Latest news with #Loaves&Fishes
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Greenville schools to launch program combatting food insecurity. Where kids can get free food
In Greenville County alone, there are 60,850 people who are currently living with food insecurity. Two-thirds of them are a single parent household with children, according to Loaves & Fishes, a nonprofit food rescue organization in Greenville. 15,320-plus children (12.7%) in the county do not have reliable food sources. And there is a difference between hunger and food insecurity, the nonprofit points out. "Hunger is the feeling someone has when they don't have food. Food insecurity is the consistent lack of food to have a healthy life because of your economic situation." it said. Beginning Tuesday, May 27, Greenville County Schools will be participating in the Seamless Summer Food Service Program, which will provide free breakfast and lunch for children under 18 years old. The program will run through Thursday, July 31. Meals must be eaten at the participating school unless the location offers curbside pickup. Here's what schools are participating in the program. ∎ Breakfast: Served from 7:45-8:15 a.m. ∎ Lunch: Served from 11: 30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. ∎ Alexander Elementary School ∎ A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School ∎ Berea Elementary School ∎ Bryson Elementary School ∎ Buena Vista Elementary School ∎ Chandler Creek Elementary School ∎ Cherrydale Elementary School ∎ Ellen Woodside Elementary School ∎ Heritage Elementary School ∎ Lake Forest Elementary School ∎ Mauldin Elementary School ∎ Monarch Elementary School ∎ Monaview Elementary School ∎ Mountain View Elementary School ∎ Plain Elementary School ∎ Sara Collins Elementary School ∎ Summit Drive Elementary School ∎ Taylors Elementary school ∎ Thomas E. Kerns Elementary School ∎ Breakfast: Served from 8:30-9 a.m. ∎ Lunch: Served from 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. ∎ Roper Mountain Science Center: Served from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through Saturday starting Wednesday, May 28 to Saturday, July 26. Please note that the center will be closed on July 4. ∎ Beck International Academy ∎ Berea Middle School ∎ Bryson Middle School ∎ Greer Middle School ∎ Lakeview Middle School ∎ Tanglewood Middle School ∎ Woodmont Middle School ∎ Breakfast: Served from 8:30-9 a.m. ∎ Lunch: Served from 11: 30 a.m.-12: 15 p.m. ∎ Fourth of July week: Meals will not be served during this time. All Greenville County high schools will be participating in the program with the exception of Hillcrest High School. Parents and guardians who plan to collect a meal for a child must present the proper documentation like a student ID, report card, or birth certificate. They must also sign a parent pickup log. Bulk meals containing three to four days' worth of food are available for qualifying children. ∎ Rudolph Gordon School: Offers curbside pickup two times a week from June 2 to July 24, Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Pickup will not be available the week of July 4. ∎ Slater Marietta Elementary: Offers curbside pickup two times a week from June 2 to July 24, Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Pickup will not be available the week of July 4. ∎ Ellen Woodside Elementary: Offers curbside pickup two times a week from July 7 to July 24, Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@ This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville schools offering free meals this summer: See when, where
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Yahoo
Got a criminal record? Here's how to clear it up for little or nothing
When Khalil Ferguson started offering free expungement clinics in Oak Park five years ago, he saw firsthand how a conviction — even one from decades ago — could shadow someone for life. One of his clients came to him in 2022 with more than 15 convictions dating back to the 1970s when he tried to feed a drug habit he had since beaten. His record had been spotless since 2000, Ferguson said, and he had stable employment. He wanted peace of mind that the convictions wouldn't pop up in a future background check, said Ferguson, who has worked with a number clients whose dreams of financial success were crushed when exactly that happened. 'Several folks have come to me saying, 'I need to get a better job. They just denied me because of my criminal record. Can you help me?'' Ferguson said. Expungement, the legal process of clearing a criminal conviction from public view, has become increasingly accessible in California — but many residents in Sacramento and elsewhere still don't realize they qualify or that help is available for free or at low cost. Studies show it can boost employment prospects and reduce recidivism. Contrary to what the term implies, an expungement in California doesn't erase a criminal record entirely. 'Most employers are not going to see the arrests, prosecution and expungement on a criminal background check,' said John Stoller, supervising assistant public defender for Sacramento County. 'If you're applying for a manager position at Rite Aid, they're probably not going to see it. But if you are applying to be a dispatcher at a police department or need a security clearance at the county, they're probably going to see it.' What expungement actually does is change the official court record to reflect that the case was dismissed, Stoller said, and this can significantly improve a person's chances when applying for jobs, housing or professional licenses. Under Penal Code section 1203.4, most people who have completed probation or served time — whether in county jail or even state prison under new laws like Senate Bill 731 — may be eligible. Stoller's office filed more than 1,100 expungement petitions last year and offers weekly free clinics at multiple locations, including Loaves & Fishes and Mather Community Campus. 