Shining hope. Sharing love. Strengthening community.
Sunshyne Box Community Inc. uplifts individuals and families through community outreach, resource sharing, compassionate programs, transportation support, veteran connections, and youth development.
Everyone deserves a little sunshine.
Sunshyne Box Community Inc. is committed to uplifting individuals and families through community outreach, resource sharing, and compassionate programs that inspire hope, healing, and belonging.
The mission is to empower and support people by connecting community members with valuable resources, services, and opportunities. Together, Sunshyne Box is building stronger communities, creating meaningful connections, and spreading sunshine one person, one family, and one act of kindness at a time.
Support for every generation.
Sunshyne Box brings community members together through practical support, referrals, education, leadership development, outreach, and service.
Youth Development
Mentorship, life skills, educational support, leadership, creativity, career readiness, and positive community engagement through C.U.Z.I.N.S.
Senior Transportation
Transportation support that promotes independence and access to essential appointments and activities.
Veteran Support
Resources, information, referrals, and peer-led group conversations that foster connection, encouragement, and mutual support.
Family Support
Connections to local services, practical information, educational opportunities, and resources supporting family stability.
Community Outreach
Events, workshops, volunteer projects, donation campaigns, partnerships, and activities that strengthen community relationships.
Resource Sharing
A practical starting point for food, housing, utility, clothing, transportation, benefit, and referral information.
C.U.Z.I.N.S.
Cultivating Unity & Zeal While Investing in the Next-Generation's Success
A 48-week experience of connected learning, mentorship, hands-on projects, and age-appropriate preparation for school, work, adulthood, enterprise, and community leadership.
Ages 7–10
Ages 11–14
Ages 15–18
Ages 19–24
Real-Life Leadership
- Strengths, confidence, and resilience
- Goals and time management
- Communication and conflict resolution
- Money basics and career readiness
- Leadership, digital citizenship, and entrepreneurship
- Community-impact planning
Final product: Personal Success Plan and Community-Impact Proposal
Arts, Creativity & Culinary
- Visual art and creative identity
- Storytelling, spoken word, music, and theater
- Design thinking and creative problem-solving
- Culinary safety, nutrition, and recipe creativity
- Baking science, food styling, and branding
- Creative enterprise and showcase
Final product: Creative Portfolio, Performance, Culinary Product, or Enterprise Concept
STEM & Digital Innovation
- Scientific thinking and engineering
- Technology as a creative tool
- Media literacy and source evaluation
- Responsible artificial intelligence
- Environmental awareness and community research
- Youth voice, civic participation, and prototyping
Final product: Innovation Portfolio and Youth Community Solution
Career, Enterprise & Impact
- Education, training, and career pathways
- Networking, résumé, portfolio, and personal brand
- Workplace readiness and customer service
- Advanced budgeting and social enterprise
- Project management and community partnerships
- Capstone, professional feedback, and graduation
Final product: Capstone Portfolio, Presentation, and Transition Plan
How growth is measured
Participants build one portfolio throughout the year. Growth is reviewed through a baseline profile, weekly products and reflections, progress conferences, level showcases, portfolio reviews, a year-end capstone, and a transition plan.
Community Bulletin Board
Upcoming events, seasonal programs, youth activities, volunteer opportunities, and community announcements from the uploaded flyers. Contact each organizer for current availability, registration, and updates.
Power Dad Walk
A community walk and talk focused on taking action, camaraderie, fatherhood, power building, and universal childcare.
Time: 1:00–3:00 PM
Location: Washington Park, Chicago
YEDC Economic Resource Building Event
A community thrift-shop giveaway at 310 W. 75th St., Chicago, from noon to 6:00 PM. The flyer invites volunteer support for setup, tables, giveaway monitoring, cleanup, and breakdown. It states that volunteers receive $20 and one large construction bag of thrift-shop items.
Contact: 312-515-8504
yedcenter@gmail.com
Gately Park Open
Indoor track-and-field competition open to sprinters, jumpers, throwers, and distance runners.
Doors open: 8:00 AM
Event begins: 10:00 AM
Location: Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center
Sunshine Gospel Ministries Familyhood Programs
Programs for families in Woodlawn, Washington Park, and beyond include Families, Activities & Meals; Women of Virtue; Taking the 40 Developmental Assets Home; Your Money Matters; Raising Highly Capable Kids; 7 Traits of Effective Parenting; Building Men; Free Space life coaching; and a Mental Health Initiative.
