Certainly! Based on the news excerpts and assuming coverage of the Gurnee, Waukegan, and Lake County, IL region as of August 19, 2025, here are two Rotary service or fundraising project recommendations that align with Rotary’s areas of focus. These are constructed with assumed context from the news and the region’s ongoing needs, given that the day’s lead stories are lifestyle and editorial—but also factoring in typical priorities in Lake County.
1. Community Health & Nutrition: “Frozen Treats for Healthy Streets” Summer Series
Context:
Lake County, like many suburban areas, experiences gaps in access to healthy, affordable food, especially for low-income families and youth. The August 19 story about a "delicious guide to frozen drinks" is a reminder of both summer traditions and nutrition opportunities. Rotary could leverage the popularity of frozen treats to promote public health, offering nutritious spins on classic summer drinks (like healthy smoothies or yogurt-based shakes), and connect residents with local health resources.
Potential Partners: - Northern Illinois Food Bank (already active in Lake County) - Lake County Health Department’s wellness/nutrition teams - Local businesses (ice cream shops, cafes: e.g., Gurnee’s My Happy Place Café, Waukegan’s Selena’s Ice Cream) - School district nutrition programs (Waukegan CUSD 60, Gurnee School District 56) - Youth organizations (Boys & Girls Club of Lake County)
Next Steps: - Connect with the Lake County Health Department and Northern Illinois Food Bank to design healthy drink recipes and schedule distribution events at parks, farmers markets, and youth organizations. - Secure donations or sponsorship from local vendors to provide ingredients, blenders, and reusable cups. - Recruit and train Rotary and community volunteers to staff booths, hand out recipe cards, and share wellness resources. - Plan a kickoff event with healthy frozen drinks, free health screenings, and interactive nutrition demos.
2. Education & Youth: “Books & Beats Block Party” Literacy and Culture Fest
Context:
Although not directly mentioned in the August 19 news, Lake County has consistently had literacy and academic engagement gaps, especially in underserved areas like parts of Waukegan. The Naperville Irish Fest story provides a model—tying together culture, family, music, and volunteering to benefit community causes. Rotary could host a “Books & Beats” summer block party focusing on youth literacy and multicultural celebration, uniting music, reading, and opportunities for families before the new school year.
Potential Partners: - Waukegan Public Library, Gurnee Public Library - Waukegan to College program, Mano a Mano Family Resource Center - Local musicians and dance studios (to provide multicultural performances) - School districts’ Family Engagement offices - Local businesses (for sponsorship: bookshops, print shops, instrument stores)
Next Steps: - Organize planning meetings with library and school district representatives to coordinate date, venue (Waukegan’s Bowen Park or Warren Township Park in Gurnee), and recruitment of youth performers. - Collect new/gently used book donations and recruit volunteers for reading hours. - Line up music and dance acts, focusing on a range of cultural traditions from the area’s diverse communities. - Prepare volunteer opportunities and incentives (such as service hours for youth or raffle prizes for attendees). - Publicize the event through schools, community centers, and local media.
Both projects not only highlight Rotary’s seven areas of focus—including community health, basic education, and youth development—but also build on the vibrancy and expressed needs of Gurnee, Waukegan, and Lake County.
Project 1: Support for Local Food Pantries Amidst Spike in Demand
Context: Recent news highlights a spike in visits to Chicago-area food pantries, which likely includes Lake County communities such as Gurnee, Waukegan, and surrounding areas. This aligns with Rotary’s focus area of community health and basic needs.
Potential Partners:
- Northern Illinois Food Bank
- COOL Ministries Food Pantry (Waukegan)
- Warren Township Food Pantry (Gurnee)
- Local school districts (for school pantry needs)
- Businesses interested in food drives, such as Jewel-Osco or Aldi
Next Steps:
1. Connect with leadership at local pantries (such as COOL Ministries and Warren Township) to identify their most urgent needs—whether it is food items, funding for resources, refrigeration, or volunteer shifts.
2. Organize a Rotary-led community food drive at popular upcoming events (Farmers Markets, Fall Fests), with targeted donation requests for most-needed goods.
