To-Do List

DIGITAL LIFE

Kudos to these organizations streaming artists, trainers, and teachers into our living rooms

360 FIT NAPERVILLE Virtual classes are available through the YouTube channel of this central Naperville fitness studio. Search for traditional classes—like yoga, barre, stationary bike, and HIIT—as well as some inventive stay-at-home offerings like a stair workout and meditation (for those new homeschoolers). 360studiosnaperville.com

ALIVE CENTER Free virtual drop-in events for teens in sixth to 12th grade are offered via Zoom each week day from 3 to 4 p.m.: Makerspace Mondays, games on Tuesday, art on Wednesdays, creative fun on Thursdays and fitness Fridays. alivenaperville.com

AMERICAN MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY This south Naperville facility is offering online classes six days a week via Zoom. Join the Facebook group to receive the meeting ID and password. amaanaperville.com

ARRANMORE ARTS The “Artist-a-Day” series includes performances from musicians, actors, singers, and artists for both adults and children. arranmorearts.org

COMMUNITY PARK FITNESS The Lisle Park District fitness center is now offering members virtual instruction for its normal GroupX fitness classes, including yoga, Zumba, senior fitness and more. Visit the website for a full list of classes or to register. lisleparkdistrict.org/cpf

DUPAGE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM The museum’s creative team is producing “Play to Learn at Home,” a new online community of programming and support that will provide a daily dose of DCM. The program aims to share playful learning activities with isolated families. DCM public programs manager Cassie Coffey delivers story time weekly via Facebook Live. The team has more in development that will be shared throughout the coming weeks including family yoga, book making, sensory bags, bilingual story time, and more. facebook.com/ DCMFanPage

GENTLE LEARNING PRESCHOOL The preschool run by the Lisle Park District is offering at-home instruction for both residents and nonresidents. The remote curriculum includes phonics, literacy, math, art, songs, and science activities taught by coordinator Mrs. Jehs. gentlelearningpreschool.org

NAPERPARKS2YOU Content from community partners encourage residents to stay active, engage imagination, learn new skills, and connect online. From youth arts and sports to party ideas and virtual trips, the website is updated often with ideas for activities at home or on-the-go. napervilleparks.org/ naperpark2you

Gentle Learning Preschool's Mrs. Jehs

Photo courtesy Lisle Park District

NAPERVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY While library buildings are closed, residents with library cards can still access online services, including research, e-book/audiobook/movie recommendations, Creativebug arts and crafts video classes, and World Book online distance learning resources. naperville-lib.org

PARAMOUNT THEATRE Billed as a “virtual concert series to help artists and audiences connect,” the Aurora theater has launched Connection: A Social Media Concert Series. Singers/songwriters are encouraged to create songs each week according to a scheduled theme, such as connecting to school, home, essential workers, and the passage of time. Videos will be assembled into a concert posted on its Facebook page each Saturday at 8 p.m. paramountaurora.com

PINOT’S PALETTE The Naperville paint-and-sip studio is offering take-home paint kits with curbside pickup, as well as virtual classes where you can use the day’s supplies to create a unique painting. pinotspalette.com/naperville

WHEATON PARK DISTRICT Have some extra time to ramp up your personal and professional skills? The Wheaton Park District offers a fee-based online instruction center. Learn sign language, photography, coding, or real estate law with instructor-led courses at your own pace. ed2go.com/wheatonpd

Loaves & Fishes volunteer Marian Stricker

Photo courtesy Loaves & Fishes

HELP WANTED

The COVID-19 crisis has created an abundance of local volunteer and donation opportunities

By Kathy Aabram

In his appeal for blood donations on March 18, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams said, “Social distancing does not have to mean social disengagement.” In fact, volunteer engagement is more critical during this time of crisis. Local organizations with a mission focused on housing, food, and seniors are experiencing a large decrease in their donations and regular volunteer base, while demand for their services has greatly increased.

