Redeeming Life Ministries is still providing essential supplies for anyone in Kankakee County who was affected by the recent tornado. They are open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm offering food, diapers, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, totes and more. If you are in need, do not hesitate to stop by at 2400 Waldron Road, Kankakee.
(NOW – May 2nd) In observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Clove Alliance invites you to come view their 6th annual “Brave, Bold & Believed Art Show”, on display now through Saturday, May 2nd inside the Kankakee County Museum on South 8th Avenue in Kankakee. You’ll see inspiring art created by local artists, honoring survivors’ journeys and celebrating Clove Alliance’s efforts to end sexual violence. You can also place your vote for the People’s Choice Award during your visit.
(NOW – May 13th) The American Red Cross has recently been dealing with a severe blood shortage. You can help by donating at an upcoming local blood drive. These will be held Thursday, April 30th from 8:30am to 2pm at Herscher High School / Friday, May 1st from 10am to 3pm at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee / Tuesday, May 5th from 10am until 4pm at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee / Wednesday, May 6th from 1 to 6pm at the Knights of Columbus in Kankakee / Thursday, May 7th from noon to 6pm at Northfield Square Mall in Bourbonnais / and on Wednesday, May 13th from noon until 5pm at the American Lutheran Church on Career Center Road in Bourbonnais. You can find a blood drive near you by typing in your zipcode at “Red Cross Blood (dot) org”.
(NOW – May 9th) For those still recovering from the March 10th storm, the U.S. Small Business Administration has Low-Cost Disaster Loan Outreach Centers set up in our listening area that remain open every day through Saturday, May 9th. Small business owners, homeowners and renters may qualify for financial assistance. This includes Physical Damage Loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Their centers in Indiana have closed, but Indiana residents are welcome to visit one of the Kankakee County centers in Kankakee, Bradley and Aroma Park. For locations and additional details, call (800) 659-2955 or visit their website at “SBA (dot) gov” and click on the SBA Disaster banner.
(NOW – May 30th) The Bourbonnais Public Library invites you to join the “Love Your Library Scavenger Hunt”. It’s a celebration of community connection and the places that make the village so great. Words have been hidden at a selection of community spots and participants will visit each one to find these words and unscramble the message for a chance to win a prize basket. Visit the library during the month of May to pick up your game sheet and begin your hunt. Your cards will need to be turned in by May 31st. For more details, visit “Bourbonnais Library (dot) org”.
(April 1-May 31, 2026) Your local Menards home improvement store is again serving as a drop site for a local Humane Association for two full months! Located on Christine Dr in Bradley… Menards offers a wide variety of pet supplies that will be donated to a Humane Association including food, treats, feeders, collars, beds, storage containers, mats and so much more that can be found in the Pet & Wildlife Department for immediate donation. There is a large collection box near the exit doors at Menards to place donations until May 31, 2026.
APRIL
The American Red Cross has recently been dealing with a severe blood shortage. You can help by donating at an upcoming local blood drive. These will be held:
- Thursday, April 30th from 8:30am to 2pm at the Herscher High School
To find a blood drive near you, visit “Red Cross Blood (dot) org”.
Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Beaverville will host a Rummage and Plant Sale to benefit cemetery funds in their Parish Hall on Thursday April 30th from 8am to 5pm, on Friday May 1st from 8am to 5pm with a $10 bag sale, and on Saturday May 2nd from 8am until noon with a $5 bag sale. There will also be refreshments for sale. The church is located at 308 Saint Charles Street in Beaverville.
The Salvation Army of Kankakee will host its second annual “Pathway of Hope” Community Resource Fair on Thursday, April 30th from 4 to 6pm at 148 North Harrison Avenue in Kankakee. Stop by to connect with local resources, speak with support services, and find out about opportunities designed to help individuals and families thrive. They will also have some games, door prizes, dinner and hot dogs available.
A Uniform Fundraiser for the Momence Honor Guard will take place at Chicago Dough Pizza on Thursday, April 30th. Stop in between 4 and 9pm that day at 545 South Main Street in Bourbonnais to place an order for dine-in or carry-out, and 20% of all sales will support the cause.
MAY
The Cissna Park and Area Garage Sales will take place this weekend featuring 25 listed sales, along with several non-listed ones. The times and days may vary with each sale, but most will be held Thursday April 30th and Friday May 1st from 8am to 7pm, and Saturday May 2nd from 8am until 1pm. Shop unique uptown Cissna Park businesses as well.
Prairie Lodge #125 will host an all-you-can-eat pancake and whole hog sausage breakfast on Saturday, May 2nd from 6am until noon in the Mason Lodge at 724 West Washington Street in Rensselaer, Indiana. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased at the door, or in advance from any lodge member. This breakfast will be taking place the same day as the Rensselaer Town Wide Garage Sales.
Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Beaverville will host a Rummage and Plant Sale to benefit cemetery funds in their Parish Hall Friday May 1st from 8am to 5pm with a $10 bag sale, and on Saturday May 2nd from 8am until noon with a $5 bag sale. There will also be refreshments for sale. The church is located at 308 Saint Charles Street in Beaverville.
A fundraiser in support of local resident Aaron Moore and his family will be taking place on Saturday, May 2nd at the Bradley Bourbonnais Sportsmen’s Club. Aaron recently lost both of his legs in an accident involving a train and this is being held to help with medical expenses and lost wages. It all starts at 3pm and admission is $25 per person at the door. There will be food, raffles, prizes, a cornhole tournament, blackjack, bingo, and music provided by DJ Jason Neuman. More information available on facebook at “Aaron’s Big Benefit Bash!!”.
The Kankakee Chapter for the Daughters of the American Revolution will have tables set up in front of the Manteno American Legion for Veteran’s Garden Day on Saturday, May 2nd and they will be passing out free garden seed packages and seedlings to Veterans and Gold Star Families. This will be from 10am until noon, or while supplies last.
Local animal shelter, “New Beginnings For Cats” will host its “Smitten for Kittens” supply drive on Sunday, May 3rd at the Bourbonnais Municipal Center from noon to 4pm. They are asking for donations of Kitten Chow, Fancy Feast, kitten food, KMR milk replacement, kitten bottle feeders, microwavable heating pads, pet wipes, paper towels, kitty Heartbeat toys, and Chewy or Amazon gift cards. There will also be raffles. The Municipal Center is at 600 Main Street Northwest in Bourbonnais.
Enjoy Music in the Column Garden on Sunday, May 3rd on the grounds of the Kankakee County Museum with “The Champagne Experience”. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy live music and a cash bar from 2 to 5pm in this beautiful historic garden setting on South 8th Avenue in Kankakee. Donations will be accepted to fund future museum programs.
The Raub United Methodist Church will host its annual Chicken Dinner for Missions from 11am until 1pm Central Time on Sunday, May 3rd in the Kentland Community Center at 405 North Fourth Street in Kentland, Indiana. The meal will be $15 for adults, $5 for children under 12, and free kids under 5 years-old. Carry-out orders will be available.
The River Valley Wind Ensemble will perform a free Spring Concert on Sunday, May 3rd in the Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School Auditorium. It will feature toe-tapping marches, lyrical hymns, British folk tunes and a modern twist on the Latin merengue. The program begins at 4pm. Visit “Wind Ensemble (dot) org” for more information.
The Village of Manteno will be hosting a fun, family-friendly market at the Square on Second from 4 to 8pm on the first and third Wednesday of each month from May through September. It will feature food trucks, farmers, ranchers, live acoustic music,seasonal vendors, fine artisans, and family-oriented activities. Opening night for the “Manteno Market at the Square” will be Wednesday, May 6th. Vendor application forms can be found on the Village Clerk page at “Village of Manteno (dot) com”.
Townwide Garage Sales will be taking place in the Village of Chebanse on Thursday May 7th, Friday May 8th and Saturday May 9th.
The Tabea Altar Guild for Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church will be holding its semi-annual Rummage Sale on Thursday, May 7th and Friday, May 8th from 8am to 4pm both days in the downtown church location across from the Farmers’ Market site at 348 East Merchant Street in Kankakee. It is free to come and browse. They ask that you use the alley entrance.
Ace Hardware on Route 50 in Manteno will host Ride4Life’s “Dollars 4 Dogs” event on Saturday, May 9th. Members of the organization will be outside the store that day from 10:30am until 2pm selling hot dogs for one-dollar each, along with chips, soda and Ride4Life merch. A division of RelayForLife of Kankakee County, all money raised during “Dollars 4 Dogs” will go directly to the American Cancer Society.
The nonprofit organization, “Fight Club Survivor” will honor moms and breast cancer survivors with its biannual Basket Bingo Fundraiser on Saturday, May 9th in the Community Center at 209 West Dixie Highway in Grant Park. The doors will open at 4:30pm with special games, food and raffles. Vendor goodies will be available for purchase. Bingo is from 6 to 10pm, unless the prizes run out early. The first 100 people to arrive will receive a free small gift of appreciation for their support.
The New Horizons Band will perform in Olivet Nazarene University’s Larson Fine Arts Center at 1 University Avenue in Bourbonnais on Monday, May 11th at 7pm. Presented by the Bradley Lions Club, this show will feature jazz, contemporary and overtures. Admission at the door is $5 and the proceeds will be used for sight and sound projects.
The Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra Women’s Guild invites you to “Spring Into Style”, a fashion show luncheon on Thursday, May 14th at the Kankakee Country Club at 211 Cobb Boulevard. The doors will open at 11am with fashions, vendors and a raffle. This is a fundraiser for the Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra. The cost is $55 per guest and tickets are available now through “KVSO (dot) org (slash) Events”.
The City of Kankakee Economic and Community Development Agency (ECDA) will host another Community Conversation on Thursday, May 14th at 5:30pm in the Bird Park Meeting Room at 893 West Station Street in Kankakee. The highlighted topic will be “Aging in Place”, in partnership with Home Helpers. Kankakee residents are encouraged to attend with the purpose of learning, while engaging with neighbors and providing personal perspectives about their neighborhoods.
The annual “Cop on a Rooftop” event will be taking place on Friday, May 15th at Dunkin’ locations all across the state. Stop by to grab a coffee or donut that morning and visit with local law enforcement officers as they raise awareness and collect donations for Special Olympics Illinois. Participating locations include the Dunkin’ on West Bourbonnais Parkway and the one on East Bethel Drive in Bourbonnais.
The “Caleb’s Prayer Foundation” will host its 16th annual Benefit Car Show on Sunday, May 17th to raise money for families impacted by cancer. It will take place at Phillips Chevrolet RV of Bradley, 1400 Locke Drive in Bourbonnais. Vehicle registration is $20 and will be held from 9 to 11am. The car show will be open to spectators from noon to 3pm and is free to attend. Lunch and drinks will be available. Email “A Hoggins 6 (at) gmail (dot com” for more information, call (815) 697-3001, or visit “Calebs Prayer Foundation (dot) org”. (Rain date would be May 24th)
The 36th Annual Rhubarb Festival will be held Sunday, May 17th from 10am to 4pm on the grounds of the Kankakee County Museum at 801 South 8th Avenue in Kankakee. Join them for a fun-filled day with great food, live entertainment, kids’ activities, vendors and local history.
States Attorney Jim Rowe’s “Reel Justice Fishing Club” for kids and adults will return for another season from May 20th through August 5th. In partnership with the Northern Illinois Anglers Association, this activity is free to attend with fishing poles, tackle and bait provided. Parents and guardians are encouraged to come along. The Season Opener will be on Wednesday, May 20th from 5pm until 7:30 at the Bird Park Quarry on West Station Street in Kankakee. The skills focus will be on using live baits. Visit “K3SAO (dot) com (slash) Fish” for more information.
The Manteno American Legion Color Guard will conduct a memorial remembrance featuring a gun salute and taps at 5 area cemeteries this Memorial Day (Monday, May 25th), followed by a ceremony at Legion Park in Manteno. The public is encouraged to attend and help honor our fallen and deceased military. They will be at Deselm Cemetery at 8am, Blooms Grove at 8:30am, Veterans Cemetery at 9am, Saint Joseph at 9:30am, and Elmwood Cemetery at 9:50am. Their final ceremony at Legion Park starts at 11am. The Manteno American Legion on North Walnut Street will also offer tours of its upstairs Military Museum along with free hot dogs and soda for attendees this Memorial Day from 12:30 to 4pm.
The Tyjuan Hagler Foundation’s 18th Annual “Kidz-Can-Do” Football and Cheerleading Camp will be taking place Saturday, May 30th from 8:30am to 3pm at Bishop McNamara High School in Kankakee. The camp is free to all youth and spots are limited, so register today at “Tyjuan Hagler Foundation (dot) org”. This is not a school function.
JUNE
The 25th and final Ride4Life cancer run to raise funds for the American Cancer Society will take place on Saturday, June 6th with registration from 10am until noon at the Manteno Sportsman’s Club. This event will happen rain or shine, with a gun raffle drawing, a one-thousand dollar grand prize drawing, and music by NFP Rock Productions.
The Riverside Cancer Institute’s Relay For Life of Kankakee County will be taking place on Saturday, June 13th from 2 to 10pm at The Grove in Bourbonnais with games, music, food vendors, a kid zone and other family-friendly activities. Funds raised will help the American Cancer Society in its mission to improve and save more lives from cancer. Register today at “Relay For Life (dot) org (slash) Kankakee IL”.
The Merchant Street Art Gallery of Artists with Autism will be hosting its annual Run for Autism on Father’s Day, Sunday June 21st at beautiful Cobb Park in Kankakee. Check-in will be at 7:30am and the 5K run and 2-mile walk begins at 8am. Call or text (815) 685-9057 to volunteer. For registration information, visit “Merchant Street Art Gallery (dot) org”.