The top item on the wishlist for Twin Cities Homeless Shelter is available just a few minutes’ drive from the shelter. “Right now, what I’d really like, and they are on sale at Menards, are those 27-gallon storage totes,” shelter director Myles Newberry said.

Fulton Presbyterian Church will play host to its annual fundraiser for Mission Starfish Haiti at 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1.

When most people have put away the Christmas decorations, wrapping paper and ribbons, the director of the Whiteside County Toys for Tots program already is thinking about Christmas shopping.

Sauk Valley Community College’s Impact Program has announced a 3-year, $15,000 pledge from The First National Bank in Amboy.

Seven mothers and their children ages 0 to 5 – and one apartment manager – will live in the apartment building as the mothers receive treatment for substance abuse

Woodlawn Arts Academy students will be showing off their theater and music skills this winter, with performances of “Mary Poppins Jr.” and winter music recitals both set for January.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office K9 Hemi will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from nonprofit organization Vested Interest in K9s Inc.

Lake County communities responded in outstanding fashion to the 2025 “Coats for Vets” campaign sponsored by Libertyville Sunrise Rotary and Zengeler Cleaners.

Mothers Trust Foundation of Lake Forest will host prom dress distribution activities on March 5, 6 and 7 at the University Center of Lake County, with continuing educational opportunities, career counseling and financial aid info provided by the College of Lake County.

The Ogle County Democrats recently celebrated with a fundraiser and canned food collection drive in December.

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,

On Dec. 18, the pantry served 622 families as part of its Christmas distribution.

The Morrison Department of Fun recently made a donation to Pink Heals of Sauk Valley. The donation comes from the Boobie Bus Fundraiser that took place in October.

This Christmas morning, hundreds of children in Lake County will wake up to toys under their trees thanks to the generosity of a Facebook community that turns local residents into Secret Santas.

The GLCU Foundation for Financial Empowerment is pleased to announce that it has made a $10,000 donation to the Lake County Community Foundation’s Community Crisis Relief Fund.

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 Salvation Army Kankakee has collected 36% of its $75,000 goal in the annual Red Kettle campaign.

The month-long initiative took place from Oct. 24 through Nov. 24 at both the Bank’s Main Branch in Morris and its Wilmington Branch.

The $500 donation will be used to purchase meat, produce and dairy to give to those in need in the local community.

Jill Egan, managing broker of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago North Region offices, is pleased to announce that the Libertyville office donated 130 Thanksgiving meals to Lake County residents in need on Nov. 25.

The Plano Methodist Church collected over 125 items to be donated to the Kendall County Food Pantry.

Santa delivered gifts to over 120 kids through the through Blue and Red Christmas for Kids in Peru. The Christmas program was established in 2013 by the Peru police and fire departments. It donates more than gifts to children in need.

Now the FIT Foundation – a meal prep company is seeking donations for Christmas dinners for Joliet and Crest Hill police officers who are working on Christmas Day.

April House's mission is to make sure children who have suffered abuse are heard, protected, and given a path toward justice and healing.

Through community support, Culver’s of Rock Falls donated over $1,700 to the local Whiteside County Honor Flight to support their next flight to Washington, D.C.

There are three days left to donate to the United Way’s “Home for the Holidays” drive.

These devices can detect and alert the officer using them of the presence of card skimming apparatus, which are used to steal credit and debit card information.

“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 United Way of Kankakee and Iroquois Counties has been hard at work addressing the area’s housing needs.

The drive-thru event runs from 4-5:30 p.m. at Romeoville Village Hall parking lot, 1050 W. Rodeo Road.

Each year since 2007, Westyn Genens's parents celebrated Westyn’s short life with an annual holiday toy drive for Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn.

The community is encouraged to donate new or gently used coats, hats, gloves and scarves for distribution to residents who need them most.

While wanting to help is commendable, it’s important to prioritize food safety. Those relying on food pantries often face higher risks of severe illness due to chronic health conditions, age or other factors.

This is the third year United Way of Grundy County is participating in the Herald Angels campaign.

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.

A group of Logical Position employees recently delivered a $4,000 check to the Northern Illinois Food Bank. This contribution will help provide roughly 133 meals and support more than 1,000 people across Lake County.

The Rochelle Lions Club recently donated new winter coats, hats and gloves to Lincoln Elementary School.

CHS Rochelle recently presented a donation of $21,733.05 to the Ogle County Educational Cooperative from its annual charity golf outing earlier this year.

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

Operation Jesus volunteers will personally deliver the care packages to homeless individuals in downtown Chicago on Christmas morning.

The 17th annual Freezin’ for a Reezin’ event was held on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025 outside of the WCMY studios downtown Ottawa. Donations supported the Community Food Basket of Ottawa.

Oregon Living & Rehab Center at 811 S. 10th St. is collecting food donations Dec. 1-22, 2025, to help local families in need.

Dixon Knights of Columbus Council 690 donated a total of $2,300 to three local groups Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.

Four years after Sauk Valley Community College launched its earned-tuition program, the community is noticing its impact on volunteerism.

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

The 40th annual Fill the Bus Toy Drive has been rescheduled for this Wednesday from 3-6 p.m. after weekend snowfall created hazardous travel. The drive, held at the Dick's Sporting Goods parking lot on Route 50, aims to ensure every local child gets a gift this holiday season.

The Dixon Historic Theatre has launched the Dixon Encore Capital Campaign. Its goals are to restore the terrazzo floors, repair and replace theater seating and add improvements to the exterior, such as masonry work, repairing and modernizing the marquee, and digital signage.

During the month of December, United Way of Kankakee and Iroquois Counties is coordinating a community-wide Home for the Holidays Donation Drive.

Blessing Bandits was founded by Katie Rabenda, a Joliet attorney who works for the Kendall County State’s Attorney’s Office.