On March 10, 2026, Kankakee County was hit with a devastating tornado and hail storm. Olivet Nazarene University experienced relatively minor damage to buildings and cars parked on campus, but some areas just a bit south and east of the campus had massive destruction, including multiple neighborhoods in Kankakee and Aroma Park, which were completely decimated. In the immediate aftermath, the greater community was quick to respond with donations, volunteerism and monetary support to help address crisis relief. However, the rebuilding and communal healing efforts will be ongoing for the foreseeable future.
Most Olivet students and faculty were on the University’s week-long spring break when the storm came through, but on their return, many were very responsive in contributing to community assistance. The following three stories are representative snapshots of just some of the disaster relief aid that was provided by Olivet students, faculty and staff.
Olivet’s Nursing Student Association (NSA) dropped off supplies to support the American Red Cross efforts. Anecdote from senior nursing student, Grace Foster.
“NSA is designed to support not only students in the nursing program, but also the community around us. After the tornado in March, we saw this as a meaningful way to use some of our funds to give back to those affected. We reached out to our American Red Cross representative to see what items were most needed, and she shared that diapers, personal care items, and cleaning supplies were in high demand. As a club, we donated diapers, individually packaged toothbrushes, and cleaning wipes to help meet those needs.
“When we arrived at the church drop-off location, it was filled with donations, which was really impactful to see a community come together during a difficult time. We hope these items are helpful, and as future nurses, we strive to care for people not only in the hospital but also through service like this.”
The women’s and men’s varsity golf teams assisted with cleaning up the Elk’s Golf Course in Aroma Park. Anecdote from sophomore, Paige Stoelzle.
“The Lady Tigers Golf Team went to the Elks Country Club to help pick up trash and other damage caused by the tornado that came in at the beginning of March. The Elks Country Club is a golf course about 15 minutes from the Kankakee and the Bourbonnais area. It used to be our home course but we still help them out since a lot of the locals know many of the players and the coaches on Olivet’s golf team. When we went to help pick up and clean the golf course there were already other volunteers from the area helping. We picked up sticks and cleaned up the fairways as well as the greens because there was still a lot of debris left over from the tornado.
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“Being able to help the Elks Golf Course and continue to pick up the damages of the tornado really showed how much of an effect this had on our community, not just golfers but people who live in the area and had damage from the storm. Coming together as a team to help the Elks was an amazing opportunity and made me realize how as a team and as a community how much this means to the golf course. This time of year is when people want to start going out and golfing and for us to speed that process up is an even greater blessing for the community of golfers that are a part of the Elks Golf Course. Being on the golf team has been such a blessing for both the men and women of the program to bond with each other as well as work with one another, not just in the sport of golf but serving the Lord and our community in whatever ways possible.”
The University-affiliated radio station, SHINE.FM, quickly mobilized as a drop off location to gather supplies to deliver to relief centers in the county, in the days immediately following the storm. Anecdote from Steph Reynolds, director of partner care at Shine.
“When the storms struck on the evening of March 10 and reports of devastation began to surface, we immediately felt called to respond. Within two hours of the tornadoes impacting several of our listening communities, I was added into a group text that consisted of a local church/school coordinating relief efforts. At SHINE.FM, we recognized the opportunity — and responsibility — to use our platform as a megaphone to mobilize support for those who had lost so much.
“Our mission was simple: to love and serve our communities in a tangible way. With three of our listening areas significantly affected, we leveraged our partnerships with local ministries to quickly identify and meet the most urgent needs. The Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office designated SHINE.FM as an official drop-off location for essential supplies — an effort that was soon amplified by major Chicago news outlets.
“What followed was nothing short of overwhelming. After sharing the needs on our social media channels within hours of the storms hitting, donations began arriving as early as 8:00 the next morning. Our listeners responded with incredible generosity, demonstrating compassion in action during a time of crisis.
“In just five days, we delivered 22 loads of essential items to local relief centers. More importantly, we had the privilege of standing alongside families — praying with them, encouraging them, and providing gift cards to help meet immediate needs. It was a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together to be the hands and feet of Jesus.”
For more information about Life at Olivet, visit Olivet.edu/Life-at-Olivet
