Little Lanterns

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McHenry, IL
Little Lanterns

Little Lanterns is a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 bringing comfort + play to babies in NICUs, PICUs & early intervention. One little light at a time.

We deliver enrichment toys to support development, healing, and hope.

08/25/2026

Recently, your support has helped us provide things like:
✨ Fairy lights to make hospital rooms feel a little more comforting
🤸 Small trampolines to support therapy at home
💬 Therabands and a talker
🖐️ Sensory brushes
💛 Memory foam neck pillows to bring a little comfort to parents spending long hours in the NICU
🎶 Mobiles for our littlest recipients

These may seem like simple items, but to the families receiving them, they can mean comfort, progress, independence, connection, and one less thing to worry about.

If you’ve been looking for a way to help Little Lanterns, this is where we need you right now. Even a small monetary donation helps us say YES to the next family who reaches out.

💛 Donate today at:
www.littlelanternsil.org/donate

Thank you for helping us meet this growing need and continuing to keep the lanterns lit. ✨

08/20/2026

If you spot Little Lanterns out in the community with our Bubble Booth, we want you to stop by!

You don't have to know our story or have a connection to our mission. Maybe you just stopped because...BUBBLES. 🫧

That's a good enough reason for us!

We love seeing our community having fun at our Bubble Booth, and every tag and share also helps introduce Little Lanterns to someone new who may need our services or want to help us provide them.

So come for the bubbles, stay to say hello, and don't forget to tag us!

08/18/2026

Many of the toys, sensory tools, and developmental items we provide to children and families need batteries to workand we want them ready to use from the moment they reach a child’s hands.

You can help us stock up in two easy ways:

🔋 Purchase batteries directly from our Amazon Wishlist
💛 Make a monetary donation and we’ll purchase the batteries we need

👉 Donate or find our Amazon Wishlist here:
www.littlelanternsil.org/donate

It may seem like a small thing, but those batteries can power lights, sounds, movement, learning and plenty of smiles.

Help us keep the toys running and the lanterns lit!

08/11/2026

🫧 Chasing bubbles gets little bodies moving.
🫧 Watching them float helps build visual tracking skills.
🫧 Popping them encourages hand-eye coordination and motor planning.
🫧 Blowing bubbles can support breath control and oral motor development.
🫧 And maybe our favorite benefit... bubbles create moments of laughter, connection, and pure joy.

The best part? There are no age limits on smiling at bubbles. We've seen babies watch them in awe, toddlers race to pop them, older kids turn it into a game... and yes, we've caught plenty of adults trying to pop a few, too!

So if you see us at an event, don't be surprised if there's a bubble machine going, a volunteer with a wand in hand, and FREE bubbles to enjoy on your own.

Because sometimes the smallest things, like a bubble floating through the air, can create the biggest moments of happiness. 💛

08/07/2026

✨ For Caregivers & Families:
If you're caring for a child with developmental disabilities or complex needs, you are not alone. Little Lanterns provides sensory tools, adaptive supports, and essential items that can help reduce stress, encourage independence, and allow children to continue practicing important developmental skills at home. Every family is treated with dignity, compassion, and understanding because we know every journey is unique.

✨ For Professionals & Referral Partners:
We proudly partner with therapists, social workers, educators, medical providers, and community organizations. If you work with a family that could benefit from therapeutic tools and resources for home, we offer a simple, respectful, and family-centered referral process. Together, we can extend the support you're already providing beyond appointments and into everyday life.

Visit littlelanternsil.org to learn more about our programs and submit an inquiry.

Together, we can help light the way for more children and families.

08/04/2026

Today, we'd like to recognize our incredible Keep the Lanterns Lit supporters:

✨ Mountain Top Digital Design
✨ Prime Line Plumbing
✨ Happy Home & Office
✨ McHenry Bank & Trust
✨ Mindful Mini's Photography
✨ HealthMarkets – Santos Agency

Your monthly support allows Little Lanterns to continue providing comfort, developmental resources, and hope to children and families in NICUs, PICUs, and Early Intervention programs throughout our community.

We are truly grateful for your generosity and your commitment to helping us make a difference all year long. 💛

Want to become a Keep the Lanterns Lit Sponsor?

For just $150 per month, your business can make a lasting impact while partnering with a local nonprofit that's changing lives one child at a time.

As a monthly sponsor, you'll help provide consistent support that allows us to plan ahead, respond to needs quickly, and continue growing our programs throughout the year.

🌟 Join a community of businesses that believe every child deserves comfort, connection, and hope.

If you'd like to become a Keep the Lanterns Lit Sponsor, visit littlelanternsil.org or email [email protected]. We'd love to partner with you!

Together, we can keep the lanterns shining for the little ones who need them most!

07/30/2026

Little Lanterns wouldn't be what it is today without a group of passionate volunteers who share one mission: lighting the way for children and families during some of life's most challenging moments.

As we prepare for another 86 Days of Hope, we'd love to reintroduce the incredible Board of Directors who help guide our mission throughout the year.

✨ Megg – President & Founder
The heart behind Little Lanterns. Inspired by her son, Colin's NICU journey, Megg founded Little Lanterns to ensure other families feel supported, seen, and surrounded by hope. Her passion and dedication continue to light the way for everything we do.

✨ Brigid
Brigid brings compassion, advocacy, and a heart for helping others. Her commitment to serving families and strengthening our community helps Little Lanterns continue to grow and reach more children.

✨ Sally
A fellow NICU mom, Sally understands firsthand the emotions families experience during a hospital stay. Her personal connection to our mission fuels her passion for supporting parents and little ones when they need it most.

✨ Sean
Sean generously shares his time and talents behind the scenes, helping our organization continue moving forward while supporting events, projects, and the many details that keep Little Lanterns running.

✨ Adrienne
Adrienne brings kindness, creativity, and a servant's heart to everything she does. She is always willing to lend a helping hand to ensure our families and community feel supported using her background in Physical Therapy

✨ Jessica
Jessica helps share the Little Lanterns story through marketing, social media, merchandise, and community outreach, helping more families, donors, volunteers, and supporters discover our mission.

Together, we're more than a board—we're a team united by compassion, service, and the belief that even the smallest acts of kindness can create lasting hope.
We couldn't do it without you. 💛✨

07/28/2026

One message from the NICU team perfectly captured what your support meant:

"I've been thinking of you often as we continue to see your beautiful NICU donations in use. I wanted to extend our appreciation again for everything you shared with our NICU this January.

The 4moms are absolutely in use, and all the toys you donated are glowing on our freshly stocked supply shelf and at infant bedsides. They are bringing comfort, stimulation, and joy to so many families. Thank you again for your generosity and the heart you continue to pour into our community." 💛

This is why we do what we do.

Every toy, every sensory item, every donation becomes part of a family's story during one of the most challenging seasons of their lives.

Now, we're getting ready to do it all again.

We'll be announcing this year's nominated NICU this fall, and we can't wait to share this journey with you once again. Until then, keep following along, invite your friends to our page, and get ready to help us light the way for even more little ones and their families.

Together, we can make hope shine even brighter.

07/27/2026

FALL MINI SESSIONS ARE LIVE! Don't skip out, these are the MOST anticipated sessions of the year. With beautiful foliage, cozy weather, warm color schemes, & no bugs--it doesn't get any better!🍁

New this year, choose from THREE dates:
🧡10/11
🧡10/17
🧡10/18

Book here:
https://book.usesession.com/s/9U6A0VXW--

Address

4300 Pearl St Rd
McHenry, IL
60050

Website

http://littlelanternsil.org/

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