Volunteers in Morrison and Silvis have been recognized for improving their communities. Last week, Governor Pat Quinn announced the winners of the thirty-second annual Governor's Hometown Awards.
Volunteers in Morrison were honored for building a new recreational trail.
Spokeswoman Ann Slavin says the Morrison-Rockwood Trail has been in the works for sixteen years. Residents and local businesses helped pay for the project, and volunteered to create and preserve the trail.
Slavin says the second half of the trail will be finished once the group raises $200,000.
Another Governor's Hometown Award went to volunteers in Silvis from Silvis United Methodist Church, who started a community garden five years ago. Dan Thorngren says some of the produce is donated to local food banks. Last year, it added up to 2,400 pounds.
And, he does a lot of the work himself.
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But, he's hoping that will change. Thorngren says more people have started to help, and his goal next year is to donate 3,000 pounds to local food pantries.