Organizations
To add your organization to this page or edit your organization’s information, please email [email protected].
4-H
4-H is a youth-based organization that focuses on engagement and participation through hands on learning. Traditionally, 4-H was agriculturally focused, however, has expanded to include citizenship, healthy living, and engineering projects. Somonauk Haymakers 4-H is a Dekalb County based club that meets at Bethany Lutheran Church monthly during the school year. If you would like to “make the best better”, consider joining or volunteering. More details can be found on extension.illinois.edu.
American Legion and Auxiliary
The American Legion is an extension of the service branches that its members served in. It is a place to go during and after enlistment to engage in fellowship with other service members.
The American Legion Auxiliary is made up of individuals who are direct family of the service men and women who are members of the American Legion. As the American Legion supports our current service men and women as well as our veterans, the American Legion Auxiliary supports the American Legion in its efforts. For American Legion Post 570, some of these supports include:
-Working with local veterans homes to ensure that they have supplies and resources necessary to care for our aging veterans.
-Bringing the community together through programs such a Memorial Day Cemetery Service, Leland School Veterans Day Service, leading local parades, flag etiquette services, and providing military funeral services for local Veterans.
-Providing hams for families in need through the Giving Tree program.
-Supporting Eagle Scout projects through donations to individual scout projects.
-Promoting leadership through Boys State and Girls State programs and so much more.
The Auxiliary meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6 pm. The Legion meetings are the 3rd Monday of each month at 7 pm.
Bethany Lutheran Church
Here at Bethany, we are a church community that feels like family. Our life together centers around weekly worship: Sundays at 9 a.m. in person or on the church Facebook page. We gather because we believe hearing that “God’s Love is for You” is transformational for our personal lives and our community. If it feels like something’s been missing in your life, we hope you might try joining us.
We welcome people wherever they are at in their faith journey. Our ministry is also outside of “just church”. Five Loaves, Two Fish is our Food Pantry Ministry and offers food to those in need on the 2nd Sunday of the month. We also share space with Bethany First Step Preschool which offers faith-based early education to children 3-5 years old. Our Mission is Proclaiming God’s Love and we believe church happens wherever you are. All are welcome to come be part of worship, serving, and sharing God’s love.
Community In Action (CIA)
Community in Action (CIA) is an organization whose purpose is to strengthen, enhance and encourage the educational and social environment of Leland School. Its goals are to complement the school curriculum with additional opportunities for parents, teachers, and students to learn, socialize, communicate and grow. Our meetings are held the last Monday of the month during the school year at 7:00 pm in the Media Center. Leland staff can fill out a grant form to request monetary help throughout the year. We have helped with the field trips, books, and hosted dances just to name a few. We are currently working on a Mother Son event for the 24-25 school year. One of our yearly events is our Panther Wonderland gift shop. We love to make the season special for the children by giving them the opportunity to shop (in secret) for the perfect gift for Mom, Dad, grandparents, siblings, and other important people in their lives. We always are accepting monetary donations to purchase items, and gently used items to resell. You may contact our officers for more information on donating. President-Jen Cole, Vice President-Marcy Kinney, Treasurer-Crystal Pennington, Secretary-Michelle Schultz. Our email is [email protected]
Leland Boy Scout Troop 1414 Cub Scout Pack 4114
Leland Boy Scout Troop 1414 and Cub Scout Pack 4114 have been chartered by Bethany Lutheran Church for 64 consecutive years! That’s 64 years of adventure for many boys in our community. The Cub Scout Pack welcomes boys from K-6th grade, and the Boy Scout Troop welcomes boys from 6th grade to 18 years old. Both groups continue to participate in activities that enhance the 12 points of the Scout Law: A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.
Some of our most recent activities include Pinewood Derby Races, bike trips, canoe/kayak trips, hiking, fire starting, first aid training, swimming, service projects and, of course, camping. Leland is very proud of the current wave of Eagle Scout Projects. In the last 15 years, at least 11 boys have reached the distinguished rank of Eagle Scout. More projects will be happening in the community in the next year.
If you would like to enroll your son in either the Troop or Pack, please contact Dan Todd at 815-830-7126 or Trinity Rohrdantz at 630-688-7240. They would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Leland Fire Department
The Leland Fire Company was organized in July of 1937 with 29 original members. The Leland Fire Protection District was formed in 1947 with 31 members, over the past 76 years there have been 167 men and woman that have served the Department as firefighters and EMS. Currently we have 26 members, with 6 being EMS. Our most critical need is for members available in daytime (EMTs are needed most). Anyone interested can call 815-495-2341.
