This is tonight @ the Danville Public Library!
While you're on Spring Break this week, take some time to make sure all of your PD is logged & up-to-date.
From Your Heart to Our Soles would like to send a huge THANK YOU to Balloons Over Vermilion & the Festival of Trees for their award for our shoe drive. This donation will allow us to keep giving HAPPY FEET across Vermilion County. We can't thank BOV/FOT enough for believing in & supporting our efforts!
Congratulations to our very own Tricia Keith for being selected as the 2025 Illinois Coalition for Educating At-Risk Youth Region 4 Award Recipient at the 2025 ICEARY Conference!!
An employee of ROE #54 for 25 years, Trish has worked in various roles including truancy prevention, McKinney Vento services, alternative education and the Illinois High School Diploma Program. Her personality is key to the success of her efforts.
As our Program Coordinator, her current responsibilities include being the coordinator of alternative education for expelled students at the regional safe school, McKinney Vento Regional Liaison, State of Illinois Diploma Program Coordinator and Truancy Department member. She develops a personal connection with students so they want to show up. Every day students know they can stop by to see Tricia to celebrate their victories and work through disappointments.
There’s never a day that passes at RSSP where she isn’t in costume, wearing an encouraging shirt, or using her wonderful sense of humor to put everyone at ease. She has an uncanny ability to recall personal moments of struggle or success for each person she encounters, which results in trust and appreciation for the relationships she nurtures.
Her passion to serve & show respect to homeless students, families in poverty, crisis survivors, & victims of cancer go above & beyond what most consider to be philanthropic. Tricia has dedicated her personal life to meeting the needs of individuals experiencing hardships in multiple life domains. By organizing community events, hosting community meals, funding supplies or treatments for individuals, & coordinating donations & efforts of others, Tricia touches the hearts of many.
Each year she coordinates a greatly needed, successfully supported shoe drive. It began about 10 years ago when she met with a student who needed shoes. She decided to buy him the shoes herself. Well, she soon discovered this was a recurring need among students. Her first requests for assistance were to her dad. Ultimately, she coordinated an annual shoe drive to meet the needs. Donors look forward to this recognized event. This year’s donations range from a single pair of new shoes, to 11 pairs, to $2000, which
allows her to purchase specific sizes. Shoe requests come from parents, school staff members and local organizations. To meet the on-going needs, donations are accepted year-round.
Tricia also supports her community by collecting and distributing winter coats to those in need. She also sees that students have access to hygiene products, lice kits and school supplies. She has filled three rooms with all these necessities. She says, “People believe in what we’re doing and times are hard. Families know they can reach out.”
Tricia provides a personal touch to truly celebrate graduates of the Illinois High School Diploma Program. Truly, what celebration is complete without a party favor, noise maker, personalized cookie cake, picture, & social media celebration?!
Tricia is a strong leader, but she doesn’t do it by walking ahead of everyone; she leads by walking side-by-side.
Trish creates a culture of celebration and has the gift of lifting up others in hard times. Her character traits are compassion, not pity; respect, not judgement. She truly loves her job and all the people she works with. Of her affect, Tricia said, “Any time one of my kids finds success, big or small, it makes me proud. Any time one of them reaches out to me or comes to my office to work through something, it makes me proud. Years later when I see them at the grocery store or a sporting event and they are happy to see me, it makes me proud. If I can make a difference in the life of a child, even for just one day, that makes me proud.” She says she loves being an advocate for the students; being their voice when she can. “I love being a hope dealer, so they know things won't always be this way.”
There’s no denying the impact Tricia Keith makes for the students and families in Vermilion County. She is a cheerleader and mentor for students, ally to parents, consultant to educators, recruiter for community assistance and a true humanitarian.
Congratulations to Westville Jr High on winning the 2025 Vermilion County Spelling Contest!
Westville Spellers (left to right): Emmett Johnson, Brielle Neukirch, Ryan Brown, Coach Jerue, & Emily Grider.
Congratulations to the remaining teams in the top four as well!
2nd place - Salt Fork Spellers (left to right): Scarlett Trisler, Kent Davis, Coach Hoskins, Anna Dean, Addisyn Coffman, & Silas VanCamp.
3rd place - Hoopeston Spellers (left to right): Liam Elliott, Haleigh Scharlach, Olivia Gillins, Lanie Little, Avery Scharlach, & Coach Romig.
4th place - Rossville-Alvin Spellers (left to right): Gabby Galbert, Jonah Vasquez, Ian Herb, Ali Lucei, Edward Zabel, Jacy Boyer, Olivia Musk, & Coach Nordstrom.
Honorable mention goes to Oakwood, Bismarck-Henning, & Georgetown's Mary Miller Junior High.
The Oakwood Spelling Team includes Olivia Enos, Abigayle Hicks, Kelby Boen, & Topanga Eades. Alternates include Stella Griffis & Lizzie Kearns.
The Bismarck-Henning Spelling Team includes Sienna Phelps, Cary Carpenter, Anna Turner, & Nathaniel Gritton. Alternates include Liza Nixon.
The Georgetown Mary Miller Spelling Team includes Maizie Mitchell, Breanne Flessner, Ellie Scott, Jaycie Gilbert, Brylee Neumann, & Baylee Hawks.
The County Finals will be held on Thursday, March 6 @ 6pm in the Salt Fork Junior High Gym.
Congratulations to Hoopeston Jr High Spelling Team for advancing to the County Finals on Thursday, March 6 @ 6pm! Hoopeston Jr High's Team includes Lanie Little, Liam Elliott, Avery Scharlach, & Olivia Gillins. Alternates include Haleigh Scharlach.
Congratulations to Rossville-Alvin Jr High's Spelling Team for advancing to the County Finals on March 6 @ 6pm! Rossville-Alvin Jr High's Team includes Jacy Boyer, Ian Herb, Ali Lucei, & Olivia Musk. Alternates include Jade Daily, Gabby Galbert, Jonah Vasquez, & Edward Zabel.
Congratulations to Westville Jr High's Spelling Team for advancing to the County Finals on Thursday, March 6 @ 6pm! Westville Junior High's Team includes Ryan Brown, Emily Grider, Roland Chambers, & Emmett Johnson.
Congratulations to Salt Fork Jr High for advancing to the County Finals on Thursday, March 6 @ 6pm! Salt Fork Jr High's Team includes Scarlett Trisler, Silas Van Camp, Anna Dean, Addisyn Coffman, & Kent Davis.
EIU now has an online MA in SpEd program:
We will be closed on Monday, February 17. Everyone enjoy your long weekend!
Happy Martin Luther King Day!
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!
A HUGE THANK YOU to the Knights of Columbus for their generous donation to our shoe drive/homeless program. This will allow us to help so many kids in Vermilion County. Thank you for all you do for our community!
Have a good weekend, everyone!
Here are another few opportunities through North Central College!
Check out 2 more opportunities!
!!! New Opportunity !!!
Enjoy the long weekend!
