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.
IRS-certified volunteers are providing free Illinois State and Federal Tax preparation services again at the Salvation Army in Kankakee. This will be done through electronic filing and this help is available to those who make $68,000 or less per year. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program runs NOW through April 15th. For questions or to make an appointment, stop in at 543 East Court Street in Kankakee or call (815) 933-8421, extension 1107.
(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.
(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 16th from 11am to 5pm at Northfield Square Mall
- Monday, April 27th from noon to 4pm at Gathering Point Church on West Bourbonnais Parkway.
- 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”.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and between 11am and 10pm on Wednesday, April 15th the Monical’s Pizza locations in Kankakee and Bourbonnais will donate 20% of sales to Clove Alliance in support of their mission of providing hope and healing to survivors of sexual violence. Be sure to mention this fundraiser when placing your order.
The Vintage Purse Museum on Diversatech Drive in Manteno will hold a fundraiser on Wednesday, April 15th at the Culver’s location on North Convent in Bourbonnais. From 5 to 8pm, 10% of sales will be donated to help people with disabilities, fund internships for those with autism, and continue rescuing a once abandoned, historic Manteno building.
The Friends of the Bradley Public Library will hold their next semiannual Book Sale on Friday, April 17th from 9am to 5:30pm and on Saturday, April 18th from 9am to 1pm in the library on the corner of North Street and Fulton Avenue in Bradley. Along with the books, this sale will also have a large selection of audiobooks on CD available for purchase.
The Bradley Lions Club will host their next all-you-can-eat breakfast on Saturday, April 18th from 7:30 to 11am inside the Bradley Community Center at 428 West Broadway Street. They’ll be serving pancakes and sausage with biscuits & gravy for $8 per person. Kids 5 and under eat for free. To have 5 orders or more delivered locally, call (815) 932-9180. The Bradley Lions do not charge a delivery fee.
The Bradley-Bourbonnais Rotary Club will host its annual Shred Event on Saturday, April 18th from 10am until noon at Turk Furniture on North Kinzie Avenue (Route 50) in Bradley. You can bring all of your unwanted personal documents for proper disposal, such as old credit card or bank statements. This is for residential paper items only. There is no fee for this service, but all money they raise through your donations during this event will benefit their BBRotary Foundation and Disaster Relief Fund.
The Collaborative Initiative to Revive Kankakee Arts (CIRKA) will host another “April Grooves Day” on Saturday, April 18th inside the Majestic Theatre building on North Schuyler Avenue in Kankakee. This all-ages fundraiser will feature performances by several local bands and solo musicians, food vendors, and split-the-pot raffles. The music starts at 4:30pm and the doors open a half-hour prior. Admission can be paid at the door, but there is a discounted rate for tickets purchased in advance through Eventbrite. More details on the “CIRKA” facebook page.
In celebration of its 30th anniversary, the Limestone Township Library District will host an Open House on Saturday, April 18th from 11am until 1pm. They’ll be offering tours to show visitors the library’s various collections and the Peterson Schoolhouse. Also during this time you can enjoy light refreshments, learn about and obtain a library card, and view the 48 locally-created pieces of art in their 30th Anniversary Art Show. Call the Limestone Library at (815) 939-1696 for additional information.
The Chebanse Lodge of St Anne #429 Freemasons will host another all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast open to the public on Sunday, April 19th from 8 to 11am at 80 East First South Street in Chebanse, next to Casey’s off I-57. The breakfast is $10 for adults and $5 for kids 10 and under. First responders on duty in Chebanse, Clifton and Ashkum who show up in uniform are welcome to eat for free.
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and between 3 and 10pm on Monday, April 20th the Texas Roadhouse location in Bradley will be donating 10% of their proceeds to Clove Alliance in support for their mission of providing hope and healing to survivors of sexual violence. Just be sure to mention this fundraiser when placing your order.
The Friends of the Library will host a 3-day Spring Book Sale for the Peotone Public Library District this month. The dates and times are:
- Thursday, April 23rd from 3 to 7pm
- Friday, April 24th from 10am to 4pm
- Saturday, April 25th from 10am to 2pm.
This cash-only sale will take place inside the library at 515 North First Street in Peotone.
King Music will host their 12th annual “Strings For Food” event on Saturday, April 25th from 10am until 4pm at their store on West Broadway Street in Bradley. Bring in a donation of 6 non-perishable items for this food drive and you’ll receive a free set of guitar strings. They will even re-string and clean your guitar for you while you wait.
The Bradley American Legion Post 766 Auxiliary will be hosting a Painting Event on Sunday, April 26th beginning at 1pm. The cost to participate is $40 and all supplies will be included. Contact Becky to register by emailing “McCleery 2018 (at) gmail (dot) com”, or call the Bradley Legion on West Broadway Street at (815) 939-9113.
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
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.
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 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”.
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 “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.
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.
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