Help us help veterans by hosting an Operation Dropbox site!

Written on March 11, 2025.

Sign your business or organization up to support Operation Dropbox

The McHenry County Department of Health is looking for a few good local organizations to help support the annual Operation Dropbox donation drive for veterans.

Now in its sixth year, Operation Dropbox places collection boxes at participating businesses, churches, governments and other organizations where people can donate goods to assist local veterans and their families.

And this year, our health department is joining forces with the Lake County Health Department to make Operation Dropbox bigger and better than ever! All goods collected during the May drive will be delivered to Veterans Path to Hope, in McHenry County, and to the Lake County Veterans and Family Services Foundation, in Lake County.

The deadline to sign up is Friday, April 4; click here to sign up a McHenry County location, and click here to sign up a Lake County location.

Last year, McHenry County collected more than 8,000 pounds of donations through a record 80 drop sites, supporting more than 3,000 county veterans. Let’s smash the records again this year!

McHenry County needs your help to secure broadband funding

Sparing a few minutes to take an online survey about your home or business internet can help secure federal funding to help bring fiber broadband internet to all of McHenry County.

The federal government has allocated $1.04 billion to Illinois to help connect underserved areas, and we at McH Thrive want to help make sure that McHenry County receives its fair share to get service out to our rural areas, especially portions of the county where previous surveys have shown a need.

Filling out the survey, regardless of where in the county you live, will help the state identify local need, which in turn improves our odds of receiving meaningful funding. To take the survey, click here; please connect to your internet router (i.e. Wi-Fi) to take the survey, which includes a speed test..

MCC Job and Internship Fair returning April 16

If you’re looking for a job or an internship, be sure to mark your calendar for the upcoming McHenry County College Job and Internship Fair on Wednesday, April 16.

The fair takes place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the college, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake. The event, free of charge and open to everyone regardless of whether you attend MCC, offers you the chance to connect with local employers looking to hire.

Whether you’re seeking full-time or part-time work, or an internship, come and bring copies of your resume. Organizers are also encouraging attendees to create a free account on the MCC Hire a Scot job website, which you can find here.

If you’re an area employer who would like to register to participate and find the perfect employees for your needs, click here.

Find local Spring Break fun with Naturally McHenry County

With Spring Break looming for McHenry County school districts, there’s one question on the minds of every parent – what are we going to do with our kids?

If you’re one of them, rest easy, because Naturally McHenry County has answers!

Its staff has compiled a list of unforgettable and fun spring activities for families, from outdoor movies and fun in the warming weather to indoor adventure parks, museums, and more.

You can check it out by clicking here.

It’s easy to get your boating safety certificate if you need one

Boating season is going to be here before you know it – and if you need a boating certificate, there’s still time to get one so you don’t miss out on any of the fun on the Fox River, Chain O’ Lakes and elsewhere.

In Illinois, people born since Jan. 1, 1998 must have a valid boating safety certificate from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in order to drive a motorboat with a 10-horsepower engine or greater. Fortunately, the Fox Waterway Agency hosts monthly courses from the US Coast Guard.

Upcoming dates for the class are March 15, April 19, May 17 and June 21; each class runs from 9 to 5 at the waterway agency, 45 S. Pistakee Lake Road, in Fox Lake. To register, click here; the cost is $40.

Classes are open to ages 12 and older and those prospective boaters who will turn 12 within 90 days after the class.

Illinois also allows people to take the course online through accredited online providers; you can find a list of them by clicking here.

Let’s get an early peek at McHenry County summer fun

With the days getting longer, and in honor of Daylight Savings Time kicking in, let’s give you an early taste of all the awesome summer fun McHenry County offers.

Whether you’re a lifelong resident or you’re just visiting, there’s something about summer that makes McHenry County come alive. There’s something for everyone, from one of the best slates of summer festivals in Illinois to our award-winning and nationally renowned farmers’ markets, our you-pick farms, and almost every outdoor pastime you can imagine.

Have no fear if you’re overwhelmed with a lot of summer fun and not enough summer in which to do it. Our friends at Naturally McHenry County maintain an awesome summer checklist, and you can find it here.

We hope you found this newsletter informative. If you’re not a subscriber, click here to join the McHenry County Government Constant Contact list.

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What is McH Thrive?

McH Thrive is a collaborative initiative being implemented by McHenry County and the McHenry County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC) in partnership with the McHenry County community, including cities and villages, businesses and residents.