Caterpillar Foundation donates $3.9 million to COVID-19 response efforts

Earlier this year, the Caterpillar Foundation announced it would match up to $2.5 million in employee donations to COVID-19 response efforts—employees maxed out those funds in just one week, raising a total of $3.9 million. Almost $2 million will go to not-for-profit agencies in Central Illinois.

“They were definitely ready for the challenge and rose to the challenge,” said Kylene Anthony, engagement manager at Caterpillar Foundation.

Nearly 600 Caterpillar employees and retirees donated to the foundation’s efforts. The funds will go to 524 not-for-profit agencies across 43 states, including more than 100 in Central Illinois.

Read more …

Woodridge pizzeria chain churning out 80,000 pizzas a day to meet demands

• Food
• COVID-19

The Home Run Inn—a pizzeria chain headquartered in Woodridge—began building up their inventory of frozen pizzas at the very beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, but they still found themselves unprepared when shoppers began stocking up on shelf-stable goods ahead of the Stay at Home Order.

Although the company has been slinging dough since 1947, Nick Perrino, who heads up the frozen pizza division for Home Run Inn, says they have never seen demand like this.

“It was absolutely crazy,” said Perrino of the pre-pandemic shopping rush. “The pandemic had people stocking up on frozen pizza, making sure they had product, just like with toilet paper.”

Read more …

Over 200 Illinois families receive food, other necessities through Celebrate Highwood

• Food

In Highland Park, the Celebrate Highwood organization has partnered with the Family Services Lake County to feed over 200 families in the community.

In just two days, Celebrate Highwood raised over $4,000 to distribute produce, meat, eggs and fresh masa to households struggling to make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BellaRu Catering and Mis Dos Magos provided the food, which was delivered in trucks donated by Windy City Linen and Greco & Sons.
Fill-A-Heart 4 Kids contributed diapers and toiletries to the effort, and Families Helping Families Chicagoland gave out bags of summer toys to help keep kids entertained at home.

Read more …

Western raises over $100K for Student Emergency Fund

Every year on April 24th, Western Illinois University celebrates their Purple and Gold Day — a day meant to commemorate the university’s creation back in 1899. Instead of the usual celebratory events, this year’s festivities were celebrated a little differently.

Read more …