On April 23, 2022, we celebrated 20 years with a wonderful celebration. Diane Carroll, our founder, officially announced her retirement after 20 beautiful years of serving and leading My Joyful Heart by continuing to always put Jesus first. As she steps down this year, Diane has put her faith and confidence in Erin Burns to continue leading the organization.

At this special Gala, we had the pleasure of hearing from Richard, a young man who was enrolled in our program in seventh grade. He shared that he couldn’t understand why someone who didn’t know him would care enough to help. The care packages and encouraging words he received along with knowing there were people out there caring for him and his mom changed his life. Click to watch our video and hear Richard tell his story himself.

Be sure to check out the article in the Daily Southtown (free to Tribune subscribers). Click here.

There are many more children out there in need and we need your help connecting with teachers and school personnel who could help, we need your help praying for the mission and we would love your help sponsoring a child in the program.

Through Diane's many years with My Joyful Heart, miracles abounded and there are so many stories of how Jesus continually provide. Diane recently published a book of simple stories sharing her 20 years of walking with Jesus through My Joyful Heart. Many may seem like small or trivial happenings but when Jesus is in it there is nothing small about it. If you need encouragement to know that Jesus does work in our lives, that He cares about and loves us, you just may find that encouragement in this book. The book is available for purchase for $10 for local pickup at My Joyful Heart or can be shipped for an additional $6. All proceeds will benefit the children of My Joyful Heart.

Retirement is different for many but for Diane it was to include a few (hundred) really good books, some peaceful time with her Bible and some quality time with her friends and family as she let God lead her to her to whatever it would look like for her to continue doing His work.

Unfortunately, a few days after the wonderful gala celebrating 20 years of miracles and blessings, Diane suffered a heart attack. That week she underwent triple bypass surgery and had a whole army of warriors praying for her, her family, the surgeons, and hospital personnel that she encountered. We breathed a huge sigh of relief when we heard the surgery was “uneventful” and thanked and praised God that it went “our” way even though we knew His way is the only way. Diane has continued to recover over the past few weeks. God gives us the tools and skills necessary to deal with situations we face. He is always preparing us to do His work, to weather the troublesome periods of our lives and to take on new roles and responsibilities.

We can’t explain why this happened, but we are grateful and thankful of the outcome. Please continue to keep Diane in your prayers as she will need them as she recovers. We will forward any cards that you wish to send:

Diane Carroll c/o My Joyful Heart

9981 W. 190th St. Suite I

Mokena, IL 60448

We are shopping for the summer event now, preparing the bags for the children before they get out of school for the school year. We give out clothing, hygiene, summer games/toys, books and more during this event. We serve schools in the city and suburbs.

If you know of a teacher or social worker that may be interested in the program, please send us an email to share their contact information with us and we will reach out to them prior to next school year.

Volunteers 13+ are welcome Monday – Thursday from 9:30-1:30pm. Teens, don’t forget to join us this summer to get your service hours!

Save the date to serve together as a family:

You can bring younger children in, usually 7+, those who can focus on a simple task. You may be packing, counting or prepping for the next event and there will be plenty of things to do! Spaces are limited and a sign-up is required to reserve your spot.

Thank you to Illiana Christian High School for spending your GO Day with us. We truly appreciated your help organizing, cleaning and shopping!

Thank you to the Cub Scout Pack 372 and Boy Scout Troop 385 for hosting a food drive for the summer. Summer hunger is real for many of the children we serve and being able to give them a few items can make any belly smile.

Girl Scout Troop 55786 in Naperville coordinated a donation of Girl Scout cookies from Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GCNWI) Thank you to this awesome troop for thinking of and helping the children of My Joyful Heart for the Summer and Back to School Events!

The Oak Forest Rotary Club teamed up with some of the great students from Oak Forest High School to collect and donate books to My Joyful Heart. These are going out with our summer event and we are so thankful for their help in sharing our love of reading with the children.

My Joyful Heart is excited to announce that we are now selling:

Our supply is limited, so please reserve your items below. We will send you a link to pay online.

If you would like to send or write letters to your sponsored kids, please email them to information@myjoyfulheart or send them via snail mail by July 15th to be included with the Back to School Gift Event.

Sponsoring a child is a unique opportunity to directly have an impact on a specific little one. For $35 a month or $420 a year, you can help bring hope to someone in need.

We appreciate everything that is dropped off and donated to us for the children. Many hands make light work and we need the continued help of our awesome community.

We would love the help of collecting the following for our next events: