Rock Falls Rotary donated $250 to two different organizations that helped out the community during the holidays.

Over 40 organizations across Bureau County gathered for a group photo during a Lending a Hand funds distribution of checks totaling $200,000 on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026 at the Closet in Princeton. The Closet has donated 2.3 million dollars to area organizations over the past 16 years.

The women who attended the quarterly meeting of 100+ Women Who Care of Ogle County on Thursday, Jan. 15, had a choice to make in deciding who should receive an $11,800 charitable donation.

Celebration on Jan. 22 recognizes that Parton's Imagination Library has provided more than 20,000 books to 5,500 Will County children.

Menards stores in Grundy, Kendall and Will counties are taking donations for area food pantries now through the month of March.

The group will meet on Feb. 10 to nominate, vote, and donate to make a difference for a local charity or group.

For the second consecutive year, Hands On Oregon donated $2,000 to the Oregon High School Transitions program.

Weekend events by the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation are set to observe, reflect and celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

UCP-Center for Disability Services founder – Mel Larsen of Joliet (deceased) – had no connection to anyone with a disability or cerebral palsy.

The children are collecting donations for a “Joy to the World” Basket from Heifer International.

Brion Brooks retired Dec. 19 after 11 years as executive director of the Village of Progress in Oregon, which serves people with developmental disabilities in Ogle County.

Hollywood Casino Joliet’s Gala Giveaway is valued at $60,000.

A nonprofit that provides housing in Woodstock said it was cooperating with law enforcement after a man who said he lived in their housing was accused of attacking a woman and attempting to blow up a gas station.

The nonprofit organization has been located at 23907 W. Industrial Drive for more than 10 years. Wags 2 Wishes rescues abandoned, abused and sick animals and helps find new homes for them.

More than 300 volunteers assisted 96 residents at the Marklund Hyde Center campus near Geneva for the annual Christmas Eve gift opening.

The Rochelle Area Community Foundation recently announced Yazmin Nambo as its 2026 board president.

The Salvation Army encourages Illinoisans to consider post-holiday giving. “As the year comes to a close, the need in our communities does not,” said Lt. Colonel Jonathan Rich,

Operated primarily by volunteers, the New Lenox Township Food Pantry, 1080 Cedar Road in New Lenox, serves families who are challenged by food insecurity.

Police from local communities hosted Shop With a Cop events in Lockport, Plainfield, and Bolingbrook over the past week allowing children in need to shop for Christmas.

This year, the Plainfield Lions assisted 192 families and more than 1,000 people in the Plainfield area with $61,500 in Jewel gift cards.

The Rochelle Area Community Foundation announced Tuesday, Dec. 16, a new designated fund, Future of Focus House, that will be aimed at continued improvement of the Ogle County facility that recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The city of Rochelle presented a $3,525 facade grant Monday, Dec. 15, to the Vince Carney Community Theater at 108 S. Main St. in Rochelle.

“We have a community that is working hard – and many are working multiple jobs – to make ends meet. But it’s still not enough,“ said Sarah Oprzedek, president and chief executive officer of United Way of Will County.

The Community Action Network of Rochelle hosted its annual Holiday Shopping Trip for children in need in the community Thursday, Dec. 11, at First Presbyterian Church.

The Rochelle Area Community Foundation recently announced the results of its 2025 Giving Tuesday campaign, raising a total of $27,800 to support community programs and charitable funds throughout Rochelle and the surrounding area.

This holiday season the man in the big red suit got a little help from the crew in blue. Volunteers from the Kiwanis Club of Yorkville help make the event extra magical

The gifts are for children up to 12 years of age. Community members can drop off gifts up to Saturday, Dec. 13.

The event takes place 4 p.m. Wednesday at 311 S. Reed St. in Joliet in honor of UCP-Center for Disability Services anniversary.

Faces and vehicles were lit up for the 2025 Plano Rockin’ Christmas on Dec. 5. Community members were serenaded by students performing in the Plano Middle School Jazz Band and the Emily G Johns Band.

The award-winning American Legion Band will hold its annual Christmas concert at the Rialto Square Theatre on Dec. 14 to benefit Catholic Charities.

Collection bins are located at Silver Spoon Restaurant, 1701 W. Jefferson St. in Joliet and Busey Bank, located at 2801 Black Road, Joliet.

Officials and staff with Safe Passage hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking Friday to mark the start of construction for a long-awaited new and expanded shelter in DeKalb, for those experiencing domestic violence.

The walk will be from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday starting at Pinz Bowling Alley, 1211 N,. Bridge St. Yorkville.

A Small Business Bingo event held Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, at Flight Deck Bar & Grill in Rochelle saw nearly 300 attendees and raised $4,680 to be split between Shining Star Children’s Advocacy Center and HOPE of Ogle County.

The Kankakee County Museum is officially aglow with the twinkle of Christmas lights for the 47th annual Gallery of Trees, themed "Blast from the Past." The experience kicks off Thursday, Dec. 4, and runs through December with the hours of 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

The Joliet Police Department and the Salvation Army have partnered again to host the annual Patrol For Hunger food drive benefiting Joliet-area families at the holidays.

To avoid scammers or donating to fraudulent organizations Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul offered the following tips to potential donors.

Every year community members gather in Montgomery to run for a cause. This year, the Montgomery River Run led to a $2,000 donation being presented to to CASA of Kendall County.

The Oregon Lions Club recently hosted its 1-D central zone meeting. Special speaker, author and educator Bill Massey from North Carolina was Zoomed in to present to the group.

The Giving Door has been a silent giver for over two decades allowing volunteers to anonymously fulfill wish lists over the holidays for families and children in need.

As part of the restaurant chain’s commitment to combating hunger, Chick-fil-A has selected 22 food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens to surprise with $25,000 grants this holiday season.

The donated turkeys will be prepared by the Voluntary Action Center of Northern Illinois and delivered through the Meals on Wheels program to about 200 residents across DeKalb County.

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois recently announced the recipients of Community Grants for the 2025 program cycle.

The new Portillo's restaurant, located at the corner of 135th Street and Illinois Route 59 in Plainfield, is drive-thru only. Other pick up only locations are in Joliet, Rosemont and Orland Park.

Fox Valley United Way looks to supplement its Holiday Assistance families with gift cards of $25 or more to help meet their practical needs this season.

These funds will benefit the renovation of the Boys & Girls Club of Joliet’s swimming pool exterior wall.

Constellation, owner of the Byron Nuclear Plant, presented a $15,000 donation to the Rochelle Christian Food Pantry on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025.

Hands-on experience in fundraising, grantmaking, and community impact provided through the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley's Youth Engagement Program.

The Rochelle Christian Food Pantry at 770 Lincoln Ave. saw an all-time record with 237 families served during the week of Nov. 2-8, 2025.

Hands of Hope will be hosting its Thanksgiving Food Drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 15 at 511 Oakleaf Court in Joliet.