The Kankakee Valley Park District is partnering with Olivet Nazarene University to host their first KVPD/ONU Youth Volleyball Camp on Thursdays during the month of February. They will offer time slots for ages 8 to 12, and 13 to 18. This camp will be hosted at the KVPD Rec Center on North Indiana Avenue in Kankakee and led by ONU Women’s Volleyball Head Coach Jake Ostema and their current team of players. Space is limited and camp registration will close at midnight on Thursday, January 30th. Sign up now at “KVPD (dot) com”. For questions, call (815) 929-1885 for Aaron Denton, the park district’s Athletic Manager.
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The Manteno Chamber of Commerce ‘Women Supporting Women’ group is holding a Supply Drive this month for “The Closet”, a place where Manteno Middle School and High School students can come and shop for free. They are currently collecting donations of liquid body wash, Chapstick, full size toothpaste, male and female deodorant, shampoo, conditioner and fluffy socks. Now through Friday, January 31st these items can be dropped off at the Manteno Village Hall, Main Street Pharmacy in Manteno, and also here at our Milner Media radio stations where we have one of their barrels in the lobby at 292 North Convent Street in Bourbonnais.
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(NOW – January 31st) January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Clove Alliance supports survivors and they work to prevent sexual harm. Their organization is committed to educating the community about one particular form: sex trafficking. If you suspect trafficking or need help, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text “BEFREE” (233733). For Kankakee, Iroquois and Ford counties, Clove Alliance’s comprehensive services for survivors of sexual violence and sex trafficking include advocacy and counseling, legal assistance and a 24/7 Crisis Hotline at (815) 932-3322. To learn more, please visit “Clove Alliance (dot) org”.
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Led by Pastor James K. Smith, “We Stand For Christ Jesus Ministries” Transitional Life House of Kankakee County and the Gift of God Street Church will be hosting their 3rd Annual Fundraiser on Thursday, February 20th. The event will be held from 6 to 8pm in the Kankakee Civic Auditorium at 803 South 8th Avenue in Kankakee. Those interested in attending are asked to call (815) 549-7848 to RSVP by February 6th.
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The United Way of Kankakee and Iroquois Counties recently launched two grants processes that are available for area nonprofits. Start the process for their “Community Impact Grants” by submitting a Letter of Intent form by Friday, February 7th. Find the form, eligibility guidelines and more at “My United Way (dot) org (slash) Grant (dash) Funding”. Also, a new round of “Emergency Food and Shelter Program Grants” to Iroquois County nonprofits is now available. Applications for EFSP funding are due Friday, February 14th. Review eligibility criteria and download the application at “My United Way (dot) org (slash) EFSP (dash) Iroquois”. For questions, contact United Way’s Executive Director, Mariah Vail, through email by messaging “Info (at) My United Way (dot) org”.
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(NOW – March 31st) Your Bradley Menards is serving as a drop site for a local food pantry through the end of March. From boxes of cereal to cans of soup, Menards offers a wide variety of non-perishable food items in their grocery department which can be purchased for immediate donation to the food pantry. Our local Menards is located at 1260 Christine Drive in Bradley.
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The Bourbonnais Township Park District would like all community members to take a moment between now and March 31st to complete their online Recreation Needs Assessment Survey. This will help them shape the future of parks and programs. They would like your opinion on what they are doing well, what they can do to improve, what programs you would like to see, and how they might better serve you. Take the survey now at “BTPD (dot) org (slash) Survey”.
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Funds are now available to assist income eligible households with their natural gas, propane and/or electric bills and furnace assistance for inoperable heating systems through the Kankakee County Community Services’ Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (or “LIHEAP”). Applications are being taken on a first-come, first-served basis through August 15th of 2025, or until funding is exhausted. Visit “LIHEAP Illinois (dot) com” or “KCCSI (dash) Cap (dot) org” for the details, or call (815) 933-7883.
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The Child Network needs additional volunteers for their CASA program. Their volunteers are trained citizens from all walks of life who share a passion for helping children. They are Court Appointed Special Advocates for kids in DCFS custody. All those interested can reach out to CASA Program Director Michelle Lagacy through email at “M Lagacy (at) Child Network (dot) org”.
