🌱 Food Aid Festival 2023 + Community Grants Program Halted For 1 Year

Hey, everybody! It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Oak Park-River Forest Patch newsletter. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

An afternoon thunderstorm. High: 84 Low: 66.

Here are the top three stories today in Oak Park-River Forest:

1. The Food Aid Festival 2023, a two-day event bridging Forest Park and Oak Park, will combat food insecurity with live music and diverse food vendors. Hosted by Katherine Valleau of Exit Strategy Brewing Company and Donnie Biggins, the festival's first day on Aug. 26 will feature music and food at Exit Strategy, while the second day on Aug. 27 at Scoville Park will include local musicians and a food insecurity panel discussion. Both venues will raise funds for Unity Fridges, the Austin Eats Initiative, and the Westchester Food Pantry through ticket sales, vendor donations, and brewery contributions. You can make donations and purchase tickets here. (Forest Park Review)
2. The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation is temporarily halting its Community Grants program for a year to assess and reshape its grant processes in line with its revised mission. This interruption applies exclusively to the Community Grants initiative, while other funding avenues like scholarships, donor-advised funds, and giving groups will persist. The pause, influenced by community feedback and a recent Community Voices report, aims to reboot the program in 2024 with a renewed focus on promoting racial justice and equity in Oak Park, River Forest, and neighboring regions. (Wednesday Journal)
3. The Dr. William Fitzsimmons Public Health Award was recently given to four local organizations and two individuals for their significant contributions to the health and well-being of Oak Park residents. Named after the former Oak Park Health Department's medical consultant, Fitzsimmons, who volunteered his services to the community, the 2023 awardees include the Park District of Oak Park's Cheney Mansion staff, the Collaboration for Early Childhood, Live4Lali, the Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce, and individuals Alicia Chastain and Kelly O’Connor. Learn more about this year's winners here. (Village of Oak Park, Illinois via Facebook)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

Wednesday, August 9

• Shake, Rattle & Read At Scoville Park (10:00 AM)
• Social Awareness Exhibition At Oak Park Art League (1:00 PM)
• MHS Clothing DIY At Main Library Middle School Space (2:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The River Forest Public Library is hosting a new contest with fidget poppers in the jar for kids up to fourth grade. Stop by the library to make your guess by visiting the Children's Room. (RIVER FOREST PUBLIC LIBRARY 📚 via Instagram)
• The Oak Park Police Department is reminding residents that leaving windows and patio doors open can unknowingly make you an easy target for burglars. Learn more about preventing a burglary here. (Village of Oak Park, Illinois via Facebook)
• Over the weekend, General Superintendent Arnold Randall and Forest Preserves staff marked five years of collaboration with the Little Calumet Underground Railroad Project at Beaubien Woods. They commemorated the occasion with a tour, starting and concluding at the site, which highlighted the nearby Ton Family Farm and other locations connected to the Freedom Seekers' journeys to escape slavery before the Civil War. The event celebrated the partnership's efforts to honor this history and the struggle for freedom. (Forest Preserve District of Cook County via Facebook)

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Featured businesses:

• Laura Ruiz, REALTOR® at REALTY OF CHICAGO — (Visit website)
• Laurie Christofano, Realtor | RE/MAX In The Village — (Visit Website)
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Featured events:

• Meet the Artist Series at @selleriaveneta Oak Park Isabelle Gougenheim Designs (August 10)
• Outdoor Concert With Swing Set Marks 45 Years Of Senior Living at Oak Park Arms (August 12)
• It's time to earn your graduate degree! (August 16)
• Bridal Event (August 19)
• Malnati Brain Tumor Institute Summer Rooftop Celebration (August 30)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with your next update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.