Grundy Reporter

Illinois state Rep. Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee) recently took to social media to inform her followers about a Thanksgiving food drive for Kankakee residents.

The drive is sponsoring Circuit Judge Marlow Jones and State’s Attorney Jim Rowe.

“I’m so proud to be helping Kankakee State’s Attorney Jim Rowe as a collection site for his Thanksgiving Food Drive!” Haas said in a recent Facebook post. “Please drop off non-perishable food items, baby formula and grocery gift cards at my office Monday-Friday 8:30-4:30 from now until November 18th!”

In addition to Haas’ office, other drop-off locations are Dollar General in St. Anne and Matt Waite State Farm in Bradley.

In recent weeks, Haas shared the news that the Illinois Department of Natural Resources could get millions from the federal Recovering America's Wildlife Act (RAWA).

"The Recovering America's Wildlife Act (RAWA) passed the U.S. House in June and has bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate," she said on Facebook, quoted by the Kankakee Times. "RAWA funds go towards the conservation of America's wildlife, fisheries, and habitats. Under the Wildlife Conservation Restoration Program, monies would be allocated directly to the states to manage our nation's threatened and endangered species and the natural areas they call home."

In a October Facebook post, Haas discussed her experience as an Executive fellow at the Erikson Institute.

“This program was inspiring and I am honored to have had this opportunity to learn, witness firsthand, and lend my own input to our early childhood education system,” she said in the post, quoted by the Times. “I am ready to continue working with these experts who have shed even more light on some of the biggest challenges in the early childhood system to do better for Illinois families and our youngest residents.”

Haas also recently attended the Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ceremony, which she said was “a humbling experience.”

“Last year, I had the honor of being the speaker at this ceremony, but I attended with my dad,” she wrote in an October Facebook post, quoted by the Times. “He dedicated his life to the fire service for 60 years. This year was a little more painful than I expected as I felt my dad’s absence; we still grieve his sudden passing earlier this year. Last year I spoke about growing up the daughter of a firefighter, and now being the wife of a firefighter - I understand dealing with the daily worry of a loved one’s safety and the risks involved with doing this work. I’m grateful I had to opportunity to directly participate in this event last year with my dad. Thank you Jim Rowe for giving me that blessing. Thank you to the firefighters who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our families and communities. Thank you to all of the firefighters who risk their lives on a daily basis to keep us all safe. And thank you to the families who share their loved ones at the risk of helping all of us each and every day. We will never forget."