PARK FOREST — To show appreciation to health-care workers and support local businesses at the same time, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) and United Way of Kankakee and Iroquois Counties are announcing Project Full Circle, which will provide health-care workers with gift certificates to local restaurants.

Each donation of $10 provides a $10 gift card from a local restaurant to feed one frontline hero.

“Many of these selfless folks are working very irregular hours in order to keep us all safe,” Joyce said. “The least we can do is make sure they have access to hot meals when they get a chance to rest.”

Gift cards will be purchased from local restaurants that are members of the Kankakee Chamber of Commerce and given to health-care workers at Riverside Healthcare, AMITA St. Mary's Hospital, Shapiro Developmental Center and the Kankakee Health Department. 

“While COVID-19 brings new and greater challenges for many of us, our community has an opportunity to show unity, solidarity and humanity,” United Way of Kankakee and Iroquois counties Executive Director Kerstin Rust said. “Through small acts of generosity, we can support health-care workers who put themselves in high-risk situations to keep our community healthy. They take care of us. Now, let us take care of them.”

To donate please visit: https://www.myunitedway.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=14

KANKAKEE – State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) visited Nucor Steel while they are in the middle of an expansion that will add 100 full-time, permanent positions.

“Nucor is an important part of our community that provides many good-paying jobs,” Joyce said. “I want young people to know that trade jobs are always a great option to build a career.”

Sen. Joyce also spoke to workers about how he is proud to know that establishments like Nucor help the community’s economy. 

SPRINGFIELD – Future Farmers of America visited State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) on Agriculture Day.

Future Farmers of America travel to Springfield every year to talk to their elected officials about legislation that would help future farmers.

“I was once an FFA student. It taught me so many valuable lessons that I still hold and apply to my life as a farmer and state senator,” Joyce said.

SPRINGFIELD – As the heat of summer approaches, some kids are working to make a little bit of cash mowing lawns, babysitting or establishing a lemonade stand outside their home.

Hayli Martinez an 11-year-old girl from Kankakee, had the perfect idea last summer to sell lemonade with different flavors in order to earn money for her college funds.

However, after much success, her lemonade stand was flagged by Kankakee Health Department officials and it was shut down soon after.

“My lemonade stand is a dream I shared with my grandma before she passed away. She always told me to make lemonade out of lemons, so I did,” Hayli said. “When my lemonade stand was shut down I became very upset. I asked myself, ‘Why me?’ I didn’t do anything wrong.”

To prevent other kids from losing their lemonade stands, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) introduced Hayli’s Law.

Soon after Sen. Joyce heard the story from a concerned constituent, he knew he had to take the issue to Springfield.