Add color to a child’s school year! Help us fill backpacks and brighten futures by donating to our online School Supply Drive! Shop directly from our Amazon wish list at https://a.co/e1ZOoTE All items will be delivered to Youth Service Bureau, and our caseworkers will make sure supplies get to the children who need them most—just in time for back-to-school. Every donation helps a child start the year with confidence. Thank you for making a difference! (fb)

MENDOTA—The public is invited to help make Mendota neighborhoods better at one of two trainings: 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, July 23rd and 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Saturday, July 26th both at 907 Washington Street, Mendota. There will be free sub sandwiches and water on July 23rd and free donuts and coffee on July 26th. An Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) representative and City of Mendota officials will be present to talk about a data collection project to help the City of Mendota with future housing planning and grants. Residents of all ages are invited to attend the training about how to collect housing data. This process may result in increased housing options by helping communities to minimize barriers of access to housing development tools. This data could lead to future state and federal housing grants in Mendota. The event is hosted by the City of Mendota and IHDA. Possible outcomes from this work include more affordable housing, more senior living options, more home and apartment options for residents and identifying Mendota’s housing needs and goals. Register to attend: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Mendotahousing or calling Mendota’s Grant Manager Ali Braboy at abraboy@mendotacity.com or call her at City Hall at 815-539-7459. For questions, call or email Braboy. Learn more about the IHDA program by visiting https://www.ihda.org/developers/market-research/community-revitalization/ (fb)