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The Kankakee Salvation Army’s After-School Enrichment Program, provides a safe space for students ages 9 to 17 to learn, grow and explore a variety of interests. Services offered include academic support, arts and crafts, sports and fitness, along with life skills. This program takes place Monday through Friday from 3:30 to 6pm at 148 North Harrison Avenue in Kankakee. It’s free for youth ages 11 to 17, and $5 per week for ages 9 and 10. For more info, contact Penny Greenlee at (815) 933-8421, extension #1104.
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The Veterans Assistance Commission of Kankakee County is now offering free, weekly walk-in consultations with a VA representative every Friday from 9am to 3pm in the third floor suite of the Kankakee Public Library. These one-on-one meetings are available to get assistance with questions regarding veterans’ concerns including medical care, housing, support groups and more. Veterans may also receive assistance with accessing forms and applications. Please bring copies of your photo ID and DD214. Questions may be directed to the Veterans Assistance Commission of Kankakee County by calling (815) 937-8489 or by sending an email to “VAC (at) K3 County (dot) net”.
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The American Red Cross urges donors to make an appointment in January to give lifesaving blood or platelets and help keep the blood supply strong during National Blood Donor Month. Upcoming local blood drives include: Thursday, January 23rd from 11am to 5pm at Northfield Square Mall on Route 50 in Bradley / and Tuesday, January 28th from 10am to 3pm at Riverside Health Fitness Center, 100 Fitness Drive in Bourbonnais. For more information, visit “Red Cross Blood (dot) org” or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.
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A fundraiser for the local nonprofit organization, “Let’s Ketchup” will be taking place on Tuesday, January 28th at Texas Roadhouse in Bradley. Between the hours of 3 and 10pm, just mention this fundraiser to their waitstaff and 10% of the cost of your total food purchase will be donated to Let’s Ketchup. The organization will then use this money to eliminate student lunch debt within our local schools.
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The Bradley American Legion Post 766 invites the public to stop in on Saturday, February 1st for “A Taste of the Silhouettes” with music from Jerry Downs starting at 7:30pm. The legion hall is located at 835 West Broadway Street in downtown Bradley.
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The Milford FFA will be holding its annual Alumni Auction on Saturday, February 1st and well over one hundred different items will be up for auction. This will take place at “Town And Country Events” at 35 East Jones Street in Milford. The doors open at 11am, lunch will be served at noon, and the auction begins at 1pm.
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The Kankakee Public Library will host a Winter Seed Sowing program on Saturday, February 1st at 10am. Winter sowing is a technique for starting seed outdoors in containers during winter because cold weather helps the seeds germinate in the spring. The Library will provide one milk jug per participant, but you are welcome to bring in more if you’d like to create multiple seed starters to take home. This program is free, but they ask that you RSVP by calling (815) 939-4564. The library is located at 201 East Merchant Street in downtown Kankakee.
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The Bradley American Legion Post 766 invites the public to take part in their “Post Hop” on Sunday, February 2nd. That day, the Bradley legion will be partnered with the Manteno and Aroma Park American Legions to raise money for legion and veteran families affected by the California wildfires. Each legion will have a bus that takes their patrons to the other locations throughout the day. At each different legion hall you’ll find raffles, 50/50 split-the-pot, and live entertainment. The Bradley American Legion is located downtown at 835 West Broadway Street.
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The Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce invites you to attend “Coffee & Connections” on Friday, February 7th from 8:30 to 10am at Adventure Commons, 70 Ken Hayes Drive in Bourbonnais. During this event you can get to know your fellow Chamber members in a relaxed atmosphere with open networking and activities. The cost is $15 per member or $45 for each prospective member. You can register today at “Kankakee County Chamber (dot) com”.
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The 40th Annual Winterfest 5K Run or 1.6 Mile Fitness Walk will take place this year on Saturday, February 8th. The event will begin at 1pm at the Kankakee Civic Auditorium on South Eighth Avenue. For additional details, you can visit “Kankakee River Running Club (dot) com”, check out their facebook page, or call (815) 549-9633.
