Chambana Sun

Democratic Sen. Scott Bennett will host digital office hours to offer residents a chance to ask him questions and bring issues to his attention.

The virtual office hours will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday at The Urbana Free Library, 210 West Green St., in Urbana.

“Stop by to ... get help with state services,” he wrote on Facebook. “Ask questions about legislation! Discuss issues you care about! And more!”

Bennett has gone beyond hosting office hours to address the needs of his state.

In January, Bennett urged Illinois residents who work in early childhood education to take advantage of the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program, if they qualified.

“If you work in early childhood education and are interested in continuing your education, you may be eligible for a scholarship through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission,” Bennet wrote in a Jan. 21 Facebook post.

Bennett collected winter hygiene items for individuals in the community who needed them, and Valentine's Day cards for residents of care facilities in the district.

And, during grain bin safety week, he has urged farmers in the state to take care and focus on safety when working in and around grain bins.

“Grain handling can expose workers to serious and life threatening hazards,” Bennett, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said. “Grain Bin Safety Week is a great time to remind our agriculture workers to be cautious, follow procedures and stay up to date on the latest guidelines.”