Farmers are rebuilding turkey flocks hit hard by avian flu, and overall demand has declined. That combination is helping keep turkey costs down for families this Thanksgiving.

Here are the winners for the best coffee shops in the Best of the Fox, Best of the Illinois Valley, DeKalb County's Finest and Sauk Valley Favorites contest.

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

Dixon American Legion Post 12 will be serving baked ham, au gratin potatoes, rolls, vegetable, salad and dessert from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, at 1120 W. First St.

The 211 Helpline is a free, multi-lingual, confidential, 24-hour information and referral service where a live person helps the caller access resources and supports for a wide variety of needs.

Mosaic Kitchen & Cocktails is now open on South Third Street in Geneva.

Streetwise Tattoos, of Sterling, invites the community to take part in The Spirit of Giving Food Drive during a three-day tattoo-for-donations event from Nov. 21–23, 2025. It's an initiative supporting local food pantries and a newly opened homeless shelter.

Portillo’s Vice President of Restaurant Support Michael Portillo will attend the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Plainfield location, which will include a check presentation to Bags of Hope, Portillo’s charity partner.

This popular sports bar and grill in Amboy offers creative twists to its traditional menu, including their famous Philly cheesesteak.

Community Cares and Oswego School District 308 come together to help those in need with a coat drive and a list of food pantries in the area.

Zaxbys has purchased the former Slim Chickens restaurant at Illinois Route 59 and 135th Street, village officials announced on Monday. It would be the first Zaxbys restaurant in Illinois.

Neighbor Amy brought us some Winesap apples from her tree. I was really glad for them. They have a good taste for fresh eating, but are also good to bake with.

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.

A three-generation hot dog business in Joliet is now for sale.

Over the past 112 years, the Rotary Club of Joliet has donated more than $1million in grants, scholarships and charitable support throughout the greater Joliet area.

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.

The Extension services are sharing publicly available resources to help Illinois families access food and support local donation efforts.

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.

About 1.9 million Illinois residents are enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program this year.

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, Nov. 27 in 2025. Make your dinner reservations now and leave the cooking and clean up to someone else!

Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized, putting very young, older people, and those with underlying health conditions at greatest risk.

The GPS Parent Series will present “Nourishing the Modern Brain: The Food, Mood and Health Connection” with best-selling author and psychiatrist Dr. Drew Ramsey at noon and 7 p.m. Nov. 18 via Zoom.

810 Billiards & Bowling is expected to open in early 2026.

Hilldale Cafe in Lanark combines creativity and comfort to craft dishes that surprise and delight.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended an order blocking full SNAP payments, amid signals that the government shutdown could soon end and food aid payments resume

The West Suburban Food Pantry is facing new challenges as the need for food continues to increase

The owner of a Lanark cafe blends creativity and comfort to craft dishes that surprise and delight, each plate served with a dash of inspiration.

Rochelle Township High School recently announced the launch of its schoolwide “Dodging Hunger Initiative,” a community-centered effort designed to alleviate hunger within RTHS and throughout the Rochelle area.

The Joliet Police Department is partnering with the The Salvation Army Joliet Corps Community Center for its annual holiday food drive: Patrol for Hunger! Food pantries are reporting higher demand.

Check out this nostalgia-filled diners in Batavia, Geneva, Elgin and more Kane County communities.

States administering a federal food aid program serving about 42 million Americans faced uncertainty Monday over whether they can — and should — provide full monthly benefits during an ongoing legal battle involving the U.S. government shutdown

I’m going to share the recipe for this coffee cake my sister Susan and Ervin brought to our house recently when they came for supper

Peace Lutheran Church invites anyone alone, in need, new to the area, or simply wants to celebrate with others.

In addition to the many food banks and food pantries throughout Will County, various agencies and organizations are holding their own food drives and distributions to help fight hunger.

The Supreme Court on Friday granted the Trump administration’s emergency appeal to temporarily block a court order to fully fund SNAP food aid payments amid the government shutdown, even though residents in some states already have received the funds

President Donald Trump’s administration asked a federal appeals court Friday to block a judge’s order that it distribute November’s full monthly SNAP food benefits amid a U.S. government shutdown

There are currently at least 42 million Americans dependent upon SNAP to provide the necessary funds to feed themselves and their families.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. gave President Donald Trump’s administration until Friday to make the payments through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Extension is offering individually portioned, ready-to-heat freezer meals — perfect for gifting or stocking your own freezer.

National Sandwich Day is Monday, Nov. 3 Check out these award-winning sandwich shops in DeKalb, Kane and McHenry counties, Illinois Valley and Sauk Valley.

Check out this list of the best bakeries and donut shops in DeKalb, Kane, Kendall and McHenry counties, the Sauk Valley and the Illinois Valley.

The 2025 Turkey Trot 5K Fun Run/Walk starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, at Morrison High School, 643 Genesee Ave. in Morrison.

The annual Polo Christmas Festival will be Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.

Board of Directors: Please help us help our neighbors. We need cash donations to help us purchase the food items we need to meet both current demands and this new surge.

As nonprofits, businesses and individuals across northern Illinois prepared for the uncertainty surrounding SNAP, President Donald Trump’s administration said Monday that it will partially fund the food assistance program

President Donald Trump’s administration said Monday that it will partially fund SNAP after a pair of judges’ rulings required it to keep the food aid program running

Popsicles come in different shapes and varieties, and a Franklin Grove woman has has put her own twist to the treats – using real fruits and what grows in her garden to create a variety of tasty flavors that make customers' taste buds pop.

People across the country formed long lines for free meals and groceries at food pantries and drive-through giveaways Saturday, after monthly benefits through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, were cut off

Our minds wander, and before you know it, stories of your family find their way into your column

There is no definitive time when the contingency funding for SNAP benefits will kick in, despite a court order to the Trump Administration on Friday.