‘Sunday Sack Lunches to Go’
Help stop hunger in our community
The Jacksonville Area Conference of Churches is partnering with Go Church to collect food items for their “Sunday Sack Lunches to Go” program, helping the hungry in the Jacksonville area.
Collected supplies will be donated to Go Church to include in their food distribution program.
Needed items include:
Mixed Fruit Cups
NutriGrain Breakfast Bars
Quaker Chewy Granola Bars
Nature Valley Trail Mix Bars
Individual Packets of Cookies
JIF To Go, Creamy Peanut Butter Cups
Peanut Butter Cracker Variety Packs
Tuna Salad with Crackers (Ind. Servings)
Chicken Salad with Cracker Packs (Ind. Servings)
Vanilla Pudding Cups
Chocolate Pudding Cups
Slim Jims
Monetary donations are appreciated and needed, with checks payable to ‘Go Church.’
Items will be collected through September 20, 2026. Supplies can be left with all participating Conference of Churches member churches in their collection boxes.
Questions? Contact coordinator Pat Glyshaw at pat.glyshaw@gmail.com.
JMH names Lauren Dwyer Williams director of hospitality
Jacksonville Memorial Hospital (JMH) has named Lauren Dwyer Williams as its new director of hospitality. She will join the organization on Oct. 12, 2026.
Williams will lead patient experience while overseeing environmental and food services.
“Lauren brings a strong background in leadership, communications and community engagement that will support our patient experience goals and strengthen our organization,” said Trevor Huffman, president and CEO of Jacksonville Memorial Hospital.
Williams has more than 15 years of experience in communications, marketing, relationship building and event management. Most recently, she served as marketing manager for Beard Implement Company. She also held leadership roles at Illinois College in alumni relations, annual giving, admissions and community outreach.
An active member of the Jacksonville community, Williams is involved with Kiwanis, the Jacksonville Art Association and local charitable fundraising efforts. She previously served on the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce Board.
“We are excited to welcome Lauren to the Memorial family and look forward to the leadership and enthusiasm she will bring to our team,” Huffman said.
34,000-pound food donation to support Central Illinois Foodbank
Donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will support Foodbank’s work across Central Illinois.
An employee of the Central Illinois Foodbank wheels some of the food donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
More than 34,000 pounds of food will arrive at Central Illinois Foodbank on Wednesday, August 26 at 8 a.m., providing additional resources to help the organization serve individuals and families throughout its 21-county service area.
The semi-truck of food is being donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as part of the Church’s participation in America Gives, a nationwide service initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States. In recognition of the anniversary, the Church is donating 250 truckloads of food to food banks across all 50 states during 2026.
Central Illinois Foodbank plays a critical role in addressing food insecurity throughout central and southern Illinois. Through a network of 140 partner agencies and other community organizations, the Foodbank distributes more than 8 million meals of nutritious food annually to neighbors throughout the region.
Leaders from the Springfield Illinois Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently met with members of Central Illinois Foodbank’s leadership team to learn more about the organization’s work, its reach throughout the region and opportunities for local members to volunteer and serve.
“We came away from our visit incredibly impressed by the scope of the work Central Illinois Foodbank is doing and the number of communities they are able to reach,” said Bryan Leonard, president of the Springfield Illinois Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “They have built a remarkable network that connects available resources with local organizations that know their communities and their neighbors. We are grateful that this donation can support that work.”
Pictured (L-R) are Central Illinois Foodbank Executive Director Pam Molitoris; David Risley, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Springfield Illinois Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake President Bryan Leonard; Keith Kato, Welfare and Self-Reliance Manager, Director for Temporal Affairs Office, United States Central Area of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Springfield Illinois Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Relief Society President Tina Engelbrecht; Central Illinois Foodbank Development Director Chloe Lucca; and Central Illinois Foodbank Program Coordinator Trent Rossi.
Central Illinois Foodbank serves communities across a large geographic area, including many smaller towns and rural areas. By working with established local agencies and community organizations, the Foodbank is able to move resources from donors and suppliers to communities where they are needed.
That network also provides an effective way for organizations with food and commodities available for donation to reach individuals and families throughout the region.
“Caring for those in need is a central mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church has opportunities from time to time to provide food and other commodities, and Central Illinois Foodbank has the expertise, infrastructure and relationships to help get those resources where they can do the most good,” Leonard said. “We hope this is the beginning of a relationship that will give us opportunities to support their work when we can, volunteer alongside them and find other meaningful ways to serve our neighbors in the years ahead.”
An additional truckload of food and commodities from the Church is currently planned for delivery to Central Illinois Foodbank in late September.
For Central Illinois Foodbank, contributions from organizations, businesses, farmers and individuals become part of a much larger community effort to address hunger. Food received at its Springfield facility can ultimately reach families throughout its 21-county service area.
“Ultimately, this isn’t about a truck or even 34,000 pounds of food,” Leonard said. “It is about what Central Illinois Foodbank and its local partners are able to do with those resources. They know the communities they serve, and they know how to turn a donation like this into help for thousands of our neighbors. We are pleased to have an opportunity to contribute to that effort.”
MacMurray Foundation & Alumni Association announce alumni awards
The MacMurray Foundation and Alumni Association have announced the 2026 recipients of its annual awards. The recipients are as follows:
Founders Award Recipients
This recognition is for an individual or organization who has supported and provided the Foundation with expertise, resources or other aspects that focus on the Mission and implementation of the Foundation’s goals.
