Scholarship Celebration plays an integral role in celebrating the successes of African American students,' Carla Campbell-Jackson, co-founder of MAPS, said. 'The MAPS Program is invaluable for students, and for our community, as we are developing 'real time' leaders and thought partners, who will continue to make a difference locally, and beyond.' Money for the scholarships was gathered with the help of African-American sororities, fraternities, and community-based organizations. MAPS looks to help students prepare for the professional world with important skills such as public speaking, said Shaun Harden, one of the students who received several scholarships. 'MAPS has been really great, especially for professional development. For instance, one of our previous sessions was about public speaking,' Harden said. 'We talked about how we were able to approach the stand and how we were able to address the audience properly, how to avoid filler words, a lot of different proper speaking things that you don't really get to learn other than through experience.' Local philanthropists also contributed to the scholarship fund, which helped raise more money for African American students looking to pursue higher education. Keynote speakers for the event included NAACP Image Award Winner and WMBD Summer Intern Bradley Ross Jackson and Teresa Haley, who shared some information and advice with the students. 'I learned that if you work hard, if you stay strong and determined, and continue to try to do your best and give back to the communities that have supported you, that you will eventually be rewarded in the end,' said Gabrielle Johnson, the president of the Bloomington-Normal NAACP Youth Council. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
On-site interviews held at Peoria Goodwill's annual job fair
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Hundreds of people gathered at Goodwill Commons in Peoria Friday for the organization's annual Big Job Fair, hoping to connect with potential employers and find new career opportunities. The event featured around 30 employers from across Central Illinois, including Illinois State Police, OSF HealthCare, Carle Health, and CEFCU. Many companies conducted on-site interviews in designated rooms, giving applicants the chance to land a job on the spot. Tim O'Malley, Community Relations Manager for Goodwill of Central Illinois, said the goal of the fair is to break down barriers for people searching for employment. 'I think it's hard for anyone to find a job. So, we want to try to make it as easy as possible and reduce any barriers that they may have trying to find that work,' said O'Malley. He shared one of the most rewarding moments from the day overhearing a father excitedly tell his child that he had just been hired. 'I heard someone say to their child, 'Guess what? Dad just got a job.' And I could hear in the background the kid yelling and happy. So that's really rewarding to hear and see,' he said. For those who missed the annual event, Goodwill Commons hosts smaller job fairs every month, continuing its mission to support the local workforce and connect job seekers with meaningful employment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
