Good News Sunday: How Jet City Coalition assists seniors, low-income residents in communities near O'Hare

This is Good News Sunday, a compilation of some of the more upbeat and inspiring stories published recently by the Daily Herald:

Kevin Murphy of Des Plaines believes paying it forward is as easy as shoveling an elderly neighbor's driveway or mowing their grass. It is even as easy as going out to your favorite local restaurant to support a small business.

Murphy's goal is to build community with kindness. As the founder of Jet City Coalition, Murphy and his team of volunteers aim to advocate and connect with residents in towns like Des Plaines, Elk Grove, Park Ridge and Rosemont.

The effort started in November 2020. Murphy offered a free shoveling service in winter, lawn care service in the summer and held a coat drive last December. In the spring, he ran a campaign that raised $15,000 to help Des Plaines restaurants struggling due to the pandemic.

This December, Murphy and his team of 30 volunteers will once again be collecting coats for area agencies that serve people in need. The goal this year is 1,500 or more. The drive ends Dec. 31.

For the full story, click here.

Retired Harper educator teaches others how to be more inclusive

After 30 years of teaching students with disabilities, Pascuala Herrera wanted to share with other educators her experience and knowledge about making classrooms and communities more inclusive.

So she co-founded Educators 4 Equity and Justice, which provides online courses on how to create equitable and inclusive classrooms, institutions, and communities.

"I'm a Latina with a disability, and teach all the disability-related courses," said Herrera, 56, of Franklin Park, a retired faculty emeritus of Harper College in Palatine. "Once an educator, always an educator, and once an advocate, you are always going to be an advocate."

The website, educators4equityandjustice.org, launched in January. Herrera said the courses and curriculum are expanding.

For the full story, click here.

Libertyville promotion seeks Grinch around the village's parks

Libertyville police have asked the public to be on the lookout for a grouchy character bent on ruining the holidays. But it's not what you may think.

The perpetrator is 8 feet tall and was last seen wearing red and white clothing and a Santa hat, Deputy Chief Matt Goze earnestly reported last week in a faux news conference.

"We believe that the Grinch is trying to disguise himself as Santa Claus in an effort to ruin Christmas," Goze said.

The all-points bulletin of sorts is part of a promotion by the village to engage residents and get them to visit Libertyville's 19 parks.

"It's something fun," said Recreation Manager Julie O'Toole, who while browsing an industry Facebook page became aware of a similar effort in Ferguson, Missouri, and decided to try it in Libertyville.

Residents are encouraged to report sightings on social media using the hashtag #libertyvillegrinch. Those who tag selfies with the Grinch to the village's Twitter or Instagram pages or the recreation department's Facebook page will be entered in a drawing to win one of three MainStreet Libertyville gift certificates.

For the full story, click here.

Naperville parks, YMCA to deliver holiday meals to those in need

The YMCA and Naperville Park District will continue the annual tradition of delivering a special Christmas meal for Naperville seniors and families in need on the morning of Dec. 24.

To make a meal reservation, contact Robert Fields at rlfields@ymcachicago.org or (630) 579-5705 and provide your name, home address, phone number, email and the number of meals needed. There is a maximum of two meals per household.

Those interested in receiving a meal are encouraged to make a reservation as soon as possible, as meals will be provided for up to 300 people and reservations may fill before the Dec. 16 deadline.

Recipients must be Naperville residents and must be at home between 10 a.m. and noon Dec. 24.

Donations to help support the initiative also are being sought from community members. To make a donation, visit www.napervilleparks.org and select the online registration link. From there, click on the "Donations" tab at the top of the webpage; there is a link for the Community Christmas Meal.

• Good News Sunday will run each weekend. Please visit dailyherald.com/newsletters to sign up for our Good News Sunday newsletter.