The Very Rev. Paul Carlson told Rauh that if she wanted to feed the hungry, then there’s no place like home to start. Carlson was the pastor at St. Patrick Catholic Church, where Rauh is an active member, and people in need regularly knocked on the door seeking food donations.
We hope the stories in this special edition serve as a reminder that heroism doesn’t have to be extraordinary to matter.
Hugo Saltijeral is executive director of Valley Sheltered Workshop in Batavia – after a second career serving the homeless at Hesed House in Aurora.
CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate, a nonprofit, volunteer organization that advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children within the juvenile court system.
Along with owning two businesses in Oswego, Kelley Rice is also involved in several Oswego organizations.
For more than 50 years, educators have taught generations of Yorkville middle school students to put their best foot forward in the annual Square Dance Jubilee.
They don't wear capes. They drive through snowstorms, feed the homeless, and show up every single day for the people who need them most. Meet more 2026 Everyday Heroes in McHenry County — and the readers who wanted to say thank you
She leads her business with compassion, always putting her employees first and creating a supportive environment.
At any hour and in any weather, two retired firefighters dedicate themselves to assisting fire departments in emergency calls across McHenry County by keeping bellies full and hearts warm.
After a Cary woman started a free food pantry on her front porch, neighbors starting taking it upon themselves to help keep it stocked.
When people need a police officer, firefighter or animal control officer, a calm voice often is what callers need to hear.
When Wendy Briley’s husband, Ken, became the Grundy County Sheriff in 2019, she looked around and realized the county didn’t have a Shop with a Cop program.
Susan Tyrrell’s teacher voice still is loud and clear when she’s working with fifth grade students at Teen Turf in Amboy.
When people comment to Beth Saffell about what the Jefferson/Lincoln PTO is doing or not doing, Saffell sees an opportunity.
When Roger Wittenauer sat down to chat with firefighters from the Amboy and Sublette fire departments at an Amboy Fire Department Depot Days breakfast a few years ago, he mentioned he missed the fire service.
The non-profit is a member of Lions International, which aims to help children and adults with hearing and vision impairments. It started in 1936 as a group of downtown Dixon businessmen.
Lavita McKinzie believes she is receiving as many blessings from her volunteer work with CGH Auxiliary as she gives.
In the days following the March 10 tornado in Kankakee County, the Grace Christian Academy teacher discovered she was capable of more than she knew; that teacher was Christine Johnson.