Annual Pennies for Pies campaign seeking donations
Naperville Park District’s 14th annual Pennies for Pies drive is underway through Nov. 20, with proceeds going to the purchase of Thanksgiving pumpkin pies for distribution through Loaves & Fishes Community Services.
Pocket change or any amount can be dropped off at three park district facilities or online at www.napervilleparks.org (click “online registration” and then “donations”).
Drop-off locations are:
Fort Hill Activity Center, 20 Fort Hill Drive, open 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Springbrook Golf Course golf shop, 2220 W. 83rd. St., open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
Naperbrook Golf Course golf shop, 22204 W. 111th St., open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.
Park district preschool classrooms also will be collecting donations. In 2019, the district was able to purchase of 120 pies for Loaves & Fishes.
DuPage River trail reopens after $7.5M in work
The West Branch DuPage River Trail through Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville has reopened as work on the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County Spring Brook Creek restoration project nears completion.
The trail, which continues into Naperville, has been rerouted and moved to higher ground to alleviate flooding, a forest preserve district news release said.
Work on the $7.5 million project began in late April 2019, and was funded by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority to mitigate effects from rebuilding Interstate 294.
Work included:
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Meandering the creek and creating wetlands.
Removing a dam to allow fish and mussels to move upstream.
Adding gravel, cobbles and boulders to the creek to improve habitat for macroinvertebrates, fish and freshwater mussels.
Replacing invasive brush and trees not historically found in this area with native plants.
Moving the West Branch DuPage River trail out of the floodplain.
Replacing a deteriorating bridge.
Naperville Helps! fund for first responder meals back
The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Naperville Alliance have reopened the Naperville Helps! Campaign to help fund meals for first responders from restaurants in Naperville.
Money can be donated through a GoFundMe campaign, which was previously active from March to May and was reactivated Monday. The fund can be found at www.gofundme.com/f/naperville-helps.
In the first round, more than $80,000 was raised and helped more than 30 local restaurants serve more than 6,000 meals to local first responders.
Meals will be delivered to those working in the community, starting with workers at Edward Hospital in Naperville.
“Our area restaurants are hurting,” chamber President/CEO Kaylin Risvold said in a news release. “We are working to help give our restaurants cash and give warm meals to those helping keep us safe and healthy. This is a win-win-win.”
Meal drop-offs will begin as soon as funds are received, the release said. Restaurants interested in participating should send an email to [email protected].