As many people adjust to working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent poll suggests about one-third of Americans are considering moving to less populated areas of the country—five Illinois cities have been highlighted as top destinations for those looking to relocate.

Business Insider ranked cities based on factors like economics, education and cost of living to come up with a list of the top 30 places to settle after the threat of the pandemic has subsided. Their research indicates five Illinois cities—Danville, Peoria, Champaign, Bloomington and Springfield—may become hubs for these post-pandemic transplants.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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