What follows is a list of local organizations that desperately need donations of both time and treasure. Keep in mind that under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES), taxpayers can take a deduction in the 2020 tax year for up to $300 in charitable donations even if they don’t itemize. Donors who make large contributions can also deduct the value of charitable contributions up to 100 percent of gross income in 2020 and aren’t subject to customary limits, capping the amount of the deduction at 60 percent of adjusted gross income. This applies only to cash gifts made to public charities.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES Catholic Charities is seeking donations and volunteers to help prepare food boxes, which are distributed twice weekly and are offered in lieu of the regular soup kitchen meals. Also, the organization needs monetary donations to help with the cost of hotels and food to relocate the homeless. Cover a night of shelter for $60 and a day of food for $15. catholiccharitiesjoliet.org

DUPAGE PADS Urgent items needed for homeless clients include single servings of nonperishable canned or microwave meals, chips, fruit cups, ramen, meat sticks, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, and underwear. Curbside drop-off boxes are in the parking lot at 703 W. Liberty Dr. in Wheaton. The nonprofit also has developed an Emergency Response Fund to maintain shelter, food, and essential services to clients. dupagepads.org

A Hesed House staff member sweeps the warehouse to make room for more residents.

Photo courtesy Hesed House

DUPAGE SENIOR CITIZENS COUNCIL Due to an increased demand, volunteers are needed to deliver shelf-stable and frozen meals to seniors in DuPage County on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There is a short orientation prior to assignment. Contact Cathy Jordan, volunteer services director, at the volunteer hotline, 630.746.0909. dupageseniorcouncil.org

ELMHURST-YORKFIELD FOOD PANTRY EYFP is accepting donations of nonperishable food, toiletry, and paper products. Monetary donations are most helpful to aid in sourcing much-needed inventory. The Elmhurst-based agency is also in need of extra volunteers to provide grocery pickup services in the parking lot. To help, contact Janet Cox, volunteer services, at janet@eyfp.org or 630.782.1066. eyfp.org

HESED HOUSE The second largest homeless shelter in the state is open and protecting some of the most vulnerable. Hesed House is requesting nonperishable food including single-serving chips, cereal, granola bars, Pop-Tarts, and bottled water, as well as personal care items, clothing, shoes, art supplies, and monetary donations. See the website for more details and the current needs list; the most immediate are communicated via video diary. Due to a staff-wide focus on its shelter programs, Hesed House is not currently taking clothing or furniture donations. Drop off donations at 659 S. River St. in Aurora between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. hesedhouse.org

LOAVES & FISHES COMMUNITY SERVICES To help newly struggling families in need, Loaves & Fishes is hosting a Virtual Food Drive. With just a few clicks, donors can purchase healthy food products at discounted prices that are most needed by their clients. Another Gift Cards for Good program includes purchases of Mesón Sabika and Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House gift cards, with proceeds benefiting the food pantry. loaves-fishes.org

NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK The agency serves 71,000 people every week and is looking for 500-plus volunteers to help fill current gaps. Read job descriptions and sign up for a specific date and location on the website, or contact Shannon Thompson, volunteer services director, at volunteer@ northernilfoodbank.org. And financial donations of any size will help support the Food Bank’s operations during this time of increased need. Every $1 donated helps provide $8 in groceries. solvehungertoday.org

SENIOR HOME SHARING Providing residential housing to seniors, SHS needs assistance with grocery store trips, pharmacy pickups, and meal donations. Contact Courtney Simek, executive director, at csimek@seniorhomesharing.org or call 630.201.7080.

SERENITY HOUSE The Addison-based substance abuse recovery organization serves clients who have been largely affected by service industry layoffs. Many residents can no longer pay their program fees. Consider a financial donation to provide and protect recovery during this vulnerable period. serenityhouse.com

VERSITI BLOOD CENTER OF ILLINOIS (FORMERLY HEARTLAND) Blood donations are vital during times of crisis, but there is currently a severe decline in the availability of blood. Donate through Versiti’s locations in Aurora, Bloomingdale, Geneva, Naperville, Westmont, and Winfield. Additional safety protocols have been put in place to ensure the health of donors and staff. versiti.org

WEST SUBURBAN COMMUNITY PANTRY WSCP has experienced a 40 percent increase in clients. The Woodridgebased nonprofit needs volunteers to assist with food sorting and stocking, plus packing and distributing premade boxes and bags of food. Contact Cheryl Toohey, volunteer coordinator, at ctoohey@wscpantry.org or call 630- 948-8135. If you are unable to volunteer, consider making a cash donation online. wscpantry.org

Volunteer at the Northern Illinois Food Bank in Geneva pack 1,250 emergency boxes for those in need.

