Reposted from The Pantagraph By Lyndsay Jones; Photos by David Proeber BLOOMINGTON — A “matter of milliseconds.” That’s how Carol Kalmes, 74, describes the process of snagging an appointment for the COVID vaccine online. It’s something Kalmes, a retired teacher, learned through trial and error — a learning process she feels lucky to have navigated,…

Reposted from The Pantagraph By Sierra Henry; Photos by David Proeber TOWANDA — Valerie Gray Beguin still remembers those garbage bags. Working for the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services, it was her job to help kids get out of abusive and neglectful households. Sometimes it would be six children at a time. In…

Reposted from The Pantagraph By Paul Swiech BLOOMINGTON — Thirty-one McLean County young leaders, two teams, two nonprofit advocate organizations (including IPCF’s Youth Engaged in Philanthropy group) and two adult mentors have been nominated for service awards sponsored by the nonprofit organization, For A Better Tomorrow. Nominees will be honored at the organization’s annual Why I See You…

Reposted from The Pantagraph By Lenore Sobota BLOOMINGTON — The COVID-19 pandemic slowed but hasn’t stopped a new student club at Bloomington High School dedicated to improving the community through service. “I’m saying ‘service’ intentionally because it’s not just volunteering. The whole idea of service is making a permanent change in the community you’re serving…

Reposted from The Pantagraph By Sierra Henry; Photos by Unit 5 NORMAL — A thousand elementary and junior high students in McLean County Unit 5 all-day camps received STEAM-centered activity kits through the Children’s Discovery Museum and the school district. “We know everyone is working hard to ensure students are receiving the safest, best education possible during…

By Michele Evans, Grants & Communications Director The coronavirus pandemic is hitting nonprofit organizations hard and nearly all are adjusting the way they are serving their clients. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Holy Trinity (SVDP-HT) Food Pantry in Bloomington is no exception. In 2019, the food pantry moved into the remodeled former Holy…

Reposted from CIProud By Darronté Matthews BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington program is helping restore hope for struggling men in the community. House of Hope is a program and safe home aimed at stopping recidivism by providing housing and support programs for men who were incarcerated and/or battling drug addiction. In February, the program secured an…

Reposted with permission of WMBD By Darronté Matthews BLOOMINGTON  — Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton made a trip to Bloomington, Friday, as a part of a recent tour throughout the state. One of the stops on Stratton’s tour was to Sunnyside Community Garden & Food Forest. The garden started in 2016 as a high school project…

By Michele Evans, Grants & Communications Director LEROY – July 3, was an early Independence Day for the seniors of LeRoy with the ribbon cutting and grand opening of the Living Well United senior center. View photos from grand opening Barb Whiteman, Director of Living Well United, worked tirelessly beginning January 4 to remodel the…