New Lenox CERT

New Lenox CERT New Lenox Community Emergency Response Team - Doing the Greatest Good for the Greatest Number of People

The Village of New Lenox has developed and implemented a CERT program for our community. This program has been launched in many communities throughout the country with the assistance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The CERT program helps train people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give crit

ical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community. The CERT course is taught in the community by a trained team of first responders who have completed a CERT Train-the-Trainer course conducted by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. CERT training includes disaster preparedness, fire safety/ suppression, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue operations, CERT organization, disaster psychology, and terrorism. CERT training also includes a course review, written examination and a disaster-related exercise which tests basic CERT skills taught during the course.

08/27/2026

Every life matters. Every story matters. Every light still shines.

Join the New Lenox Safe Community Coalition for Your Light Still Shines—an evening of remembrance, education, hope, and healing.

📅 Thursday, August 27, 2026
📍 Lincoln-Way West Auditorium

This meaningful community event honors the lives lost to overdose and su***de while connecting individuals and families with valuable prevention, treatment, recovery, and support resources. Whether you're seeking information, supporting someone you love, remembering a loved one, or simply wanting to learn how you can make a difference, this event is for you.

🕠 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
• Hidden in Plain Sight Trailers
• Unwanted Medication Take Back
• Informational booths from 30+ local organizations
• Memorial displays honoring loved ones

🕠 6:40 PM – 8:00 PM
• Special presentation: 7-OH with Dr. Sterling Elliott
• Powerful Lived Experience Discussion Panel
• Raffle Prizes (must be present to win!)

Together, we can break the stigma surrounding mental health, su***de, and substance use disorder. Together, we can inspire hope, encourage conversation, and remind one another that recovery is possible, help is available, and no one has to face these challenges alone.

We hope you'll join us for this impactful evening of remembrance, education, and community.



For more event details, check out our event page at https://tinyurl.com/YOURLIGHTSTILLSHINES

Registration recommended, not required: https://tinyurl.com/YOURLIGHTSTILLSHINES

August Training: Water Rescue & SafetyNew Lenox CERT spent Tuesday evening at Hibernia Park for our August training on W...
08/20/2026

August Training: Water Rescue & Safety
New Lenox CERT spent Tuesday evening at Hibernia Park for our August training on Water Rescue and Safety. The session was led by Tricia Pakosz and taught by our outstanding Search and Rescue Team.
Members rotated through three hands on stations: • Throwbag accuracy using hula hoops at different distances • Throwbag toss at a moving target, with SAR members in kayaks • Water extrication, practicing with both a soft litter and a backboard with straps
Before breaking into groups, Joe Frigo demonstrated proper throwbag technique and shared tips on what to do if you’re floating downstream in a river.
After training wrapped up, the team met at the pavilion for a quick debrief. A huge thank you to Tricia, the SAR team, and the volunteers who got in the water to make this training realistic and effective.
Great work by everyone who attended! New Lenox CERT continues to build skills that keep our community safe.

Thirty one members of New Lenox CERT volunteered at the Andy Grammer Concert on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the New Le...
08/19/2026

Thirty one members of New Lenox CERT volunteered at the Andy Grammer Concert on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the New Lenox Commons. Our team supported the event by staffing the lawn seating area to maintain emergency walkways, providing golf cart transport for disabled guests, securing fence lines, and assisting at the main doors of Village Hall.
CERT members met at 4:30pm for a briefing before the show. The concert featured Raynes, Walk Off the Earth, and Andy Grammer—each act was very well received by the crowd.
Around 10:30pm, after Andy Grammer’s final song, CERT assisted at the gates to help ensure an orderly departure. A brief debrief followed before the team was released for the night.
Great job by all involved!

08/17/2026

Our next class starts on September 8th, We will be meeting on Tuesdays and Thursdays through October 1st and a final exercise on Saturday October 3rd. Follow the link to fill out an application.
newlenox.net/certapplication

Come join us and learn how to help your family and neighbors in a disaster. Our Fall CERT Basic Class will be on Tuesda...
08/15/2026

Come join us and learn how to help your family and neighbors in a disaster. Our Fall CERT Basic Class will be on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30pm until 8:30pm, September 8 until October 1. The final exercise will be on Saturday, October 3rd from 8am until 12:30pm. At the end of the class, each member will receive a backpack with basic safety items to start your go bag. To register for the class, sign up at: newlenox.net/certapplication

This past weekend, our CERT team helped provide a safe environment at the second and third concerts in New Lenox! On Fri...
08/10/2026

This past weekend, our CERT team helped provide a safe environment at the second and third concerts in New Lenox! On Friday, we supported the Men at Work and Toad the Wet Sprocket concert, and on Saturday we assisted at the Big and Rich show. Each night brought out about 30 CERT volunteers.

Our team arrived at 4:30 p.m. for briefing before heading to assigned posts. Gates opened at 5:30, opening acts kicked off at 6:00, and both headliners took the stage at 9:00. Friday featured Shonen Knight and Toad the Wet Sprocket, while Saturday included Makena Hartlin and Matthew & Gunnar Nelson.

Two concerts back‑to‑back is a big lift, but our CERT members did an outstanding job. Thank you to everyone who volunteered — your hard work is truly appreciated by all who help put on the

New Lenox CERT had a strong showing at National Night Out on August 4! Seventeen volunteers helped hand out snacks and w...
08/05/2026

New Lenox CERT had a strong showing at National Night Out on August 4! Seventeen volunteers helped hand out snacks and water, supervised three inflatable bounce houses, and shared information at our CERT table. The Commons was packed with families enjoying giveaways, safety information, and vehicles from the Fire Department, Public Works, and the Police Department.
A special moment came when a Chicago Police Department helicopter circled low over the Commons—everyone loved it. After the event wrapped up at 8:00pm, our team held a quick debrief to prepare for an even better showing next year.
Huge thanks to the New Lenox Police Department for putting on such a fantastic event.

08/05/2026

A huge thank you to the ten New Lenox CERT members who volunteered at the Food Fest: Taco Fight on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Our team staffed two shifts and kept a close eye on safety at the four inflatable bounce houses from morning through evening.
The Village Commons was packed with activity all day—puppy beauty pageant, hot sauce eating contest, tortilla throwing contest, plus music from a DJ, Mariachi de Joliet, and The Simple Remedy. The crowd’s energy never slowed down, and it was great to see families enjoying the event.
We appreciate our CERT members for stepping up and helping make the day safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Address

1 Veterans Pkwy
New Lenox, IL
60451

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when New Lenox CERT posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category