United Way of Will County

Lightways, a United Way of Will County funded partner, embraces a guiding philosophy of saying "Yes" to the needs of our patients and their families. This commitment ensures that we uphold our promise to the community: providing care that allows families to experience their remaining time together with more joy, less pain, and less fear. Celebrating life's milestones, like birthdays and graduations, becomes profoundly meaningful when facing terminal illness. Recently, this philosophy was vividly demonstrated by the staff at Lightways' In-patient Unit (IPU). When a family desired to hold a wedding in the IPU so that a father could be part of his daughter's special day, the team sprang into action. Within just an hour, social workers, volunteers, music therapists, nurses, and our chaplain all collaborated to orchestrate a touching ceremony right in the patient’s suite, which features French doors opening onto a scenic pond. Our marketing team was also there to capture every precious moment. Sadly, the patient passed away shortly after the wedding, but the memories created that day will endure for a lifetime. At Lightways, we are deeply honored to support our community in such significant ways and are grateful to the family for entrusting us with such a pivotal moment in their lives.

??? Socktober Success at Oak Prairie Jr. High! ??? A huge shoutout to the Oak Prairie Jr. High Student Council for running an incredible Socktober campaign! Thanks to their hard work and generosity, they collected an amazing 1,221 pairs of socks to support those in need. ?? Special kudos to Ms. McCluskey's 1st-period class, which contributed a whopping 465 pairs of socks to the drive. Way to lead by example! ?? Together, we’re making a difference in our community—one pair of socks at a time. ???? #Socktober #CommunityKindness #OakPrairieJrHigh #UnitedWayWillCounty #LiveUnited #MakingADifference

The United Way of Will County is offering a FREE one-day Resilient Youth training sessions this January for Will County teachers, student support personnel, and administrators! ? ?? Date: January 3rd, 2025 ?? Location: University of St. Francis, Joliet ?? Schedule: Registration at 7:45 am | Training 8:00 am - 3:00 pm Led by Tom Klisiewicz, founder of Smart Health Wellness and Performance, this session offers hands-on guidance for educators to support student wellness. Attendees will receive instructional materials and are eligible for 6 PD credits! Spots are limited to 25 participants, so register by December 20th to secure your place. Information for Registration here ?? https://lnkd.in/gcR7xPKB #ResilientYouth #EducatorTraining #MentalHealthMatters #UnitedWay

This month, the Will County Continuum of Care (CoC), a key initiative of United Way of Will County, hosted its Annual Report on Local Homelessness. As part of a network of 19 Illinois CoCs, the Will County CoC is dedicated to creating a community-wide commitment to ending homelessness. Serving Will, Kendall, and Grundy counties, this initiative reaches 7% of Illinois residents across 1,576 square miles. Homelessness is a housing crisis. Homelessness is a complex issue. Through our collective efforts, we believe that ending homelessness is possible! Special thanks to the expert panelists who shared their insights and expertise: ?? Kimberly Danna, HUD Illinois Field Office Director ?? Brenda O'Connell, Illinois Housing Development Authority, Senior Policy Advisor, Special Populations ?? Natasha McGruder, Housing Authority of Joliet, Chief Operating Officer ?? Bob Palmer, Housing Action Illinois, Policy Director Together, we can end homelessness. ?? #ContinuumOfCare #EndHomelessness #CommunityImpact #WillCounty #UnitedWay #HomelessnessAwareness #UWWC

At United Way, our mission is to improve lives and strengthen communities, and that includes ensuring our veterans have access to the resources they need. Today, we pay tribute to the brave men and women who have served our country. Their sacrifices have paved the way for our freedoms, and it’s our responsibility to support them as they transition back to civilian life. Thank you for your service! ?? #VeteransDay #SupportOurVeterans #UnitedWay #CommunityImpact

211 does more than patch people through to help. 211 specialists are trained to identify and address the causes of problems. They also connect people to local resources that can meet all their needs—from food, housing and utilities, to health care, jobs, and childcare—not just the one that prompted their call or text to 211. #211 #211Helpline #Helpline #help #willcountyil #LiveUnited #211willcounty

Calling All Will County Educators! ?? This winter, United Way of Will County is hosting a free one-day training session on the Resilient Youth program—an evidence-based mental health curriculum designed to equip K-12 students with essential coping skills for managing stress and building resilience. ?? Date: January 3rd, 2025 ?? Location: University of St. Francis, Joliet ?? Schedule: Registration at 7:45 am | Training 8:00 am - 3:00 pm Led by Tom Klisiewicz, founder of Smart Health Wellness and Performance, this session offers hands-on guidance for educators to support student wellness. Attendees will receive instructional materials and are eligible for 6 PD credits! Spots are limited to 25 participants, so register by December 20th to secure your place. Information for Registration here ?? https://lnkd.in/gcR7xPKB #ResilientYouth #EducatorTraining #MentalHealthMatters #UnitedWay

A heartfelt thank you to ExxonMobil for hosting a Diaper Depot as their recent service project! Your generosity and dedication are making a real difference for families in need, ensuring they have access to essential supplies for their little ones. We’re so grateful for partners like ExxonMobil who share our commitment to supporting the community. ?? #DiaperDepot #ExxonMoible #CommunitySupport #DiaperNeeds #UnitedWay #WillCounty #UWWC

Happy Halloween from all of us at United Way! ???? This Halloween, let’s show that everyone—even the spookiest among us—can come together to make a difference! When we join forces, we’re stronger, more compassionate, and unstoppable in building a brighter future for all. #LiveUnited #Halloween #CommunitySpirit #EvenTheUndead

A huge shoutout to GEODIS for their incredible support through their October winter coat drive! Thanks to their generosity, families in need will stay warm this winter season. Your commitment to giving back makes a lasting impact, and we’re so grateful to partner with such a caring team. #TGEODIS #WinterCoatDrive #Thankful #GivingBack #UnitedWay #WillCounty