MARION – Down the Leash and the Marion VA Food Pantry each received over $39,000 from proceeds raised at this year’s Southern Illinois Made Expo during a check presentation Monday at Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois in Marion.

The two entities were this year’s beneficiaries. Both play a vital role in supporting local veterans—whether through providing service dogs or addressing food insecurity among those who have served our nation.

The expo was held on July 19 in Marion. It celebrates local businesses, artisans, and entrepreneurs who get to show off their locally made products and raises vital funds to support veteran-serving organizations in Southern Illinois.

Since its inception in 2018, the Southern Illinois Made Expo—organized by State Senator Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) in partnership with the Southern Illinois Chambers of Commerce and Southern Illinois Community Foundation—has raised more than $400,000 for veteran-focused charities across the region.