November 2013
Heart of Illinois Sierra volunteers greeted visitors and brought a clean water and clean air message to the River Harvest Festival at Kelleher's Irish Pub & Eatery, downtown Peoria, on September 14th. The event was held on a closed section of Water Street in front of Kelleher's. It was sponsored by the Heart of Illinois Sierra Club and Great Lakes Brewing Company, with generous contributions from the local businesses of Marketplace Solutions and Kelleher's, plus the great musical talent of Robin Crowe.
Special thanks to David Pittman, who organized the fundraiser. Chuck Buchna, Rudy Habben, Bob and Diane Jorgenson, John Wosik, and Joyce Blumenshine helped with the HOI display and table. Volunteers with Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance also had a table and a lot of interest at the display about Edwards power plant impacts on the Illinois River and our local air quality.
Kellehers estimated this year's attendance at 150-200. Over $900 was raised for the HOI working fund, which included generous donations from Great Lakes Brewing Company, Kelleher's, and money from the sale of corn dinners, t-shirts, and glass souvenir beer mugs. Kellehers is enthusiastic about next year's event, and suggested we seek to double or triple attendance (and presumably income).
If you missed this event, and would like to make a donation to the HOI Sierra Club, please send a check to:
Heart of Illinois Group Sierra Club
P.O. Box 3593
Peoria, IL 61612