Donka, Inc.

01/23/2026

🌟Education opens doors. Mentorship helps students walk through them. Together, they are the foundation of Donka’s mission—to equip people with disabilities, veterans, and seniors with the tools, resources, and confidence to pursue independence, employment, and meaningful futures.

🌟With January being recognized as National Mentoring Month and January 24 marking International Day of Education, we are reminded how these values are intertwined and foundational to Donka’s promise.

🌟We understand that education is never one-size-fits-all. Every day at Donka, Inc., our instructors provide 1:1 personalized computer and assistive technology training that goes far beyond curriculum. They are educators, yes—but they are also mentors, cheerleaders, and living proof of what’s possible. Many of our instructors are people with disabilities themselves, and through empathy, relatability, and lived experience, they offer more than skills—they offer confidence, encouragement, and hope.

🌟Mentorship continues well beyond the classroom. Our Job Placement Specialist exemplifies what it means to walk alongside our students, working 1:1 on resumes and interviews, sharing job leads, attending career fairs together, and providing steady support through every step of the job search. Last year, that mentorship extended into the community as he stood side by side with Donka student in his leadership role as a ComEd Energy Force Ambassador at every event, offering guidance, advocacy, and encouragement throughout the program.

🌟So please join us today in celebrating our dedicated instructors and staff who show up every day—not just to teach, but to mentor, uplift, and believe in what our students can achieve.

01/20/2026

✨ “May we all have the eyes to see the silent suffering, the ears to hear their cries, and the empathy to hold their hands and let them know, they are not alone.” -Meagan Church

January is Mental Wellness Month, and we want to take this moment to remind you to put wellness into practice. At Donka, Inc., we know mental wellness and purpose go hand in hand. While we provide tools and technology training for people with disabilities, veterans and seniors, our work goes far beyond skill development. We mentor. We listen. We help individuals rediscover confidence, direction, and purpose in their lives.

Many of our staff navigate various disabilities themselves—they lead by example and are living proof that with the right tools, training, and support, barriers can be broken and goals can be achieved.

This month, and every month, we encourage everyone to put mental wellness into practice through proactive self-care, stress management, compassion for yourself and others, and the reminder that resilience isn’t about never struggling—it’s about continuing forward, even when the road looks different.

✨ You are capable. You are resilient. You are not alone.

01/19/2026

🌟On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Donka, Inc. reaffirms our promise to keep advancing civil rights and breaking barriers for people with disabilities, veterans and seniors--because progress belongs to everyone.

01/05/2026

🌟January 4th is World Braille Day. Did you know? Braille was originally a secret military code called "night writing." ​It was developed by the French Army so soldiers could share top-secret information on the battlefield at night without speaking or using light that might reveal their position. Louis Braille later simplified the system when he was only 15 years old.

In honor of World Braille Day, let's celebrate the power of a breakthrough that reconceptualized communication, connection and empowerment for the Blind and Visually Impaired community around the world!

Louis Braille was born in 1809 — and that’s why we celebrate each year on January 4. NLS has a world of braille materials and resources available for free to its patrons. You can learn more about braille at www.loc.gov/nls/services-and-resources/braille-education?loclr=fbnls and find braille books in the NLS Catalog by searching https://nlscatalog.loc.gov?loclr=fbnls. NLS initiatives supporting braille literacy include our free Braille eReader (interested patrons should ask their NLS network library about getting one of these electronic braille displays). NLS also offers Braille on Demand, which allows patrons to select braille titles from BARD (our Braille and Audio Reading Download online service) to be printed in hard-copy braille and sent to their home on long-term loan. To learn more and to request your own braille books, visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/NLSbrailleondemand.
[Image: "World Braille Day" is spelled in simulated braille over an illustration of the world. "January 4" is added in text. iStock graphic.]

12/31/2025

🎉 Happy New Year from all of us at Donka, Inc.! 🎉As we welcome 2026, we renew our commitment to building a world that is inclusive and accessible for everyone, regardless of ability or age. We look ahead with hope as we continue serving people with disabilities, veterans, and seniors through digital literacy, assistive technology, computer training, and job placement support.

🤩 We know this work is only possible because of the incredible people that stand beside us—our students, supporters, partners, and community—and we are deeply grateful for each of you as we step into another year of impact together! 🙏

📢 Today is the last day of the Giving Tuesday Donation Match where every dollar you give to Donka is matched by The Coleman Foundation Chicago, amplifying its impact toward Donka’s mission: Empowering Abilities Through Technology. Your generosity today doesn’t just give, it multiplies—doubling gifts from individuals, tripling gifts from businesses, and creating four-times-the-impact through private foundations.

