The Very Rev. Paul Carlson told Rauh that if she wanted to feed the hungry, then there’s no place like home to start. Carlson was the pastor at St. Patrick Catholic Church, where Rauh is an active member, and people in need regularly knocked on the door seeking food donations.
Bob and Janet Palkion of Joliet have fostered more than 30 children, adopted three of those fosters and serve the foster community in multiple ways, despite their own health challenges.
We hope the stories in this special edition serve as a reminder that heroism doesn’t have to be extraordinary to matter.
Hugo Saltijeral is executive director of Valley Sheltered Workshop in Batavia – after a second career serving the homeless at Hesed House in Aurora.
CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate, a nonprofit, volunteer organization that advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children within the juvenile court system.
Along with owning two businesses in Oswego, Kelley Rice is also involved in several Oswego organizations.
For more than 50 years, educators have taught generations of Yorkville middle school students to put their best foot forward in the annual Square Dance Jubilee.
They don't wear capes. They drive through snowstorms, feed the homeless, and show up every single day for the people who need them most. Meet more 2026 Everyday Heroes in McHenry County — and the readers who wanted to say thank you
She leads her business with compassion, always putting her employees first and creating a supportive environment.
A PE teacher who turned grief into a mental health movement. A school resource officer who never says he's too busy. A Marine who's always there. Meet the Illinois Valley's reader-nominated 2026 Everyday Heroes.
A first-year dispatcher already named Dispatcher of the Year. A veteran who enlisted at 17. A dental care provider going above and beyond for her community. Meet the Rochelle area's reader-nominated 2026 Everyday Heroes.
The non-profit is a member of Lions International, which aims to help children and adults with hearing and vision impairments. It started in 1936 as a group of downtown Dixon businessmen.
Lavita McKinzie believes she is receiving as many blessings from her volunteer work with CGH Auxiliary as she gives.
Phyllis Holmes said she works five hours a day, three days a week, at the Broadway Head Start, despite needing oxygen to help herself breathe.
The Aroma Park Fire Protection District was put to test after the March 10 tornado that tore through the small Kankakee County community, as this storm hit so close to home for them and their families. Yet the department of 25 personnel, including both part-time and paid on-call.
Barb Neises learned how to volunteer from her mom and has taken on projects for the McHenry Riverwalk Foundation since.
How Shirley Kiss’ phone tree grew into countywide lifeline providing thousands of services each year
We Care of Grundy County has been the place to turn to for those in need in Grundy County since 1979, but it got its start as a phone tree.
If the thousands of animals that have spent time at the Tails Humane Society animal shelter in DeKalb could talk, they’d surely say Nancy Rigler is among their heroes. Rigler, 77, of DeKalb, has been a Tails volunteer for half a century.