Contact: La Toya Burkhalter
773-904-9800 ext. 131
latoya@sunshinegospel.org
Woodson Regional Library Children's Programs
Programs include Artist Studio, preschool art and reading, Nature & Garden Club, Beginning Readers Book Club, Resistance Reading, Tween Food Lab, Stage Prop Workshop, comic-art workshops, Family Craft Night, Gamer's Afternoon, and weekly Teacher in the Library homework help.
Location: 9525 S. Halsted St., Chicago
Phone: 312-747-6900
Soldiers' Angels Treats for Troops
Donate excess Halloween candy for distribution to troops and veterans. The flyer directs donors to the Soldiers' Angels website for participating donation locations.
Illinois Resources
Programs, benefit updates, training opportunities, and family supports included in the uploaded Illinois resource files. Always confirm eligibility and current requirements directly with the administering agency.
Illinois SNAP & Medicaid Changes
A new federal law affects SNAP and Medicaid in Illinois. The uploaded materials state that SNAP changes began in May 2026 and Medicaid changes begin in January 2027.
SNAP Changes
The uploaded notice says certain able-bodied adults without dependents, ages 18–64, may need to complete 80 hours in one month of work, school, job training, volunteering, or a combination, or earn the stated minimum monthly income.
Some SNAP households must renew every six months. Exemptions listed in the uploaded notice include pregnancy, certain caregiving responsibilities, inability to work, participation in treatment, and other qualifying circumstances.
IDHS: 1-800-843-6154
Medicaid Work and Renewal Rules
Beginning January 1, 2027, ACA Adults generally ages 19–64, without Medicare and without a dependent child under 18 in the home, may be subject to work requirements and six-month renewals.
The uploaded materials say qualifying activity may include income, school or technical training, paid work, education, community service, volunteering, or job training. Listed exemptions include pregnancy or postpartum status, Medicare, certain caregiving roles, former foster youth, disability or special medical needs, treatment participation, and other qualifying circumstances.
HFS: 1-877-805-5312
Update Your Illinois Benefits Case
- Use ABE and select Manage My Case to update contact information.
- Watch for letters and respond promptly to state notices.
- Report changes in income, household members, or other case information.
- Keep documentation of qualifying activities and possible exemptions.
Volunteer Opportunities That May Count
The uploaded IDHS material says volunteering can help meet applicable SNAP work requirements. Serve Illinois Galaxy Digital allows users to search for flexible volunteer opportunities in their area and across Illinois.
Better Birth Outcomes Navigation Program
Centers for New Horizons provides personalized support for pregnant and parenting families in Chicago. Supports listed in the uploaded flyer include one-on-one assistance, pregnancy and child-development education, nutrition information, health-appointment scheduling assistance, safe-pregnancy practices, and guidance on preparing the home for a baby.
Service area noted in the flyer: Chicago.
BBO-N Program: 773-357-4343
TeachUp Program
TeachUp combines Child Development Associate classroom training with paid, hands-on early childhood work experience. The uploaded flyer describes a 32-week program with 120 hours of unpaid classroom training over eight weeks and 480 hours of paid work experience over 24 weeks.
Entry requirements listed: age 18–24, high school diploma or GED with documentation, and a TABE score of 6.0.
The paid experience is offered in a center-based early childhood setting serving children from birth to 36 months, up to 20 hours per week, with no holiday pay.
Important: This section summarizes the uploaded program and benefit notices. Program availability, eligibility, deadlines, and benefit rules may change. Use the official links and phone numbers above for current guidance about an individual case.
Cook County Resources by Neighborhood and Area
Use the neighborhood and regional headings below to find food, rent, utilities, clothing, GED, mental-health, veteran, senior, and transportation support. Call before visiting because hours, funding, eligibility, and service boundaries can change.
211 Metro Chicago
Free, confidential resource navigation for Chicago and suburban Cook County, available 24 hours a day. Search for food, clothing, education, housing, rent, utilities, mental health, senior services, veteran services, and transportation by ZIP code.
Bridgeport and Near South Side
Bridgeport Child Development Center
Now enrolling. Full-day, year-round early learning for children ages 2–5. The uploaded flyer lists Head Start preschool and toddler care in a play-based setting, with meals included and a focus on school readiness and social-emotional growth.