Photo by Linda Girardi/The Beacon News

TRAIL MIX

Go ahead and stretch those legs at these hike and bike locales

By Kathy Aabram

Sometimes a walk around the block just won’t cut it—you (and perhaps your homeschooled offspring) need a hike. A real hike. But when state parks and playgrounds are closed, options are limited—especially considering social distancing requirements due to COVID-19. As of presstime, here are five places you can still hike until it hurts.

GREENE VALLEY FOREST PRESERVE, NAPERVILLE The 1,388-acre preserve is home to more than 540 native plant species, making it one of the county’s most botanically diverse sites. On weekends May through October, its 190-foot-tall scenic overlook provides a bird’s-eye view of the landscape and the Chicago skyline. It’s a great spot to picnic or look for migratory birds on 12 miles of marked trails. dupageforest.org

INDIANA DUNES, PORTER, IND. Whether you enjoy scouting for rare species of birds or flying kites on the sandy beach, the national park’s 15,000 acres—including 15 miles of Lake Michigan shore—will continually enchant you. Hikers will enjoy 50 miles of trails over rugged dunes, mysterious wetlands, sunny prairies, meandering rivers, and peaceful forests. nps.gov/indu

MIDEWIN NATIONAL TALLGRASS PRAIRIE, WILMINGTON Fifty miles from Chicago, the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie was established in 1996 as the nation’s first designated tallgrass prairie, with ongoing efforts to restore this endangered ecosystem, including the introduction of a herd of bison. There are 29 miles of hiking trails among the “sea of grass,” including the 1.5-mile Prairie Creek Woods Trail. fs.usda.gov/midewin

SHAWNEE NATIONAL FOREST, HARRISBURG This huge region (289,000 acres) offers a wide variety of hiking options. Popular spots include the Jackson Falls Trail, a 4.5-mile stretch that offers some of the best rock climbing in Illinois. Also consider the short Rim Rock Recreational Trail or Garden of the Gods, featuring sandstone formations that are 320 million years old. fs.usda.gov/shawnee

Shawnee National Forest

Photo courtesy Illinois Office of Tourism

WATERFALL GLEN FOREST PRESERVE, LEMONT The nearly 2,500 acres of the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve are covered with 11 miles of trails. The main trail is a 9.5-mile loop around the preserve on a limestone surface, with a number of inclines that make it a good workout. At presstime, Rocky Glen Waterfall and the Bluff Road parking lot was closed due to congestion. dupageforest.org

READY TO ROLL

If cycling is more your speed, try one of these bike-approved trails

GREAT WESTERN TRAIL Traverse 12 miles of crushed stone between Villa Park and West Chicago on this stretch that follows an abandoned railway corridor through DuPage County. Park at Klein Creek Farm (1N600 County Farm Rd.) at the west end of the trail, but note that the visitor center and buildings are closed until stay-at-home orders are lifted.

COMED GREENWAY This two-mile asphalt trail in Bolingbrook is perfect for small bikers learning to perfect their ride. It loops around the Remington Sports Complex (park there, 811 Remington Blvd.) in the south, and Community Park to the north. Access the 33-mile DuPage River Trail by crossing Lily Cache Lane and head north past St. Francis Park and Boughton Road.

TALL GRASS GREENWAY Popular with south Naperville peeps, this 3.8-mile asphalt path extends through residential neighborhoods and can be extended by over 30 miles into downtown Naperville. Park at a newer lot for the Vermont Cemetery Preserve (9945 Normantown Rd.) or behind Neuqua Valley High School (2360 95th St.).