NAPERVILLE – To show appreciation for all of their hard work, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) is collecting Valentine’s Day cards to be distributed to health care workers in the community.

“Over the last two years, our health care workers have gone above and beyond the call of duty to protect our community,” Ellman said. “This is a great opportunity for us to offer care and support to our neighbors who have cared for and supported us, and who have been carrying the weight of this pandemic on their backs.”

Ellman is encouraging churches, schools and community members of all ages across the 21^st District to write Valentine’s Day cards, which can be dropped off at drive-by drop-off events on Feb. 5 and 6. Once all cards have been collected, they will be delivered to various local health care facilities.

Cards can be dropped off at the following locations:

Parking lot of Fresh Thyme Naperville
790 Royal Saint George Drive, Naperville
Saturday, Feb. 5, 10-11 a.m.

Parking lot of Mariano's Wheaton
625 S. Main Street, Wheaton
Sunday, Feb. 6, 4-5 p.m.

Ellman’s office can be reached at 630-601-9961 with questions.

NAPERVILLE – On Monday, Jan. 17, Illinois will be celebrating Muhammad Ali Day for the first time, thanks to a resolution sponsored by State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville).

“Muhammad Ali set a fantastic example for us all by showing how to be dedicated to our passions and courageous in our convictions,” Ellman said. “Through both his athletic career and his philanthropic work, he spent a lifetime working for the betterment of society as a whole.”

Ali was well known for his successful career as a professional boxer. In his 21 year career, he won the Olympic Gold Medal and the heavy weight title three times, earning him the title “America’s Champ.”

Outside of the ring, Ali was a dedicated philanthropist who was known to have deliberate conversations with those holding opposing views as a means to unite people from all walks of life. He also worked with the Special Olympics and the Make a Wish Foundation, and assisted at local soup kitchens and hospitals.

“Ali truly was a champion, both in the ring and outside of it,” Ellman said. “He left behind a legacy that we are proud to commemorate here in Illinois.”

Ali was a devoted Muslim who worked to show the world that Islam means peace, and he credited his faith for giving him the courage to stand up against injustices worldwide. Even after retiring from the ring and being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Ali remained dedicated to his work as a global humanitarian and ambassador of goodwill.

This year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day also falls on Jan. 17, offering Illinoisans the opportunity to celebrate two American champions of civic justice, and to remember and perpetuate their courage and hope for a better world for all.

NAPERVILLE – State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) is reminding Illinois drivers they now have an additional three months to renew their licenses.  

“Doing our part to reduce transmission of COVID-19 means staying home and staying safe when we can,” Ellman said. “Utilizing online and remote services when they’re available is the safest option, and usually the most hassle-free way to get things accomplished.”

Secretary of State Jesse White’s office announced that expiration dates for driver’s licenses and ID cards have been extended to March 31, 2022, with the exception of commercial driver’s licenses. The extension comes as secretary of state offices across Illinois continue to get caught up following COVID-19-related closures to their daily operations.   

To cut down on long lines and wait times, Ellman encourages people to take advantage of the secretary of state’s online services at ilsos.gov. These services include:  

• Renewing a vehicle registration;  
• Applying for a vehicle title and registration;  
• Obtaining a duplicate driver’s license or ID card;  
• Obtaining a driving record abstract;  
• Renewing a standard driver’s license with the Safe Driver Renewal program.  

The secretary of state’s office can be reached via phone as well, at 800-252-8980. People calling are advised to listen carefully to all menu options, and to select menu option 8 to speak to a representative if they don’t have their registration ID or PIN on hand.

Ellman is also reminding residents the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has extended the federal REAL ID deadline to May 3, 2023. Current Illinois driver’s licenses or ID cards will continue to be accepted at airports, military bases and secure federal facilities.   

More information and online services, including license plate renewal, can be found at ilsos.gov.  

DOWNERS GROVE – Following a month-long donation drive, State Senators Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) and Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) dropped off more than 325 purses full of personal care items to the Downers Grove Community Center.

“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all the members of our community who took the time to make a donation in support of our neighbors in need,” Ellman said. “Especially around the holidays, it’s important to remind survivors of domestic abuse that there’s a whole community behind them.”

The drive was held through #LovePurse, an initiative that collects purses filled with personal care items, toiletries, menstrual products and notes of encouragement to distribute to women in need and survivors of domestic violence.

“When neighbors are experiencing hardship, generosity from community members is critical to building a lasting support network,” Glowiak Hilton said. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you all for your donations and for helping us uplift survivors of domestic violence.”

At the time of the drop off, nearly 150 purses had already been donated to the community center, bringing the total to just shy of 475. The purses will be distributed to those in need throughout the holiday season and into the new year.