💌By supporting Donka, you’re showing what happens when people are believed in and have the proper resources and training to succeed. Help us make 2026 one of true possibility. Visit us online to learn more, give today, and be part of Donka’s impact.

12/26/2025

⚡️As Ben wraps up his role as a ComEd Energy Force Ambassador in 2025, he is sharing one final energy saving tip to help your homes work smarter, not harder! ENERGY STAR® appliances are designed to use less energy without sacrificing performance—saving money while reducing everyday energy use. Learn more by getting a free ComEd home energy assessment to see where your home could save even more.

💡Ben hopes that by sharing these tips, you can plan ahead, save energy, and make informed choices that will add up over time. If you found this series helpful, give it a like or share it with someone who could use a little energy-saving inspiration.

12/22/2025

❄️Between winter weather and seasonal celebrations, this time of year puts extra pressure on both our homes and our budgets. That is why Donka, Inc. student and ComEd Energy Force Ambassador, Ben Penachio, is sharing energy-smart ways to help homes run more efficiently all season long—and he’s back with Tip #2. As temperature drop and energy use climbs, getting a FREE Home energy assessment can help keep your home comfortable, your energy bills in check and allow you to focus on what really matters during the holidays.

⚡️ Stay tuned as Ben shares more ways we can make a difference, one tip at a time.

12/22/2025

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM OUR DONKA FAMILY TO YOURS! Let’s Look Back on an Incredible 2025—a year of connection, collaboration, and community at Donka!

12/18/2025

🎉Donka, Inc. proudly congratulates the DuPage Care Center-DPCC on being recognized as a U.S. News & World Report Best Nursing Home for 2026. This national designation places DPCC among the top nursing homes in the country, honoring its exceptional long-term care and short-term rehabilitation services. Fewer than 19 percent of the more than 15,000 facilities evaluated nationwide receive this recognition, making it a meaningful testament to DPCC’s long-standing commitment to quality. This recognition (featured in the photo) was celebrated at the County Board's November 25th meeting by Donka Board Member and DPCC’s Assistant Administrator, Shauna Berman, alongside Human Services Committee Chairman, Greg Schwarze - DuPage County Board 6, a longtime supporter of Donka and sponsor for our Trivia Night Fundraiser.

🌟As Donka’s main computer lab is located within the Care Center, we are deeply grateful for this partnership and the opportunity to serve residents directly, many of whom participate in Donka’s open lab hours where they build essential digital skills. Whether that means checking email, paying bills online, staying connected with loved ones through social media, or navigating websites independently, our work is driven by each individual’s personal goals and what helps them feel confident, connected, and fulfilled.

❤The Care Center’s dedication to resident well-being aligns seamlessly with Donka’s mission to promote independence, accessibility, and lifelong learning. We are honored to be part of a community that so clearly prioritizes quality care and inclusion.

12/17/2025

❄️ Happy Holidays from our Donka family to yours! ❄️

12/11/2025

☃️✨HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM DONKA! ✨☃️ For 38 years, Donka, Inc. has been committed to removing barriers and creating pathways to independence for people with disabilities, veterans and seniors through digital literacy, job placement support and access to Assistive Technology (AT). Our students prove that with the right tools and support, potential has no limits.

🎉This holiday season, you can be part of our legacy and unlock the magic of matching!

From now until December 31, every donation to Donka is matched by the Coleman Foundation Chicago—doubling gifts from individuals, tripling gifts from businesses, and creating four-times-the-impact through private foundations. Your generosity doesn’t just give, it multiplies. 🎁🎁🎁🎁

💫Your matched gift makes this the season of Possibilities…
• A veteran gaining new computer and office skills
• A senior staying connected with family through email and social media
• A student having access to Assistive Technology that allows them to be independent
• A struggling job seeker securing meaningful and fulfilling employment

🌟HELP DONKA RAISE $10,000 BY DEC 31! 🌟

✅Individuals = “Double the Spark” Your gift unlocks a 1:1 match and doubles immediately!

✅Businesses = “Triple the Cheer” Corporate and small business partners unlock a 2:1 match—tripling your generosity!

✅Foundations = “Fourfold Holiday Magic” Private foundations unlock a rare 3:1 match, creating four times the impact!

🙏Let’s continue to build a world where everyone has access, dignity, and the opportunity to thrive. By supporting Donka, you’re showing what happens when people are believed in and have the proper resources and training to succeed. Help us make this season one of true possibility. Visit us online to learn more, give today, and be part of the change.