Walking the Walk and Compassion for Campers Update for February 13, 2026

Crystal Lake Central High School and other students staged an ICE Out! walk out and march through downtown neighborhoods on Monday.

Look for new opportunities for action, education, community, and solidarity in and around McHenry County here every week.  

  Walking the Walk 

ICE Out!—Kudos to students from Crystal Lake Central High joined other youth in Chicago and the burbs with a walkout and march through downtown neighborhoods.  It was peaceful here, but three students were roughed up and arrested by Aurora police. 

Early voting in the March Primary started on February 5, at the McHenry County Election Center, 410 South Eastwood Drive, Woodstock and will expand on March 2 to satellite sites.  The sample ballots will not be available on the County Clerk’s site until March 2, but if you get a Vote-By-Mail ballot, you will have all the candidates before you and can do the research.  Remember—voting is an act of active resistance.  Vote your conscience and morals.  Help save democracy.  

McHenry County NOW 2nd Annual Black History Celebration Event—Thursday, February 19, at 6:00 pm at the Cary Area Public Library, 1606 Three Oaks Road.  “The evening will feature a compelling documentary followed by an engaging group discussion exploring Black history. This is a chance to learn together, share perspectives, and strengthen our community through conversation.”  Register here: https://mchenryconow-celebrates-black-history.eventbrite.com  

Third No Kings nationwide protest sponsored by a broad coalition that includes Indivisible, 50:1:50, and scores of other organizations calls for its third big national action on March 28.  “In 2025, millions of Americans came together in nonviolent protest to oppose the growing authoritarian actions of the Trump administration and affirm that this nation belongs to its people, not to kings. The No Kings Coalition is activating an immediate and ongoing nationwide digital organizing effort leading up to our next mass mobilization on March 28, including a flagship event in the Twin Cities.” 

Compassion for Campers 

Compassion for Campers is at Community Resource Days at Willow Crystal Lake, 100 South Main Street on the first and third Friday of every month from 10 am to 2 pm. C4C is one of over 25 agencies at Willow.  C4C’s next distribution will be Friday, February 20, and then Friday, March 6.  Please come and see what we are doing.  

The prolonged February thaw means more folk sleeping out all or part of the time.  C4C served the largest number of unhoused and underhoused people since last November on February 6.  

Compassion for Campers will be hard pressed to resupply many and accommodate new commers who continue to be displaced from their homes and apartments.  New clients and shifting needs mean rain ponchos, tarps and sleeping pads, hand warmers, and Mylar blankets are in demand.  We can always use donations of supplies like clean and serviceable tents and sleeping bags in original bags for easy transport, clean blankets, tabletop grills, wrapped toilet paper and paper towels, and non-perishable food.  Money donations are always welcome.     

We need people to share leadership tasks including shopping, transportation, acknowledging donations, coordinating with other agencies, and religious groups. These tasks can take a few hours a week.  People with flexible schedules with some day-time availability are ideal candidates.  A good way to start is to volunteer for our distribution a time or two to see if we are a good fit and stir your passion for justice and service.  Interested?  Email compassionforcampers@treeoflifeuu.org