3. Launch a digital “adopt-a-family” campaign or matching grant appeal to area businesses and residents.
4. Leverage club volunteers for regular food rescue collections or on-site assistance.
5. Publicize results and share impact stories to encourage continued giving and address food insecurity year-round.
Project 2: Senior Safety and Wellness Initiative
Context: The recent report of a 79-year-old Ingleside woman with memory issues being struck by a car underscores the increasing vulnerability of seniors, especially those living with dementia or other memory impairments. There’s a rising community need for senior safety awareness, health screenings, and resources for caregivers. This ties into Rotary’s areas of focus on disease prevention, community health, and supporting aging populations.
Potential Partners:
- Lake County Sheriff’s Office (for safety and awareness campaigns)
- AgeGuide Northeastern Illinois or Catholic Charities (senior services)
- Advocate Aurora Health and NorthShore Health (community health providers)
- Local memory care facilities and in-home care providers
- School service clubs (for intergenerational programming)
Next Steps:
1. Coordinate with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to host a “Senior Safety Day,” including presentations on wandering prevention, free medical ID bracelet distribution, basic health screenings, and safety resources.
2. Offer pop-up clinics at community centers, libraries, and churches for memory loss screening, flu shots, and fall prevention education.
3. Develop a volunteer “Senior Neighbor” program pairing Rotarians or youth volunteers with seniors for regular check-ins and assistance.
4. Apply for a Rotary District grant to subsidize the cost of GPS tracking devices or medical alert systems for at-risk seniors.
5. Promote awareness through digital and traditional channels, focusing on caregiver resources and local supports.
Both projects address pressing local needs and can be sustained or replicated with government, nonprofit, and business collaboration in Lake County.
1. Community Health Initiative: Free Health Screening and Awareness Booths at Waukegan Waterfront Market
Context:
The recurring Waterfront Market at Waukegan Harbor and Marina (175 S Harbor Pl, Waukegan) is a high-visibility community event that draws a wide, diverse population from Waukegan and surrounding Lake County. Recent health reports for Lake County have highlighted ongoing needs for preventative care, especially in underserved communities connected to Waukegan. Rotary International prioritizes "disease prevention and treatment" and "community health" as areas of focus.
Potential Partners:
- Lake County Health Department
- Rosalind Franklin University’s Community Clinic
- Waukegan Park District
- Local pharmacies (e.g., Walgreens, CVS) for health professionals/flu shots
- Other local non-profits focused on health equity
Next Steps:
- Reach out to Waukegan Main Street and current market organizers to secure an event date for a Rotary-hosted wellness tent.
- Partner with the Health Department and local clinics to offer free basic screenings (blood pressure, BMI, diabetes risk) and distribute literature and resources in English and Spanish.
- Recruit Rotary volunteers for booth staffing, logistics, and promotion.
- Create a social media and flyer campaign targeting residents, with emphasis on early detection and available services.
2. Education & Youth Literacy: Storybook Reading and Book Drive at the Grayslake Area Public Library and Hawthorn Market Series
Context:
Events such as “Escape Into Adventure: Escape Rooms!” and “Storybook Stars: Storytime at Hawthorn Market,” both in Grayslake and Vernon Hills, point to a strong interest in literacy and youth programming. However, local schools continue to report gaps in summer learning loss and access to age-appropriate books, especially for disadvantaged families. Rotary’s “basic education and literacy” area of focus aligns perfectly.
Potential Partners:
- Grayslake Area Public Library (100 Library Ln, Grayslake)
- Hawthorn Market event organizers
- Local PTO/PTA groups
- Bookstores (e.g., The Book Market at Hangar One)
- Rotary Youth clubs/Interact clubs
Next Steps:
- Coordinate with library and Hawthorn Market organizers for select dates to host Rotary-led storytimes featuring diverse readers (Rotarians, community leaders, educators).
- Launch a concurrent children’s book drive, with collected books distributed to local schools, daycares, and Little Free Library boxes in Lake County.
- Incorporate interactive literacy games and crafts for families at the events.
- Partner with Interact and local schools to collect and distribute books, as well as to recruit youth volunteers.
- Promote the event via school newsletters, local Patch, and social media, encouraging community members to participate and donate gently used books.
1. Community Health: Mosquito-Borne Illness and Disease Prevention Initiative
Context:
Lake Bluff is currently spraying for mosquitoes as West Nile virus activity peaks. This highlights seasonal risk from mosquito-borne illnesses, especially with fluctuating weather patterns and recent flood watches in Lake Forest. Increasing public awareness and accessible prevention resources is critical for at-risk groups (children, elderly, outdoor workers) across Lake County, including Gurnee and Waukegan.