Leland Lions Club
Members of the local Lions Club are volunteers grouped under Lions Club International. It is the world’s largest service organization. We have 1.4 millions members in over 48,000 clubs in over 200 countries. Community service is one of the our top priorities. The local Leland Lions Club has been involved in many projects in the Leland area, such as putting up the original street signs and house numbers.
The Christmas lights on the street light poles in the downtown area are bought and put up every year by the local Lions. This year at a cost of over $8,000 we have all new lights to put up. Containers placed at the bank and post office for the collection of used eye glasses and hearing aids so they can be reconditioned for free distribution to the needy, where ever they may be on this planet. We also provide special vision devices and glasses to anyone in our community that needs help obtaining the necessary items for their own use. Leland is among a group of about fifteen area Lions Clubs that host a day out of Shabbona Lake State Park called a Fishing Derby. It is for handicapped and disabled persons from all over northern Illinois. It includes fishing, petting zoo, several other fun events for the clients and a picnic lunch before being bussed back to their home facilities, such as the Open Door at Sandwich. Diabetes Awareness, hearing problems and working with the deaf are more of the activities of Lions.
Chrome books were provided to the Leland schools originally by the local club, as well as the sign in the Leland school yard with coming events posted on it. Christmas gift cards for groceries have been provided to needy families annually, as well as many contributions for local projects that are far too many to mention here.
The Lions Club motto is “we serve”. Lions members are expected to give freely of their time and energy, attend all club meetings (unless ill or out of town), be knowledgeable about the objective and aims of Lionism and support club officers at all times.
The Leland club usually meets on the fourth Thursday of the month for a supper meeting in the Methodist church basement. The meals are provided by and served by the Methodist Church women members. Contact any Lion for information in regard to becoming a Lion.
Leland Town and Country Association
The Leland Town and Country Association is a community organization comprised of local people looking to enhance their experience in Leland. We are responsible for the annual 4th of July fireworks, which are “The Best in the Land”, and the LTCA holds many events throughout the year. We look to coordinate and promote all the good aspects of Leland. Community involvement is the key and we are always looking for new members.
The LTCA was formed in preparation of the 2009 Sesquicentennial Celebration and continues today. We have sponsored and held many events to promote the advancement of Leland and our community.
Please look for our next event, join us and enjoy Leland, It’s a wonderful place. Our regular meetings are held on the 1st Thursday of the month, in the community room within Resource Bank @ 6:30pm.
Leland United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church of Leland is a community which invites and encourages people to commit their lives to Jesus. We are a community to help people grow in their faith journey. We not only desire to grow in our commitment to Jesus, but to also grow in relationship with one another. We strive to connect and build relationships with the community. We meet on Sunday mornings at 8:45 am. Our Pastor, Abraham Moller, is originally from Chicago. Pastor Abe has a passion to help people grow in their faith journey and to connect with people. Our Pastor is available to the community for council, prayer, conversations, or any circumstance that might need assistance. Please feel free to reach us with any questions or concerns at 815-495-4561. Our email address is [email protected].
Leland Youth Athletic Association
“Where passion for sports meets the spirit of community.”
The LYAA is committed to nurturing young athletes and providing them with a platform to excel both on and off the field.
As proud members of the Leland Community, LYAA takes joy in creating a supportive and inclusive environment where families come together to cheer on our young athletes. We strive to provide athletic opportunities for all Leland children regardless of many obstacles that deter involvement, including financial constraints. Join us in celebrating the joy of sports and the incredible journey of self-discovery that accompanies it. We are always welcoming new members and volunteers – follow us on Facebook for the most updated information on our meetings, how to join/volunteer and future events.
The Leland Historical Society
The Leland Historical Society was founded in 2019 to “preserve our footprints for the generations to come” by a handful of Leland residents passionate about the area history. Through the generosity of Resource Bank, the historical society opened the Leland Area History Center at 205 N. Main Street, above Resource Bank, as a repository for artifacts, a research center for those interested in local history, and as a springboard for educational program development. The History Center is staffed by dedicated volunteers who welcome individuals and groups on Saturdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm or by appointment. Donations of memorabilia, artifacts, photographs, newspapers, documents, and local and family histories are welcomed into the collection. The Leland Historical Society is operated by a board of directories elected by the membership and meets monthly on the second Tuesday at 6:30 pm. Annual membership is $20 per person, $50 for a 3-year membership, or $300 for a Lifetime membership. To become a member, to volunteer, or for more information go to http://www.lelandhistory.org, call 815-495-5547, or write to PO Box 2, Leland, IL 60531.