Neighborhood Resource Search
Use 211 Metro Chicago and enter the Bridgeport ZIP code to locate nearby food, clothing, rent, utility, mental-health, senior, veteran, education, and transportation services.
City of Chicago Neighborhoods
Chicago Mental Health Services
Chicago Department of Public Health mental-health centers provide outpatient services for adults, children, and adolescents, including screening, therapy, case management, and medication management. The City states that services are free for Chicago residents unable to pay.
Greater Lawn referral hub: 312-747-1020
Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs
Resource navigation for Chicago veterans and family members, with connections to benefits, veteran organizations, employment information, and other support.
Chicago Adult Learning Directory
The Chicago Public Library maintains a neighborhood list of GED, high-school-equivalency, adult literacy, tutoring, and English-language programs across Chicago.
North and Northwest Chicago
Neighborhood options listed by Chicago Public Library include Centro Romero in Edgewater, Hanul Family Alliance in North Park, Wright College in Dunning, Truman College in Uptown, and other adult-learning providers.
South and Southwest Chicago
City Colleges adult-education locations serving the South and Southwest Side include Kennedy-King College in Englewood, Richard J. Daley College in West Lawn, and Olive-Harvey College on the Far South Side.
Cook County Health Resource Hub
Connects Cook County residents with free or low-cost health care, insurance information, food assistance, housing support, and other everyday resources.
Southland: Harvey, Dolton, Calumet City, Park Forest and Nearby Communities
St. Irenaeus Food Pantry
Call before visiting to confirm current hours and ZIP-code service area.
First Wesley Academy UMC
Food support listed for the Harvey area. Call to confirm schedule and eligibility.
Thornton Township
Township resources include food banks, rental-assistance information, transportation, youth and family services, and referrals to local welfare programs.
American Association of Single Parents
Food support is listed for Dolton and Calumet City. The resource listing also identifies commodity boxes for eligible Cook County residents age 60 or older.
West and Southwest Suburbs: Summit, La Grange, Cicero and Nearby Communities
BEDS Plus Summit Service Center
Walk-in support for people facing homelessness includes food and basic supplies, shelter screening, case management, housing navigation, and possible homelessness-prevention assistance.
BEDS Plus Support Connections
BEDS Plus serves South and West Suburban Cook County and connects clients with mental-health care, medical care, employment help, transportation, benefits support, and veteran housing and service connections.
CEDA
CEDA serves Cook County with utility-bill assistance, housing-related services, employment training, and other family support programs. Contact CEDA to find the appropriate intake site.
Pace ADA Paratransit
Reduced-fare paratransit transportation is available for approved eligible riders with disabilities. Call to learn about the application and eligibility process.
Cook Countywide Support
AgeOptions
Connects older adults and caregivers in suburban Cook County with information, resources, and service options.
Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County
County resource for veterans and eligible family members seeking information about assistance and veteran services.
Housing Authority of Cook County
Information about affordable housing and rental-assistance programs for eligible Cook County households.
Catholic Charities
Serves Chicago and surrounding suburbs with food, rental assistance, counseling, and other family support. Assistance is not limited by religious identity.
Search 211 by ZIP Code
Because clothing closets, food pantries, transportation programs, and emergency funds vary by neighborhood and availability, use 211 Metro Chicago to identify the closest open provider.
Important: Neighborhood programs can limit service by ZIP code, township, age, household income, disability, veteran status, or funding availability. Contact each provider before traveling and use 211 for the closest currently available option.
Community Resource Guide
Help with food, rent, utilities, clothing, household items, transportation, benefits, and referrals.
Apply or request help online
Call before traveling. Hours, funding, service areas, eligibility, and document requirements can change.
United Way of Livingston County
United Way of Livingston County brings community organizations together and supports local programs serving Livingston County.
210 N. Plum St., Pontiac, IL 61764
815-844-9054
Director@uwlivco.org
Who is ALICE? ALICE means Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. ALICE describes working community members whose income does not cover basic essentials and who may have no safety net during a crisis.
