Naperville resident receives U of I Master Gardener award
Naperville resident Jan Gricus was one of four DuPage County master gardeners honored at the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener Conference in Springfield.
Each year, Master Gardener Awards recognize volunteers who show leadership, innovation and community engagement, a news release said. Nominations are submitted in the categories of Outstanding, Teamwork and Sustained Excellence and reviewed by a state advisory committee.
Gricus received a 2025 Sustained Excellence Award.
The University of Illinois Extension noted Gricus in most years volunteers at least 200 hours to local master gardener projects.
Gricus was the recipient of an Outstanding Award in 2014 and has been a strong leader over the years, the news release said. At the Naperville Giving Garden, her leadership has increased food pantry donations to more than 1,000 pounds per year, the release said.
DuPage County master gardeners earning an Outstanding Award were Carol Burck of Hinsdale, Pat Miller of Westmont and Suzanna Viravec of Huntley.
DuPage County connecting residents with food programs
DuPage County is working to connect SNAP recipients with area food providers in response to the halt in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
More than 67,000 DuPage County residents who rely on SNAP to buy groceries could be affected by the stoppage, which began Saturday, Nov. 1, officials said.
Residents can call 211 or go to www.211DuPage.gov to locate food pantries in the area, County Board Chair Deborah Conroy said in a news release. Staff at 211 can also help residents who need assistance paying rent or their energy bills, the release said.
The 211 DuPage program connects people with local help for basic needs like housing, food and bills and has trained call specialists direct residents to services.
Resident wanting to donate or volunteer at a food pantry can contact Giving DuPage at www.GivingDuPage.org to get connected.
Loaves & Fishes Community Services, 1871 High Grove Lane, Naperville, can offer food assistance to residents in need. The pantry is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. For more information, go to www.loaves-fishes.org.
Other area pantries include Loaves & Fishes, 580 Exchange Court, Aurora; People’s Resource Center, 211 South Naperville Road, Wheaton; People’s Resource Center, 104 Chestnut Ave., Westmont; and West Suburban Community Pantry, 6809 Hobson Valley Drive, Unit 118, Woodridge.
For more information, go to www.dupagecounty.gov/food.
Naperville Bank & Trust received the “Best Friend of Illinois Parks” award from the Illinois Association of Park Districts after being nominated by the Naperville Park District. Among other things, the bank bought the naming rights for Wintrust Athletic Field at Knoch Park. (Naperville Park District)
Naperville Bank & Trust named Best Friend of Illinois Parks
The Illinois Association of Park Districts honored Naperville Bank & Trust with a “Best Friend of Illinois Parks” award at its recent gala.
The Naperville Park District nominated the Wintrust bank for the award because of its longstanding partnership and support, a district news release said. It was cited in the mid-sized category.
The Best Friend of Illinois Parks award is one of 10 given out by the Illinois Association of Park Districts every year, presented to businesses that have supported a local park district, forest preserve district, or conservation, recreation or special recreation agency.
According to the park district, the bank has supported the district through volunteerism and by serving as the sponsor of the Fee Assistance Program, which helps make recreation programs more accessible to residents in need. The bank also entered into a five-year agreement last year to name Knoch Park’s synthetic turf field as “Wintrust Athletic Field.”
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