• Cathy Randall ‘69
Randall has supported our mission through significant contributions to the Scholarship and operating funds. She has also attended and been active in the Board’s Strategic Planning meetings the weekend of Alumni gatherings. She was a member of the Board of Trustees for many years and committed to both the college and now the Foundation.
Legacy Award Recipients
This recognition is an individual or organization whose focus has been on maintaining and continuing the legacy of MacMurray College. Efforts should be directly related to the Foundation’s mission of maintaining and making the college’s archives/museum accessible and/or scholarship focus.
• William Furry ‘75
Furry is the retiring executive director of Illinois Historical Society and responsible for partnership with MFAA on production and placement of the historical marker across from the chapel and plaque for the monument of Old Main that was damaged in a tornado. William is married to fellow Mac alum Paula Pugh Romanaux ’74, a world-renowned organist.
MacFam Spirit Awards
This recognition is for an individual or organization that exemplifies the spirit and commitment to keeping alumni engaged in the legacy of the College.
• Liz Novak Price ‘07
An active member of MFAA Board and coordinates and invites members of Phi Nu to annual Alumni Weekend as well as a local coordinator of many Alumni Weekend activities. On a regular basis provides important and much needed weekly services to the needs of MFAA in relation to mail, donations and accounting needs. She also makes numerous contacts and has positive relationships with individuals and businesses who provide supplemental services for the annual Alumni Weekend and more.
MacMurray Alumni Awards
(Alumni Engagement Committee)
Community Service Award Recipients
An individual who has distinguished himself/herself through outstanding volunteer service to his/her community or the MacMurray Foundation.
• Steven Varble
Steve Varble gives much of his time volunteering and doing pro bono work related to the Foundation and even more for Jacksonville Area Museum. He has coordinated work on the Foundation’s website and provides services as needed. Additionally, he helps train and ensure the main Foundation employee has the knowledge and expertise to do as much of the website work as possible. He has additionally done all of this, and more, for the Jacksonville Area Museum, where our display is a highlight and the college Archives are held. Although the description of this award references being an alum of the college, his volunteer service includes important aspects for the Foundation as well as the Jacksonville community.
Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
Any alumna or alumnus (who attended MacMurray for at least two semesters or is a graduate) who has distinguished himself/herself within his/her chosen field and through service to MacMurray.
• Jen Curran ‘97
Curran spent several years as chair of the Alumni Board while the college was operating and was very involved with homecoming planning and activities. She continued to be an important part of the Alumni Engagement Committee as those activities were transferred to the Foundation. She is very active in the Alumni Engagement Committee as well as active during the Alumni Weekend.
Notable Career Award Recipients
A graduate or student of at least three years who has exhibited excellence and outstanding work in his/her chosen career or occupation.
• Justin Hamm, ’02
Hamm was appointed as the Missouri Poet Laureate for 2025-2027 by the Governor of Missouri. He was recommended by a panel of previous Missouri Poet Laureates. He is also the author of five books of poetry and several individual works that have appeared in journals and anthologies nationwide. In addition to his writing, he is a photographer whose award-winning hybrid poetry and photography exhibit, Midwestern, toured throughout the Midwest between 2018 and 2020. Following his time at MacMurray he received a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Southern Illinois University. Mr. Hamm currently serves as the school librarian at Eugene Field Elementary in Mexico, Missouri and is married to fellow Mac alum Melissa (Wieber, ’01).
Some of the awards will be presented to their nominees at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 12, 2026, at The Chapel (formerly known as Annie Merner Chapel) 428 East College Avenue, Jacksonville, IL and others will be a part of the annual Alumni Dinner festivities on Saturday evening starting at 6 p.m. at Hamilton’s, located at 110 North East Street in Jacksonville.
The awards are a part of the annual Alumni Weekend festivities that will be held in Jacksonville September 11-13. For more information, visit macalumfoundation.org.
‘The Lincoln Laureates’ podcast celebrates Evelyn Brandt Thomas’ birthday
The centenarian received the Order of Lincoln when 100!
In Sangamon County, during the summer of 1923, Evelyn Brandt Thomas was born on a family farm without running water or electricity. Some 103 years later, the now Lincoln Laureate Brandt Thomas sits down with award winning broadcast journalist Ann Compton to reflect on her road to becoming one of the most respected businesswomen and philanthropists in the world.
From her humble beginnings, Evelyn and her brother, Glen, started a business in 1953 that would make them global pioneers in fertilizer solutions. While Glen led expansion, Evelyn, with a degree in accounting from Illinois Business College, guarded the finances, which is why at now 103 years old they still call her “The Hawk.” Brandt Incorporated now boasts sales in more than 80 countries.
“My brother and I just wanted to contribute to the community that had supported us,” says Laureate Thomas. “There wasn’t enough work on the farm after the war, and he began experimenting with fertilization,” she continued. “People need to eat, and our goal is to make sure we can feed the world.”
She’s also spent a good number of her 103 years supporting education. “I don’t want to leave money behind. I want to see the benefit,” insists Laureate Brandt Thomas during the podcast conversation. “I believe you give it back and give it now.”
Learn more about this fascinating Centenarian in the latest episode of The Lincoln Laureates podcast, promoted across the Lincoln Academy of Illinois’ social channels (Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn,) and through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher, with streaming available through the TuneIn App and via voice command: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lincoln-laureates/id1553528425.
Now in its fifth season and having been created as a way for the Lincoln Academy of Illinois to showcase Lincoln Laureates to a global podcast audience, the podcast serves as an audio textbook that deepens the honor the Laureates have brought to Illinois. The Lincoln Laureates podcast is a production of EarSight Studios-Todd Manley-Supervising Producer.
