Fortitude Community Outreach

05/27/2026

It’s been busy, busy, busy over here due to grant app season and a little time off! We’ve been regrettably far too absent on FB.
But definitely not absent in our work, and we wanted to share our deep appreciation to State Representative Jackie Haas for acknowledging our efforts in storm recovery.
Fortitude jumped in to assist the Red Cross in the transition to closure of their shelter. We took 2 guests into our shelter lodging and are currently working with each to get into permanent housing. Both were homeless at the time of the storm—one lost the place he was sheltering at and one lost his tent and possessions that were in the path of the storm. Imagine!! 🙁
Thank you again for the recognition…we are always honored to be able to help.

04/15/2026

Thank you BBCHS volunteers for helping make dinner for our guests tonight!!

03/23/2026

We need three things to reduce homelessness: enough housing, an outcomes-focused response system, and targeted help for people in need.

With all three, we can reduce homelessness in the short-term.

And, in the long-term, we can make homelessness rare overall, brief when it occurs, and non-recurring — so that when people exit homelessness, they exit for good.

03/18/2026

Fortitude and Catholic Charities spent the afternoon with Red Cross volunteer Maria and their shelter residents, making plans with each one to ensure they are connected to housing once they close.
Maria stated our community has been one of the best to work with after a disaster. This is NOT surprising to us! Many thanks and kudos to everyone, every business, and every organization that has played a part in picking up the pieces. I’m so thankful our homeless provider network is able to take over from Red Cross the rebuilding of lives interrupted.

03/15/2026

Our community is doing a great job of helping our neighbors! United Way let us know current needs are non-perishable food, rice, canned goods, packaged meat, shelf stable tuna and chicken, size Large adult Depends, and quart size ziplock bags.
It can be dropped off at Redeeming Life Ministries anytime between 9-5 tomorrow. If you prefer, you can drop off at Fortitude after 1pm tomorrow and we’ll get it over.
Thank you!

03/11/2026

If anyone affected by the storm needs something, call us at 815-216-1635!

03/02/2026

Our first e-newsletter went out to our email list today! If you did not receive it and would like to subscribe, you can do so here:
https://fortitudecommunityoutreach.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=cc9fdcb78ed69059e53f55f0d&id=84e55c1e0a
You can also find a printable copy here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10b-HqrE_K4tIHhX5EzD6eRHQYd8NWY79/view?usp=sharing
PLEASE like, comment, and share--this helps us so much with getting our services to the public! Thanks!

03/02/2026

Social workers are the first responders with the least recognition. But we have one month to focus on all the great work Social Workers do to save and improve lives. Happy Social Work Month!!

03/02/2026

The first grant of its kind given in Kankakakee County! ☺️

https://m.riverbender.com/news/details.cfm?id=91171&

Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs awards $200K in grants to 10 small Illinois nonprofits aiding housing and workforce development.

02/19/2026

Hi everyone! Someone sent this event link to providers yesterday but this is all the info we have about it. But conversations are great and we do believe in “Better Together”. Let’s be a part of it!

https://business.kankakeecountychamber.com/events/details/level-up-lunch0-partnership-for-progress-5442

02/02/2026

Fortitude is a grant recipient of Zonta. Please consider supporting Zonta at this weekend's Party Gras! It really is great food, people, and fun.