Potential Partners:
- North Shore Mosquito Abatement District
- Lake County Health Department
- Local school districts (Waukegan, Gurnee, Lake Forest)
- Park districts and homeowners’ associations
- Elawa Farms (for community outreach events)
Next Steps:
- Host a Rotary-led educational day at public parks or schools with abatement experts to share prevention methods and updated info about West Nile virus and new COVID strains.
- Purchase and distribute free insect repellent, mosquito dunks for standing water, and window/door screening kits to senior centers, food pantries, and families in need.
- Collaborate with the Health Department for bilingual flyers and resources on both mosquito and respiratory illness prevention.
- Secure small grants or match funds from Rotary District or public health partners.
2. Mental Health & Youth Support: Community Resilience Resource Fair
Context:
OMNI Youth Services recently received a Vernon Township Community Mental Health Board grant, reaffirming the growing community mental health needs for youth and families in Lake County. With rising anxiety from health risks (West Nile, COVID variants) and severe weather challenges (flood watches), youth mental health services and stress management programs are in high demand. Many families in Waukegan and Gurnee may not know about OMNI and other local resources.
Potential Partners:
- OMNI Youth Services
- Local schools/PTAs (Gurnee School District 56, Waukegan CUSD 60)
- Lake County Youth Services
- Community churches and YMCA branches
- Local businesses (e.g., Waukegan Tire as a sponsor)
Next Steps:
- Organize a “Resilience Resource Fair” at a community center or partner school, offering free workshops on coping with health and weather-related stress, youth leadership sessions, and sign-ups for ongoing OMNI support programs.
- Provide on-site referrals to counselors, publicize after-school mental health and wellness clubs, and distribute Rotary-donated self-care kits (journals, mindfulness books, stress balls, etc).
- Invite local business sponsors and engage Interact/Rotaract youth to plan and staff the event, increasing their service leadership experience.
- Coordinate with school guidance counselors and OMNI to identify families who might most benefit from resource navigation help.
1. Youth Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Initiative (Community Health & Youth Support)
Context:
A recent news item reports the tragic death of Navy recruit Kayshawn Wilkerson at the Great Lakes Naval Station, believed to be from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This follows local and national increases in youth and young adult mental health crises. The need for suicide prevention and expanded mental health support for youth, young adults, and those in transitional life stages (such as military training) in Lake County is urgent.
Potential Partners:
- Lake County Health Department, Behavioral Health Services
- Great Lakes Naval Station (community outreach)
- Local schools and colleges
- Nonprofits such as NAMI Lake County and Youth & Family Counseling
- Veterans and military support groups
Next Steps:
- Organize a mental health awareness event or speaker series focused on youth suicide prevention, targeting students, military trainees, and their families.
- Collaborate with partners to increase local awareness of available resources, host QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Gatekeeper Training, and distribute resource brochures.
- Fundraise for mental health service scholarships, crisis text line expansion, or partnerships that provide low- or no-cost counseling to at-risk youth.
- Leverage Rotary’s People of Action campaign to engage local media and schools.
- Consider a memorial or mental health scholarship in honor of Kayshawn Wilkerson, supporting youth in military service.
2. Child Care Safety & Licensing Advocacy (Education & Community Health)
Context:
News from North Chicago reports a police and DCFS investigation into an unlicensed home daycare where meth was being sold, with children present during a drug probe. This alarming situation highlights persistent gaps in child safety, public awareness of licensing, and the need for access to high-quality, safe child care options in Lake County.
Potential Partners:
- Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS)
- Lake County Sheriff’s Office, child advocacy teams
- Child Care Resource & Referral (YWCA Lake County)
- Local PTAs and parent groups
- Social service organizations (e.g., A Safe Place, Mano a Mano)
Next Steps:
- Launch an educational campaign in Gurnee, Waukegan, and Lake County to inform families about how to verify licensed childcare providers and recognize safe environments.
- Fundraise for scholarships or stipends helping low-income families secure licensed care.
- Host a community event or resource fair with DCFS presenting: "How to Find and Check Licensed Child Care."
- Support local law enforcement and DCFS with volunteer efforts to distribute educational materials.
- Work with county leadership to advocate for stricter enforcement or expanded access to state assistance for quality child care.
Both service projects align with Rotary’s areas of focus and meet immediate local needs, providing valuable opportunities for impact, partnership, and community leadership.