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The Sheldon-Concord Township Bloodmobile will be held on Monday, February 10th from 12:30 to 6pm in the Sheldon Community Center at 140 North Fourth Street. Those 16 years of age (with parental consent) and older may donate. Contact Marilyn Busick for questions by calling (815) 429-3106 or sign up online at “Red Cross Blood (dot) org”.
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The next “Lawyers in the Library” event at the Kankakee Public Library will be held on Thursday, February 13th. Representatives from Prairie State Legal Services will be there from 9:30am until noon providing one-on-one meetings with an attorney and offering free legal advice. For more info, visit the library’s website at “Lions (dash) Online (dot) org”.
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The Young Professionals Network will host a Midday Madness Bowling Event on Thursday, February 20th from 1 to 3pm at Brookmont Bowling Center in Kankakee. It’s $50 for a single bowler or $300 for a team of six. This includes two hours of bowling, along with shoes, pizza, awards and a cash bar. To get more details, or to register, visit the News & Events tab at “Kankakee County Chamber (dot) com”.
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The “Live 2 Lead” Leadership Conference is 9am to 3pm on Friday, February 21st at Olivet Nazarene University’s Weber Leadership Center in Bourbonnais. Hosted by leadership development coach and trainer, Jorge Bonilla, the theme is “How you think shapes how you lead”. This will feature a leadership insight panel and several virtual speakers. Tickets are available now through Eventbrite (dot) com.
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The Kankakee Valley Theatre Association will present “Steel Magnolias” January 31st through February 2nd in their KVTA Black Box Theatre at 1 Stuart Drive in Kankakee. Showtimes are: Friday, January 31st at 7pm / Saturday, February 1st at 2pm / and Sunday, February 2nd at 2pm. Tickets and additional information available at “KVTA (dot) org”.
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February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and Harbor House has several events, interactive activities, educational opportunities and community-wide initiatives scheduled during the month. Show that you stand in solidarity with survivors during “Wear Orange Day” on Tuesday, February 11th. For teens ages 12 to 18 there’s “Scales & Sweethearts” at the Merchant Street Art Gallery on Wednesday, February 12th, and “Bowling Against Bullying” at Lucky Lanes in Iroquois on Saturday, February 15th. College students can enjoy “Jeopardy Jam” at KCC on Thursday, February 20th, and parents and professionals can attend the free “Culture Shock” webinar on Tuesday, February 25th. Be sure to also check out the teen art initiative “Love Is”, to be displayed at local schools during Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Learn more about the events and register at “LINK TR (dot) EE (slash) HHTDVAM”.
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A fundraising event to kick off the 125th anniversary of architect Frank Lloyd Wright designing Kankakee’s famous B. Harley Bradley House will be held inside this historic landmark on Saturday, March 1st. This will be an old-fashioned whodunit mystery performed by local members of a Sherlock Holmes Club. An Academy Award has been stolen from a Hollywood Oscar Party and it’s your job to apprehend the thief and get it back. This is for adults over 21 and there will be two shows only. Tickets are $50 each and they include refreshments. They are available now at Eventbrite (dot) com. Just search “The Oscar Vanishes” at Kankakee events. For questions and additional information, call (815) 936-9630.
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Laugh For A Cause with The Second City on Saturday, March 8th at the Quality Inn & Suites in Bradley. Along with improv comedy, you can enjoy a happy hour with appetizers, a split-the-pot raffle, and participate in live and silent auctions. Doors open at 5:30 and the show is at 7pm. Tickets available now at “Harbor House (dot) Better World (dot) org”. All proceeds raised at “Laugh for a Cause” will support domestic violence survivors in Kankakee and Iroquois Counties through Harbor House.
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Clove Alliance is celebrating 25 years of compassionate service and impact in Iroquois County, where it has provided support to survivors of sexual violence since 1999. They invite the community to help celebrate their legacy of hope and healing by attending a Business Before Hours event in partnership with the Watseka Area Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, April 2nd (2025) at 1801 North State Route 1 in Watseka. To donate or volunteer to assist in their work of supporting survivors in Kankakee, Iroquois and Ford Counties, visit “Clove Alliance (dot) org”.