Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Rockford

12/22/2025

Thank you so much for having us! We loved being part of Metra’s North Pole Holiday Train at Millennium Station and sharing some creative fun with families. We’re grateful for the partnership and for Huntington National Bank’s support in making the button-making stations possible—it was such a joyful way to spread holiday cheer! 🎄✨

12/22/2025

12/22/2025

From all of us at Easterseals Serving Chicagoland & Greater Rockford, thank you for helping make this season so meaningful for the families we serve. 🧡

Across our region, our teams brought joy, connection, and support to life through so many holiday moments—Senior Leadership’s Rockin’ Road Trip; The Autism Program at Easterseals and our Rockford programs’ Pictures with Santa; Family Support Services’ Sensory Santa event; Teen Family Support's annual Holiday Party; our sponsorship of Rockford’s 2025 Festival of Lights; Early Learning Services’ Families First Holiday Drive; HB Threads at Metra’s Holiday Train Winter Wonderland; and winter programs and festivities across our Easterseals Academy campuses.

A heartfelt thank you to our staff and team members who organized and hosted these incredible opportunities, and to the partners and sponsors who helped make them possible, including Huntington National Bank, PNC, Metra, Illinois' Oregon Public Library, The Autism Program of Illinois, the Illinois Department of Human Services, Wheels by R.T., United Way of Rock River Valley, Townsquare Media, Rockford IceHogs, and every individual who donated toys, food, clothing, and household essentials for families in need.

Wishing you and yours a safe, warm, and happy holiday season. ✨

12/19/2025

We had an amazing time at Photos with Santa on December 13! 🎅✨

Co-hosted by our Rockford-area programs—The Autism Program at Easterseals, Family Support Services, Teen Family Support, and Easterseals Academy Machesney Park Campus—this festive celebration brought students, clients, and participants together for a day full of holiday cheer. 71 guests attended and enjoyed cookie decorating, crafts, a special visit (and gift!) from Santa, and of course—our friend the Grinch. 😄🎄

A heartfelt thank you to the Rockford IceHogs for donating teddy bears, making it possible for Santa to surprise every guest with a cuddly gift. 🧸🧡

Funding for this event was provided by The Autism Program of Illinois and the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this day so magical!

12/18/2025

Right now, rising needs and limited resources mean too many children with disabilities and families are waiting for support.

Currently, The Autism Program at Easterseals has roughly an 18-month waitlist for autism evaluations and support services. Your gift helps ensure more families can access the care that transforms lives—when it matters most.

Donate today: https://ow.ly/tK3r50XLGoc

12/17/2025

Thank you to Disparti Law Group, P.A. for your generous donation to support our programs—and for the incredible gift of a free billboard to help share our mission with the community!

We also appreciate your visit to our Easterseals Academy Chicago Campus and HB Threads to see the impact firsthand.

12/16/2025

12/15/2025

We are filled with gratitude after an incredible day supporting our Early Learning Services (ELS) program’s Families First Holiday Giving Campaign! 🎄🧡

Our ELS team, alongside amazing volunteers from PNC, packed holiday food kits and gift bundles for families in our Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

Thanks to the generous support of PNC Bank, we were able to provide toys and holiday meal ingredients for families across our programs.

We are also deeply grateful to everyone who donated food, toys, wrapping supplies, or contributed funds—you helped ensure that nearly 1,500 children and families will experience a magical, joy-filled holiday season.

A huge thank-you to our volunteers who spent the day sorting, organizing, and packing each care package. We couldn’t do this without you!

Together, we are making the holidays brighter for families across our community. 🧡✨

12/13/2025

We had an incredible time at Metra’s North Pole Winter Wonderland at Millennium Station this weekend! 🎄✨

HB Threads brought the holiday magic with free custom buttons for families—thanks to the generous support of Huntington Bank. Visitors stopped by their table to create their own festive buttons, meet our team, and share in the joy and creativity of the season.

Events like this shine a light on HB Threads' mission and our commitment to creating meaningful employment and inclusive opportunities for adults with disabilities.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by—and a huge thank-you to Metra and Huntington National Bank for making this festive experience possible! 🧡

12/12/2025

Our Family Support Services team, in partnership with the Oregon Public Library in Illinois, hosted our annual Sensory Santa event on December 6th—bringing an inclusive and joyful holiday experience to local families. 🎅✨

Fifteen children enjoyed private, low-stress visits with Santa, complete with a stuffed animal and a gift from Santa’s toy shop.

We love continuing this tradition that ensures every child can experience holiday magic in a way that feels welcoming, comfortable, and fun. 🧡

12/10/2025