Local restaurant helps the fight against COVID-19 by feeding first responders

• Coronavirus
• Food

 In Joliet, Illinois, Jody’s Hot Dogs was not sure how it was going to survive after the shutdown of sit-down dining to reduce the spread of COVID-19. However, the owner wanted to both keep the business going and do their part to support workers who put themselves at risk to fight the pandemic, so the small restaurant started promoting a new deal called the “Feed A First Responder Program.” 

Read more …

John Deere begins production of face shields for health care workers

• Coronavirus

Last week In Moline, Illinois-based large manufacturer John Deer announced that they have started producing protective face shields for health care workers in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. They have collaborated with the United Auto Workers (UAW), the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, and several different companies and organizations across the country to produce these face shields.

Read more …

7th Grader Goes Viral During Quarantine

The pandemic has forced us all to spend a lot of time at home, which has forced many teachers to get creative with their e-learning curriculums. What started off as a homework assignment at Carl Sandburg Middle School led one 7th grader to go viral.

Read more …

Local woman plays her part in aiding essential workers

In response to a massive personal protective equipment (PPE) shortage both at the national and state level, a woman in downstate Illinois has been using her sewing skills to help fill the gap. Dusty Cox-Medina of McDonough County has sewn hundreds of masks in the past few weeks to help her local essential workers.

Cox-Medina worked as a registered nurse until a tragic back injury disabled her. Being able to help out in this midst of the pandemic helps her feel connected to her former work.

Read more …