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Date: 12/16/2025
Subject: The Voter December 2025
From: League of Women Voters of McLean County



December 2025

I’ve now had the pleasure of serving as the President for nearly a half-year.  
 
We ended this calendar year with our Jingle & Mingle holiday open house. Despite the icy and cold night, we had a great time inside. Thanks to everyone who came, brought food and drink to share, and enjoyed the festivities.

Often, when we get together, there is a meeting agenda to cover, information to share, and work to be done, so it’s especially fun to have the opportunity to enjoy a cookie while catching up without feeling rushed. 

One thing I heard from members, especially those who recently joined the League, is they want the opportunity to get involved. 
 
I’m happy to say that we’ll have many opportunities in 2026:
  • We will put together a working group to explore the details of creating a Civic Ambassador Program.
  • We will release the Election Authorities survey in the spring and we need to get the word out about its availability.
  • We will step up our volunteer and service event opportunities, such as the upcoming opportunity at the Midwest Food Bank.
  • We will contribute to and participate in America 250 events with community partners.
  • We will collect petition signatures to contribute to the state League endorsement of Fair Maps Illinois’ effort to amend the state constitution to change the procedure by which Illinois legislative district maps are drawn.
  • We continue to welcome recommendations and suggestions for our Issues & Advocacy efforts.
  • We will have many opportunities to contribute to our voter services efforts with the March Primary and November 2026 elections.
If these sound interesting to you and/or if you have more questions, please email info@lwvmclean.org.
 
Also, in the interest of making our work more transparent, we are planning to implement an ability to join the monthly Board meetings via Zoom, as well as in person.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Midwest Food Bank

Volunteer Opportunity: Learn & Serve at Midwest Food Bank

Start 2026 by giving back. The League of Women Voters invites you to take part in a hands-on volunteer experience while learning about food scarcity issues locally and statewide. This visit is more than a service project—it’s an opportunity to better understand how local partners like Midwest Food Bank support families facing food insecurity and how policy decisions affect the availability, distribution, and accessibility of food across our region.

Event Details
Date: Saturday, February 7
Time: 9:00–11:00 a.m.
Location: Midwest Food Bank Warehouse, 2031 Warehouse Rd., Normal, IL
Volunteer Slots: 11 volunteers; this is a members only event due to space and safety requirements
Arrival: Please arrive 5–10 minutes early so staff can begin promptly
Safety Requirement: Closed-toed shoes are required for all participants

During this visit, volunteers will assist with a warehouse service project—such as sorting, packing, or organizing food inventory—while also receiving an overview of the food bank’s operations. Midwest Food Bank staff will share how supply chains, donations, state policies, and community partnerships affect food access for thousands of individuals across Illinois.

Registration & Attendance Commitment
Because space is limited, we will maintain a waitlist.
If you register, please make every effort to attend. Should illness or an emergency arise, notify us immediately so someone on the waitlist can step in—Midwest Food Bank relies on consistent volunteer teams to keep operations moving smoothly.

Why This Matters
Food scarcity in rural and mid-sized communities—including McLean County—is often shaped by:
  • fluctuating food supply and distribution costs
  • limited access to affordable grocery options
  • increased reliance on nonprofit food assistance
  • policy decisions at the state and federal levels
  • transportation barriers and income instability
This volunteer engagement helps League members build deeper understanding of these issues as our organization continues to support informed civic participation and equitable community policy.
 
To reserve your volunteer spot (or add your name to the waitlist if slots fill up):
 


Say Hello to Our Newest Members:
By Beth Porter
 

Terry Luce 


 

Members Celebrated at Holiday Party

League members had a festive time at the annual Jingle & Mingle on Dec. 4 at Vera & Buck Floral Studio in downtown Bloomington. The conversation was jolly with excellent food to nibble on brought by members. Thanks to the committee for putting on a great event! Flip through the photos from that night.

Jingle Mingle 2025

New Member Orientation
By Beth Porter, Membership Director
 
New member orientation meetings are offered every other month. Orientation meetings are designed to inform new and prospective League members about the League's history, structure, and opportunities for involvement; however, all members are welcome to attend and may invite a guest. The sessions will be one hour or less.
 
Our Next Orientation Meeting:
  • January 13, 2026, via Zoom, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., sign up here before January 10, 2026


LWV in the News

Read LWVUS public statements about our actions to defend democracy.
 
 
Read LWVIL published news and media coverage. 
 


League of Women Voters of McLean County

P.O. Box 932, Normal, IL 61761

Email: info@lwvmclean.org

Web: lwvmclean.org

Email: info@lwvmclean.org

League of Women Voters of McLean County 

PO Box 932 

Normal, IL 61761