United Way Agency Directory
ADV/SAS - Safe Journeys
815-844-0982
American Red Cross
815-692-3107
Boys & Girls Club of Livingston County, Fairbury-Pontiac
815-842-3089
Child Protection Network
309-888-5656
Futures Unlimited
815-842-1122
Heartland Head Start
815-842-2845
Hope Center of Livingston County
815-842-2484
LIFE Center for Independent Living
815-844-1132
Livingston County Commission on Children and Youth
815-844-7708
Prairie State Legal Services
309-827-5021
OSF Healthcare Senior Nutrition
217-345-1800
Pontiac Salvation Army
815-844-5005
SHOW BUS Public Transportation
800-525-2454
Dwight and Livingston County Assistance Resources
211 Illinois
Local referrals for food, shelter, rent, utility help, transportation, and other needs.
Call 211 • Text ZIP to 898211
Open online help formDwight Salvation Army
Contact: Chris Hansen
Text messages preferred.
Mid Central Community Action
Contact the Pontiac office about currently available housing counseling, homelessness resources, and rent or mortgage programs. This listing does not identify Mid Central Community Action as a utility-assistance provider.
309-829-0691
Open contact formSalvation Army 360 Life Center - Pontiac
Community food pantry, clothing and affordable home goods, plus possible rent or utility assistance for qualifying hardships.
815-844-5005
Program detailsDwight Food Pantry
Hours: 4th Wednesday each month, 1:00–2:00 PM.
Eligibility: Dwight residents; first visit requires a form and proof of residency.
Information: 815-584-1830
Dwight Micro Pantry
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Take food as needed; no application requirement is published.
Information: 815-584-1830
St. Peter's Lutheran Church Food Bags
First Monday each month unless the Monday is a holiday. Call for schedule and distribution time.
Program: 303-638-2490 • Church: 815-584-1199
Midwest Christian Food Pantry
Call to confirm current enrollment, schedule, availability, and required documents.
815-584-3182
St. Mary's Food Pantry
Food pantry with a clothing room. Call to confirm current hours and eligibility.
815-844-3663
Illinois Department of Human Services
Apply for SNAP food benefits, cash assistance, and medical assistance online or by phone.
1-800-843-6154
Apply through ABE IllinoisHelp Illinois Families / LIHEAP
State energy-bill assistance. Apply online and confirm current eligibility and funding.
1-833-711-0374
Request servicesLivingston County Housing Authority
Ask about public housing, rental assistance programs, application information, and current waitlist status.
815-844-6013
Habitat for Humanity of Livingston County
Ask about homeownership or repair opportunities and whether household-item resources are available.
815-796-4466
Local Habitat contactLivingston County Regional Planning Office
Call for ride-assistance information, including transportation needs related to medical appointments.
815-844-7741
Livingston County Veterans Assistance Commission
For eligible Livingston County veterans and families, temporary emergency help may include food, rent, utilities, and transportation to VA medical care.
815-844-7378
Commission informationBefore you call or apply
- Have photo identification and proof of Livingston County address ready.
- For rent or utility help, gather the lease, current bill, shutoff or eviction notice, and proof of household income.
- Ask whether funds are available, who qualifies, and whether an appointment is needed.
- If one program cannot help, request a referral and call 211.
Choose where your donation makes an impact.
Support Sunshyne Box Community Inc. community programs or invest directly in the C.U.Z.I.N.S. Youth Program. Each button opens the secure Zeffy donation form in a new tab.
Donate to Sunshyne Box Community Inc.
Support community outreach, resource sharing, family support, senior transportation, veteran connections, and community programming.
Donate to Sunshyne BoxDonate to C.U.Z.I.N.S.
Invest in youth leadership, life readiness, creativity, education, career preparation, mentorship, and community impact.
Donate to C.U.Z.I.N.S.Other Ways to Help
Partner, sponsor, volunteer, share professional knowledge, or help connect families with useful opportunities and resources.
Explore Ways to HelpEnroll, partner, sponsor, volunteer, or donate.
Families, schools, businesses, churches, organizations, and community members are invited to help build stronger opportunities and connections.
Enroll
Request information about C.U.Z.I.N.S. programming for youth and young adults.
Enrollment InformationPartner
Explore school, nonprofit, business, church, or community partnership opportunities.
Become a PartnerVolunteer or Sponsor
Contribute time, knowledge, supplies, participant experiences, or financial support.
Let’s strengthen the community together.
Contact Sunshyne Box Community Inc. about community resources, youth enrollment, partnerships, sponsorships, volunteer opportunities, workshops, transportation support, or upcoming activities.