'We offer expungement services to anyone with a conviction in Sacramento County,' Stoller said. 'You don't have to live here now. If your conviction is from here, we'll help you — completely free of charge.' While some private attorneys charge thousands of dollars for the service, some nonprofits and county public defender's offices will help residents for free or at low costs. Public defenders in Sacramento County, for example, not only fill out forms, but they ensure their clients pay no court fees and avoid the cost for securing their RAP sheets, short for record of arrests and prosecutions. Yolo and El Dorado counties also have staff in their public defender's offices who assist those trying to clean up records in their jurisdictions. In Placer County, the nonprofit Legal Services of Northern California offer legal help for free, but clients will have to provide the RAP sheet and cover some court costs. Ferguson is seeking funding to both continue and expand the work that his nonprofit, United Core Alliance, has provided. To help the client with 15-plus convictions, he said, a lawyer and paralegal spent about 30 hours over six months to get everything they needed to write a solid personal statement, or declaration. 'He initially provided general background information about his life post-incarceration, but we needed specific facts to demonstrate community rehabilitation, given the client's extensive criminal background,' Ferguson said. 'So, we went back and forth communication-wise for months … until we had sufficient information to complete the client's declaration.' Ferguson, who studied economics and international relations as an undergraduate, shared a Stanford University study showing that, within three years, the benefits of expungement will outweigh the costs as governments begin to enjoy the increased tax revenue and economic activity from easing ex-offenders back into the workforce. However, a 2001 survey of Los Angeles employers found that only 20% of them would 'definitely' or 'probably' consider a job application from an ex-offender. A lack of stable employment is a major predictor of continued criminal conduct. The expungement process varies depending on the conviction, Stoller said. Misdemeanor expungements are often automatic if probation is completed. Felonies can require a judge's approval, especially if the sentence included jail or prison time. At the Sacramento County Public Defender's Office, expungement begins with an interview, usually during a walk-in clinic or via email. Legal staff here will help clients pull their RAP sheets and assess eligibility, but at other county's or nonprofit's sites, clients may be required to download and bring those documents with them. Attorneys or staff will advise clients if they need to write a personal statement about why expungement matters to them or provide letters of recommendation from friends, family, or employers. 'We tailor these letters for the judge,' Stoller said. 'We want to show the judge that this person is really trying. If we don't hear back after a few months, we have to close the file.' Christine Morse-Fitch, a criminal defense attorney and professor at Sacramento State, believes the process should be even simpler. 'We have cars that drive themselves. We have ChatGPT that can write a dissertation in four seconds,' she said. 'So I'm confident that we have somebody who can write a program that will say, 'OK, if this person doesn't have any more run-ins with the law after whatever period of time, this is expunged.'' Many people don't realize that, if they can keep their records clean after release, they can request early termination of probation and apply for expungement, she said. 'It can be a motivator. It can be a carrot,' she said. 'We just don't have enough people out there to educate people and to give them this information and this hope.' ▪ Sacramento County Public Defender's Office holds weekly walk-in clinics from 9-11 a.m. Tuesdays at Loaves & Fishes, 1351 North C St.; from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays at Mather Community Campus, 10626 Shirra Ave.; 2-4 p.m. Tuesdays at the Sacramento County Administration Building, 700 H St. You can email publicdefender-expungement@ to get started. ▪ In Placer County, Legal Services of Northern California conducts 'clean slate clinics' at no cost for individuals whose household income falls below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, or $64,299 or less for a family of four. Participants must provide a record of arrests and prosecutions —RAP sheet, for short — prior to registration. Contact the nonprofit at auburn-office@ or 530-823-7560. ▪ A paralegal at the El Dorado County Public Defender's office will answer questions and provide guidance to individuals trying to clear offenses in that jurisdiction. Call (530) 621-6440. ▪ The Yolo County Public Defender's Office invites those seeking to expunge their records to in-person clinics twice a year, usually in the spring and late summer. Sacramento and Solano counties also have sent representatives to the to confer with the Yolo public defender now? Visit to learn how. ▪ The nonprofit Capital Pro Bono will assist with seeking expungements for misdemeanor offenses. Call 916-551-2155 or go to the website and fill out the 'contact us' form.
