Prairie Brome Solar is proud to announce the third-quarter recipients of its Community Grant Program, recognizing outstanding organizations making a meaningful difference across Lee County. Five local nonprofits have been awarded a total of $10,000 to support their work.

Volunteers from Joliet-area nonprofits were recently honored by the Arkas Restaurant Group’s second annual Joliet Philanthropy Recognition Awards Brunch.

After raising a total of $36,540 for various local nonprofits over eight events since its inception in 2023, Small Business Bingo will return to Rochelle with two events in November and December, event organizer and AP Massage Therapy owner Ashley Patrick said Oct. 13, 2025.

Family Service Agency of DeKalb County leaders announced this week plans to open the county’s first homeless and transitional living shelter for area youth.

After this year’s record-breaking Yortktoberfest, organizer Jason Pesola said the Kiwanis Club of Yorkville might have to establish an extra grant because so much money was raised for scholarships.

Coats will be available in toddler sizes, boys and girl sizes XS to XL as well as adult women’s sizes.

Two Small Business Bingo events will be held this year at Flight Deck Bar & Grill at 1207 W. Gurler Road in Rochelle to benefit area nonprofits.

The Plano Food Pantry is offering free food pick-up on Oct. 17 at the First Lutheran Church in Plano.

The Rochelle Police and Fire departments squared off in a Battle of the Badges charity volleyball game at Flight Deck Bar & Grill on Oct. 4, 2025. The event raised $1,100 that was donated to Focus House.

Sharlyn Grace, the deputy public defender for policy at the Cook County Public Defenders' Office, noted that ICE has not coordinated with court authorities, especially in cases where immigrants have been detained while at court on other business.

Dozens came together Monday in DeKalb to create a safe space for those impacted by domestic violence at Safe Passage’s annual domestic violence candlelight vigil. Among locals remembered were Sycamore couple Holly Schmidt and Gary Schmidt.

The Plano Methodist Church is participating in this year’s Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child.

The Rochelle Christian Food Pantry at 770 Lincoln Ave. set a record for families served in August 2025, RCFP Board Member Cal Jacobs said Sept. 25, 2025.

Though fall’s only arrived, a St. Charles nonprofit is on the lookout ahead of the Christmas season for Santa’s helpers to help shop for gifts for area schoolchildren and families facing financial hardship. Volunteers should sign up by Oct. 15.

The Byron Women’s Club invites you to join in the fun Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025 for Fiesta Nachos & Bingo.

The Rochelle Rotary Club presented a $3,500 donation to the Rochelle Community Action Network on Sept. 23, 2025.

Mayor Cohen Barnes said this week that the city is considering expanding its local support for networks and groups that help those facing homelessness in DeKalb. Homelessness, including among youth, is on the rise across Illinois, data shows.

Rochelle Foods presented a donation of $5,000 to the Rochelle Area Community Foundation on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025.

CASA Kane County will host an event in October meant to drive systemic child welfare reform, featuring youth advocate speaker Joshua Wayne.

Paul Dickerson is hosting a “Yes, Together We Can” informational and fundraising event from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Joliet Area Historical Museum, 204 N. Ottawa St. in Joliet.

Hollywood Casino will give away $60,000 to local nonprofit; already has distributed $155,000.

Participants will enjoy an evening of dining at Tom Kelly’s Chophouse, Gatto’s Italian Restaurant and Bar, Hog Wild and JBD White Horse Inn in New Lenox area.

Approximately 2,500 deliveries are made each month throughout the 13 counties as a result of the Northern Illinois Food Bank's partnership with Project Dash – and 1,000 of them are in Will County,

The funding from the Nature Foundation of Will County’s will support the forest preserve district's preservation, conservation, education and recreation priorities.

September is National Senior Center Month. The Hub City Senior Center at 401 Cherry Ave. in Rochelle provides community, exercise, transportation and more to area seniors to improve their quality of life, HCSC Executive Director Diana King said.

The Plano Library is holding an going drive to collect items to assist homeless individuals now through Dec. 15.

The Rochelle Area Community Foundation has accepted a donation of $1,085 from multiple area organizations.

A limited selection of gently used evening bags, designer bags, and jewelry boxes will also be available. The White Oak Library District has branches in Crest Hill, Lockport and Romeoville.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office is refusing to release police reports regarding an investigation of theft at a nonprofit organization despite a request their disclosure by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.

Trinity Services began in 1950 when a group of parents started a school for their children, who had developmental disabilities and no options for education. By 2017, Trinity Services had become a statewide organization with 1,200 employees and a $56 million budget.

Lockport-based nonprofit Give Back, founded by former resident Bob Carr, opened a new office in the city's historic downtown this month and hopes to expand its outreach in the community.

The Rochelle Rotary Club recently held a fundraising raffle to support the CAN holiday shopping trip.

The Yorkville Knights of Columbus are hosting their annual “Tootsie Roll” ID Drive from Sept. 12-13, collecting proceeds for local organizations that support people with intellectual disabilities.

First prize for Rotary Club of Joliet’s 2025 Cash Raffle is $10,000. Raffle kicks off Tuesday.

Northern Illinois Food Bank is partnering with Woody’s Apple Orchard in Plano throughout September to mark Hunger Action Month.

Area nonprofits are working to fill the fundraising gap left by local nonprofit From the Heart after it ceased operations in February after 18 years and $1.116 million in giving in the greater Rochelle area.

The Yorkville mayor said he'd like to form a community group to discuss providing access to social services for the community's homeless and possibly amending the recently adopted ordinance.

Shorewood resident Kim Whisenhunt founded Blue Heron Bagels in October – with her own funds — to give back.

The party will include a food truck, games, giveaways, a huge ReStore tent sale and financial empowerment information.

The Rochelle Area Community Foundation held a golf outing at Fairways Golf Course on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in Rochelle. The event featured golfers from local businesses and community organizations and nonprofit partners and sponsors with booths at each hole.

Senior Services of Will County is already seeking a replacement and the position is posted.

Sauk Valley Voices of Recovery will host an overdose awareness event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, at the Grandon Civic Center, 304 Brinks Circle in Sterling.

Sports Clips Haircuts of Batavia is asking the community to come together to join the fight against pediatric cancer. From Sept. 7-13. the haircutting hotspot is partnering with Cal’s Angels, a non-profit pediatric cancer foundation from St. Charles, to raise funds.

This annual half-day volunteer extravaganza will bring together friends, families, coworkers and neighbors to complete more than 20 service projects across Lee and Ogle counties.

The DeKalb County Community Foundation recently launched a new program meant to support area nonprofits, businesses and philanthropy donors.

After 18 years at the helm, Dixon Family YMCA CEO Andy McFarlane has stepped down, according to a news release issued by the YMCA Board of Directors.

For the first time ever in the FORE! Yorkville Golf Outing event fundraiser for the Yorkville Educational Foundation and the Yorkville Parks and Recreation Department, someone hit the big hole-in-one sweepstakes. The golfer wasn't the event's only winner, more than $12K raised.

Children in Dixon are finding it tougher to have nutritious meals on weekends during the school year, and a local volunteer organization is here to help. They're buddies with bags, helping to make sure children in need have meals to eat.

The DeKalb County Community Foundation has hired Sycamore resident Scott Gulke as its new finance director, the group announced Thursday.

CASA DeKalb County will host its 21st annual 50 Men Who Cook event to support its children’s advocacy work.