Established 1980

The Orland Park Police Department’s late summer bike ride to benefit Special Olympics Illinois returns Sunday, August 30. The ride begins and ends at Fattie’s Pub located at 14420 John Humphrey Drive.

Check-in and registration begins at 6:30 a.m. and the ride begins at 7:30 a.m. The ride is open to those ages 12 and up. Cost is $25 per person and all proceeds benefit Special Olympics Illinois.

Pre-registration is available until Friday, August 28. Register online at https://do.nr/wh2ph or in person utilizing the form obtainable from the Village Hall, the Police Station, and from the Village’s website at https://bit.ly/2OLb7g1.

“The police department bike ride is a great event – it’s a beautiful ride through Orland Park and nearby forest preserves and for a great cause,” said Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau.

Full Story available in the Orland Township Messenger

Orland Township will hold a free, drive-thru grocery distribution for Township residents who are experiencing financial hardship since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, according to the office of Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady.

The Township Food Pantry will have 500 boxes packed with perishable and non-perishable grocery items and a gift card to a local grocery store. Proof of residency is required.

“Orland Township provided more than 2,000 families with boxes of non-perishable food items, fresh produce, meat, bakery items, water, paper towels, toilet paper and more during previous distributions,” said Supervisor O’Grady. “We are able to continue providing these essential items to our neighbors in need because of the wonderful and generous response by so many individuals and local organizations. We can’t thank you all enough for your caring and commitment to the community.”

The distribution will again operate as a drive-thru. Residents must show identification with proof of residency and are asked to stay in their vehicles and wear a mask when interacting with Township staff and volunteers. 

Orland Township’s grocery distribution is scheduled for Friday, August 21, at Orland Township, 14807 S. Ravinia Ave., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until boxes last. Only one box per address.

To enable the Food Pantry to continue to assist residents, the Township has created a Go Fund Me campaign to Stock the Pantry. Individuals wishing to make a donation can go to www.gofundme.com/f/orland-township-food-donation-drive to make a donation.

Orland Township will also accept in-person donations during the Food Pantry’s regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Non-perishable items in demand include: canned fruit, pasta sauce, tuna, broth, cereal, dry potato mix, dry stuffing mix, cake mix and macaroni and cheese.

For more information, please call the Township at 708-403-4222, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Full Story available in the Orland Township Messenger

After holding several highly attended grocery distributions, Orland Township is asking for community assistance in restocking the shelves of the Food Pantry, according to the office of Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady.

During each of the distribution events, the Township Food Pantry gave out more than 500 boxes packed with perishable and non-perishable grocery items, cases of water, paper towels, toilet paper and gift cards to residents in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, due to unprecedented food demand because of skyrocketing unemployment amid the coronavirus pandemic, food donations go out as quickly as they come into the pantry. Additionally, grocery store donations to the Township Food Pantry have dropped in recent weeks. In order to keep up with demand in this time of uncertainty, Orland Township is asking residents who are able to donate non-perishable food items.

“We were very fortunate to be able to assist so many families during this difficult time,” said Supervisor O’Grady. “We need to be able to keep assisting residents, so we are asking those in the community who are able, to donate to the food pantry so we can help residents keep food on their tables.”

Non-perishable items are needed. Those items include: boxed stuffing, cake mix, boxed/canned broth, canned chicken, canned fruit, canned tuna, cereal, dry potatoes, jelly, mac and cheese, pasta, pasta sauce, peanut butter, rice, soup, and grocery store gift cards.

Residents can also donate to the Food Pantry through a GoFundMe campaign to Stock the Pantry at www.gofundme.com/f/orland-township-food-donation-drive.

The Orland Township Food Pantry drive-thru donation drive will be held Friday, July 31 at Orland Township, 14807 S. Ravinia Ave., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

For more information, call 708-403-4222, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. 

Full Story available in the Orland Township Messenger

Twenty-two Orland Township students received funds for their first year in college.

Nearly 100 students applied and after a meticulous review process, 22 students were awarded scholarships in amounts ranging from $500 to $2,000. Students were chosen based on a combination of their leadership skills, dedication to community service, academic focus, participation in extracurricular activities, recommendations from school representatives, volunteer supervisors and/or employers, and their answers to the assigned essay question.

“The Orland Township Scholarship Foundation is proud to present these very deserving students with scholarship funds to start their college careers,” said Orland Township Supervisor and Scholarship Foundation President Paul O’Grady. 

Full Story available in the Orland Township Messenger