Chicago Tribune
25-04-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville News Digest: McDonald Farm plant sale set for Mother's Day weekend; Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise sponsoring diaper drive
McDonald Farm plant sale set for Mother's Day weekend The annual McDonald Farm Plant Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 10, at its farm at 10S404 Knoch Knolls Road in Naperville. A wide selection of native perennials, grasses, organic vegetable and herb seedings and Mother's Day gift options will be available. Gardeners can also pick up organic compost or rain barrels, a sale announcement said. The farm anticipates having a variety of options for all areas of the yard, including plants that need sun, plants that like the shade or plants that like medium-wet soil. Vegetables available should include broccoli, cabbage, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers and more. Herbs include chives, cilantro, lavender, lemon balm, parsley, sage and thyme, among others. For more information and suggested designs to plant various gardens, go to Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise sponsoring diaper drive Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise will hold a donation drive to collect diapers and feminine products for the West Suburban Community Pantry. The Diaper and Mom's Essentials Drive will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. Friday, May 9, in front of the Naperville County Club, 25W570 Chicago Ave. Essential baby items, such as diapers, toilet training pants, baby wipes and diaper ointments and lotions, are requested, a news release said. Diapers are especially needed in sizes 4, 5 and 6, and the club also will be accepting feminine hygiene products, the release said. Diapers, baby wipes and personal products cannot be bought with food stamp benefits, Rotary spokeswoman Deb Newman said in the news release. Community members can also drop off donations directly to the pantry from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at 6809 Hobson Valley Drive, Unit 118, Woodridge. For more information, go to Postal workers Stamp Out Hunger drive planned for May 10 Naperville postal workers will be collecting food donations to benefit Loaves & Fishes Community Services in Naperville during the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive set for Saturday, May 10. Residents are asked to place non-perishable, unexpired food items in bags by their mailboxes, which will be picked up by postal carriers and Loaves & Fishes volunteers. Last year, the Naperville Stamp Out Hunger food drive collected more than 60,000 pounds of food for Loaves & Fishes, the agency website said. Families face food insecurity in the summer months when children are out of school. Traditional food donations also slow during this time but the demand for assistance grows, the website said. The Stamp Out Hunger food drive is part of a nationwide initiative held the second Saturday of May.
Chicago Tribune
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Former ESPN legal analyst Lester Munson to discuss book on Pete Rose at Batavia Public Library program
Commentator and former ESPN legal analyst Lester Munson will discuss the book 'Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose' by Keith O'Brien during the next Books Between Bites program at the Batavia Public Library on Thursday, March 20. The event, which is free to attend, will go from noon to 1 p.m. at the library, 10 S. Batavia Ave. in Batavia, according to a press release from the library. Reservations are not required. Along with his past work for ESPN, Munson has been a legal analyst and guest on WTTW's 'Chicago Tonight,' according to the release. He will share his thoughts on the new book about former baseball player and manager Pete Rose at the March 20 event. The program will be held in the Founders Room on the main level of the Batavia Public Library. Parking is available in the lot just south and adjacent to the library, officials said. Visitors are invited to bring their lunch and eat as they enjoy the program and discussion, according to the release. Lunch items, beverages and baked goods also may be purchased from Flyleaf Bakery Cafe, located just inside the library and adjacent to the meeting room. For more information about Books Between Bites, go to where a complete schedule and description of each program can be found, along with a printable season schedule, according to the release. Printed season schedules are also available at the library. Chef Showdown fundraising event set in Aurora Chef Showdown, an event to raise funds for Loaves & Fishes Community Services in Naperville, will be held Thursday, April 17, at the organization's Linnea Eleanor Rutkowski Food Distribution Hub in Aurora. Executive chefs from Entourage and Meson Sabika will go head-to-head in a culinary battle to create unique dishes during the competition. The chefs have an hour to create a three-course meal while being observed by a panel of judges. They will be assisted by celebrity sous chefs and Loaves & Fishes supporters, including Adam Fuchs of Wintrust Commercial Banking, Kristen Refness of Endeavor Health, Karen Wells of Make-A-Wish Foundation and Dustin Wilson of Duly Health and Care. Panelists voting on the dishes are 'Chopped' celebrity Chef Alonso Beckford of Aurora from The Matrix Club, John Diederich from Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora, Susana Rivera-Mills from Aurora University and Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli. The competition will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. inside the Loaves & Fishes Aurora warehouse at 580 Exchange Court, which will be transformed into a kitchen. Tickets are $125, with food provided by My Chef Catering. Special seating, including 'Feel the Heat' seats closer to the competition and 'Chill Out Chairs,' are available. To purchase tickets, go to Documentary to be shown in St. Charles The St. Charles Public Library and Fox Valley Hands of Hope are partnering for a free, public showing of 'Meet Me Where I Am,' a recently released feature documentary, from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, at the library, 1 S. Sixth Ave. in St. Charles. 'Meet Me Where I Am' explores the topic of grief through individual stories of loss, love and hope, according to a press release about the upcoming event. The film aims to normalize grief in our culture and explores how we can actively participate in helping others through grief, according to the release. Fox Valley Hands of Hope has provided grief support to adults, children and families in the area since 1981, with no charge for services, the release noted. To register for the March 25 showing of the documentary, call 630-584-0076. U.S. Rep. Bill Foster to hold town hall meeting U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, D-Naperville, is hosting an in-person town hall meeting from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, at Benedictine University, 5700 College Road, Lisle. The event will be held in the university's Goodwin Hall Auditorium, with parking available in the garage south of Goodwin Hall. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Following Foster's presentation, a question-and-answer session will follow, a news release said. Registration is encouraged but not required to attend. To RSVP, go to For questions, call Foster's district office at 630-585-7672. Kane sheriff's, health departments offering free CPR classes The Kane County Sheriff's Office and Health Department will offer free CPR training for the public at the Kane County Sheriff's Office, 37W755 Route 38, St. Charles. Sessions are scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon, 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 21, and Monday, March 24, according to a webpage for the program. The classes follow the American Heart Association's HeartSaver CPR course and are designed for educational purposes, a news release said. They do not include certification. To register, go to Kane Animal Control holding vaccine, microchip clinics Kane County Animal Control has spring and summer dates open for its drive-thru rabies vaccine and microchip clinics. Clinics will be held at the Kane County Animal Control Facility, 4060 Keslinger Road, Geneva, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 26; 4:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 14; and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 14. A one-year rabies vaccine with tag costs $30 for neutered animals and $55 for non-neutered pets, a news release said. For county residents 65 or older, vaccines are $15 for neutered animals and $25 for non-neutered. Microchipping is $15. Owners must verify their pets have not bitten anyone in the past 10 days. An adult over age 18 must be present to handle their pet. If a pet requires a muzzle, it must be placed on the animal before entering the clinic, the release said.
Chicago Tribune
14-03-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville News Digest: Naperville Park District to do prescribed spring burns; Loaves & Fishes to hold Chef Showdown fundraising event
Naperville Park District planning prescribed spring burns Naperville Park District will conduct prescribed burns at three dozen parks this spring to help improve the overall health of their ecosystems. Burns are intentionally set to clear invasive weeds and reduce the amount of leaf and plant debris on the ground, officials said in a news release. They are supervised by professionals, and weather conditions and certain variables must be met before maintenance crews start the fires. Factors such as dormant grass, wind velocity and direction, and precipitation are evaluated when determining when the burns will be conducted, the release said. The parks where prescribed burns will be done this spring are Arrowhead Park, Ashbury Greenway, Ashbury Park, Bailey Hobson Woods, Baileywood Park, Brighton Ridge Park, Brook Crossings, Buttonwood Park, Commissioners Park, DuPage River Park, Fairway Commons Park, Frontier Sports Complex, Hobson West Ponds, Hunter Woods, Kingsley Prairie, Knoch Knolls Commons, Knoch Knolls Park and Lincoln Greenway. Others include May Watts Park, Meadow Glens, Nike Sports Complex, Olsen Estates Park, Pioneer Park, Rock Ridge Park, Seager Park, Sportsman's Park, Springbrook Crossings, Springbrook Parkway, Summerfield Lake Park, Tall Grass Lakes, Westglen Commons, Willowgate Square, Wil-O-Way Commons, Wil-O-Way Park. Winding Creek Park and Wolf's Crossing Community Park. Loaves & Fishes to hold Chef Showdown fundraising event Chef Showdown, an event to raise funds for Loaves & Fishes Community Services in Naperville, will be held Thursday, April 17, at the organization's Linnea Eleanor Rutkowski Food Distribution Hub in Aurora. Executive chefs from Entourage and Meson Sabika will go head-to-head in a culinary battle to create unique dishes during the competition. The chefs have an hour to create a three-course meal while being observed by a panel of judges. They will be assisted by celebrity sous chefs and Loaves & Fishes supporters, including Adam Fuchs of Wintrust Commercial Banking, Kristen Refness of Endeavor Health, Karen Wells of Make-A-Wish Foundation and Dustin Wilson of Duly Health and Care. Panelists voting on the dishes are 'Chopped' celebrity Chef Alonso Beckford from The Matrix Club, John Diederich from Rush Copley Medical Center, Dr. Susana Rivera-Mills from Aurora University and Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli. The competition will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. inside the Loaves & Fishes Aurora warehouse at 580 Exchange Court, which will be transformed into a kitchen. Tickets are $125, with food provided by My Chef Catering. Special seating, including 'Feel the Heat' seats closer to the competition and 'Chill Out Chairs,' are available. Purchase tickets at Park district holding open houses for ADA Accessibility Plan Two open house events for residents to offer feedback on Naperville Park District's updated accessibility plan will be held at 1 and 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, at the Fort Hill Activity Center, 20 Fort Hill Drive. The district's original Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan was created in 1992 and last update done in 2014, a news release said. Presentation boards will be set up for attendees to review, and district staff on hand to answer questions and receive comments or suggestions. No formal presentation will be made. Online feedback will be solicited later, the release said. A final report is scheduled for release by the end of 2025. Anyone interested in attending one fo the open houses or in need of special accommodations should contact Eric Shutes at 630-848-5014 or eshutes@
