Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – What was a day of terror is now a day of service.

University of Illinois Springfield‘s Office of Volunteer and Civic Engagement organized the assembly of about 1,000 care packages for active duty servicepeople through Operation Care and Comfort and AmeriCorps.

“Our purpose, basically, is to connect our students with the community and to help improve Springfield and the surrounding area in any way that we can,” said Connie Komnick, the office’s assistant director. She adds that the hope is that students carry the volunteering spirit with them after they graduate.