DuPage County residents, including those in Elmhurst, can pick up a free gun safe on Saturday, Oct. 3, after the county approved $25,000 to buy and distribute the lockboxes at a Safety Saturday event.

The county's Finance Committee voted Tuesday, Aug. 25, to transfer the money from its contingency fund to the Health Department, which will run the giveaway. Committee member Michael Childress moved the budget transfer, seconded by member Cynthia Cronin Cahill. It passed.

Committee members called the distribution a pilot program and said it could be expanded if the Oct. 3 event goes well, according to meeting minutes posted by the county. Chair Garcia convened the Aug. 25 meeting at 8:01 a.m.; it adjourned less than an hour later.

The idea has been in the works since at least April. At the Finance Committee's April 14 meeting, members discussed offering biometric gun safes and asked Chief Administrative Officer Nick Kottmeyer to research the legalities and costs. They also asked whether the County Coroner or local police departments could provide additional data to support the initiative.

The August budget item does not specify whether the safes will be biometric models, how many the $25,000 will buy, or whether residents need to register in advance or simply show up.

The DuPage County Sheriff's Office has hosted Safety Saturday events before. The office promoted a similar event in September 2025 on its social media accounts. The Oct. 3 event's location and hours have not been announced publicly.

The DuPage County Health Department is administering the program and is expected to post event details, including the location and any registration requirements, before Oct. 3.