WOOD RIVER – State Senator Rachelle Crowe’s (D-Glen Carbon) district office in Wood River is a new drop-off location for the non-profit Cell Phones for Soldiers organization, she announced today.

“This program provides a secure way to dispose of unwanted electronic devices while benefitting those who protect our freedom overseas,” said Crowe, a member of the Senate’s Veterans Affairs Committee.

The non-profit collects old, broken cell phones and tablets and sends them to be refurbished or recycled. Proceeds from those sales are used to send prepaid international calling cards to our troops and to provide emergency funding to veterans. All cell phone donations are tax deductible.

Crowe’s district office is located in Wood River City Hall at 111 N. Wood River Ave., Suite A. Hours are from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday.

Visit www.CellPhonesForSoldiers.com for more information or to find another drop-off location.

ALTON – State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) and state Rep. Monica Bristow (D-Alton) are partnering to bring the Treasurer’s office to the Metro East for an I-Cash Event in Alton next Wednesday.

“I strongly urge any Illinois resident that is available to stop in to check if they have any unclaimed property,” Crowe said. “Experts will be there to help with filing claims and to answer any questions.”

The event is Wednesday, Sept. 4 from 1 P.M. to 3 P.M. at the AltonWorks Office, located at 601 Broadway St. in Alton.

Representatives with the Treasurer’s office will be available to check if residents have a claim to any of the $2.9 billion in unclaimed property.

For more information on events Sen. Crowe is hosting, contact her district office at (618) 251-9840 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SPRINGFIELD – Mothers needing donated breast milk for their sick infants will benefit under a new law championed by State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon).

The initiative requires certain insurance plans to cover costs of pasteurized donated human breast milk for mothers with infants deemed medically necessary in Illinois.

“As a mother, I am humbled to carry this initiative through the Senate that takes a burden off of women with sick newborns and no other options to get breast milk,” Crowe said. “Breast milk contains all the nutrients an infant needs for proper growth and development and we have to make sure those who need it have access.”

Under the measure for coverage, the milk must be prescribed by a licensed medical professional and come from a milk bank licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health or a source that meets guidelines set by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. The mother must be unable to produce milk to meet the infant’s needs, and the infant must also be critically ill.

State Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) was the chief sponsor on this measure in the House.

"The medical community advises new mothers that 'breast is best' when it comes to nutrition for newborns,” Stuart said. “This new law will ensure that income won't hold women and families back from following the best medical advice for their critically ill infants that need access to breast milk to improve their health."

House Bill 3509 will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

SPRINGFIELD – Non-traditional students seeking vocational training will be eligible for a new scholarship program under a new law championed by State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) signed into law this month.

“Allowing more adults to enroll in a trade program, by giving them an opportunity to receive a scholarship, shows our state’s commitment to strengthen our work force and public services while allowing more people to take advantage of our higher education institutions,” Crowe said.

The legislation establishes an Adult Vocational Community College Scholarship Program, run by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. To be eligible, a student must be over the age of 30 and unemployed but actively searching for work.

The scholarship would be enough to cover the cost of tuition and fees to attend the community college without exceeding $2,000 per recipient per academic year.

Senate Bill 1167 will be effective for the 2020-2021 academic year.