Volunteers spent over 4,000 hours completing local projects for the community during Hope Week, from June 1 to 7. Ax Church Lead Pastor Cameron Graper, who began Hope Week through the church in La Salle in 2015, said volunteers completed 4,558 hours of community service and spent $40,872 on projects this year. . Some Hope Week projects this year include constructing mobility ramps, landscaping, painting playground equipment and park clean-ups in many towns across multiple counties including Bureau, Putnam and La Salle.
Mario Cotea specialist in geriatric and internal Medicine with Carle Health, was the guest speaker at a recent meeting of the Pink Ribbon Club of the Illinois Valley, a local cancer support group.
The 2025 calendar was built entirely from the community: more than 450 photographs were submitted by visitors and local photographers, and the final calendar featured a curated selection highlighting the parks’ year-round beauty and key events.