Nonprofits

Morris Herald-News teams up with United Way of Grundy County to make it easy to brighten the lives of children, senior citizens and neighbors this holiday season.

The need for assistance has continued to rise in Will County since the COVID-19 pandemic. And that need is highest among families working one or more jobs.

Marking 20 years of service, Grundy Area PADS has provided emergency shelter as well as a separate program to rehouse people in apartments, but the agency’s availability of assistance faces a crisis of its own.

The Rotary Club of Joliet is hosting a casual, margarita-themed fundraiser to raise money for its new community contingency fund on Dec. 14.

The South Suburban Center of the Northern Illinois Food Bank donates its meat and fish waste to Big Run Wolf Ranch, an educational facility in Lockport specializing in North American wildlife.

The city of Joliet, in conjunction with Cadence Cares Foundation, will be hosting a second donation drive for victims of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The collection will be held Friday and Saturday at the Old National Bank.

Since 1913, Childerguild has raised over $6 million for women and children’s healthcare services. All proceeds from the 2024 ball will also benefit these services.

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Village of Shorewood YMCA on Thursday, Nov. 21. The new facility is expected to be open in spring 2026.

A Manhattan farm donates all the meat it produces to veterans organizations in eight states.

Free food and free haircuts will be offered at a youth empowerment fair on Nov. 16 at Second Baptist Church in Joliet. The fair is meant to prepare youths for college.

Joliet residents will send two truckloads of water, blankets, hygiene products and other items to aid those impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The newly-formed Greater Joliet League of Women Voters is working to educate voters on election disinformation and misinformation as the Nov. 5 election draws nearer.

The city of Joliet in conjunction with Cadence Cares Foundation will be hosting a donation drives for supplies to victims of Hurricanes Helene and Milton on Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and continue on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A ribbon cutting will precede tours of the youth counseling center created by the Community Foundation of Grundy County.

Minooka Community High School and Plainfield Central High School girls volleyball teams are hoping to score a lot of points on Tuesday, Oct. 15 to benefit Shorewood HUGS.

The Nature Foundation held its first board meeting in 2014 as the Friends of the Forest Preserve District of Will County. Since then, the nonprofit has raised funds to make education programs, infrastructure improvements possible.

The Gardner Lions Club will be holding a pancake breakfast at the American Legion in October.

A trailer load of potentially life-saving supplies is expected to arrive in Asheville, North Carolina, this month thanks to the donations and charitable efforts of DeKalb County residents.

Elina Triantou of Renaissance Center Banquets in Joliet, said the goal was to “bring together non-profits and celebrate the outstanding efforts of those who have made a difference.”

Wish Upon a Star will let the gourd times roll at noon Saturday with its The 5th Annual ‘Spooktacular’ Jack-O-Lantern Derby at the Croatian Cultural Club, 1503 Clement St. in Joliet. Admission is free. Races begin at 2 p.m.

Guardian Angel Basset Rescue in Dwight is one of 100 animal welfare groups to receive a grant to help local senior dogs and those who love them.

DeKalb County Community Gardens has rebranded and will now be known as Rooted For Good, but the organization’s services will remain the same.

K9s for Veterans helps provides trained service dogs to help veterans with post traumatic stress disorder transition to civilian life

The Community Foundation of Grundy County (CFGC) has committed to working with non-profits serving Grundy County to tackle the larger issue of mental health especially that of children and their families.

Spooky Night Out on Sept. 14 is hosted by the Lockport Woman’s Club to benefit local charities.

This Joliet women’s organization began in 1889 when eight women assisted local residents with confidential financial assistance after they “experienced tragic events."

The year's Rotary Club of Joliet’s campaign kicks off Sept. 17. The past year's grant recipients were the Belmont Little League and the Alano Club, both in Joliet.

Hope Haven, DeKalb’s shelter dedicated to serving area people without a home, recently paid homage to its staff.

La Salle County Court Appointed Special Advocates is seeking volunteers and donations in September, which is National Child Awareness Month.

Artwork at Cornerstone Services art show in Joliet was created by people with disabilities.

Opinion: Kishwaukee United Way is preparing to launch a new digital program which will aim to help individuals attain access to basic resources that provide an immediate hand up and not a hand out, writes Michele Vaughn.

Participating agendies in Will County include the St. John Lutheran Church Food Pantry, 2650 Plainfield Road, Joliet; and H.E.A.L. Riverwalk Food Pantry, 350 N. Broadway Street, Joliet,.

Texas Roadhouse in Joliet will team up with Joliet police to raise money for Special Olympics Illinois on Monday.

Opinion: "We are thrilled to announce that Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County is moving a historic house. The Engh Farm house, also known as the 'Hired Hands House,' will relocate from Sycamore to DeKalb to become a home for a mother and her child," Kim McIver writes.

Sycamore Community School District 427 school board President Jim Dombek “had the heart of a servant,” board vice president Michael DeVito said in a statement following Dombek's death this week.

Sycamore resident Travis Shaffer has long believed there’s more than one way to make sloppy joe. He was one of dozens who cooked up dishes for hundreds to enjoy, benefiting CASA DeKalb County for the 20th annual 50 Men Who Cook Saturday.

Hundreds of hungry participants sampled their way through a variety of dishes in DeKalb Saturday for the 20th anniversary of 50 Men Who Cook, an annual family-friendly fundraiser benefiting CASA DeKalb County.

An organization known for advocating for children who have experienced abuse or neglect in DeKalb County will host the 20th rendition of its signature fundraising event Saturday in DeKalb.

Tickets are now available for MorningStar Mission’s Culinary Caravan Progressive Dinner on Aug. 7, a fundraiser that benefits the Joliet mission’s work in Will County.

74,501 pounds of food given away in three hours on Saturday as city of Joliet and Will County partner on event to help those impacted by tornadoes and storms.

Spend sometime outdoors for an evening of community and cocktails on Saturday, July 27 in Batavia.

The Batavia Woman’s Club will host a downtown shopping spree on July 27 where participants can shop, enjoy a wine tasting and win prizes, all for a good cause.

The Brenda Holzer Memorial Foundation and Portillo’s are teaming up to host a fundraising event from 5 to 8 p.m. on July 29 at the Portillo’s at 531 N. Randall Road in Batavia.

For every 10 locally made mattresses sold, Verlo Mattress of St. Charles will donate one to a guest of Lazarus House through a voucher.

Batavia area community members can raise funds that save the lives of pets in Kane County by participating in Anderson Humane’s Walk4Animals on Sept. 14.

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley awarded 36 grants to local nonprofits supporting the needs of youth and local residents.

Batavia's Public Art initiative and Conservation Foundation are seeking artists to participate in the new 'Art on the Fox' project to create a mural series on the Jeffrey D. Schielke Government Center. Submissions are due Friday.

The Brenda Holzer Memorial Foundation has raised thousands of dollars to go toward bettering the lives of disabled children and their families.

Time for Hope will host its annual Strike Out Pancreatic Cancer night with the Joliet Slammers at Duly Health and Care Field in Joliet on Saturday, July 20.

The Nature Foundation of Will County presented a $33,400 donation check to the Forest Preserve at the District to be used for a variety of programs and projects.