Author name: Elk Grove Township Staff

Pictured above is the Fusion Xtreme Cheer team wrapping holiday presents for the Older Adult Angel Tree program. General Assistance: Monthly financial assistance to help residents, 18 and older, to meet basic needs, including shelter, food, transportation and utilities. Emergency Assistance: Provides financial support (issued once during a 24-month period) due to a crisis circumstance that may include eviction or disconnection of utilities. CEDA Programs: Known commonly as LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) this program offers one-time financial assistance during a calendar year to pay heating and electricity bills for income-eligible households. Food Pantry: A “client choice” model, the Food Pantry allows individuals to select items that they prefer. All township residents are invited to utilize the Food Pantry; new clients should bring a utility bill. ID, and arrive 15 minutes early to register. Medical Lending Closet: Township residents can borrow a wide variety of gently used medical equipment for up to three months at a time. Curbside pickup is available upon request. Employment Assistance: Our new website has a Jobs Board which helps township residents identify local job opportunities. In addition, the township’s employment counselor can assist jobseekers in updating their resumes and improving their job interview skills. To learn more about these and other programs/services, please click on the “Services” tab in the upper-right-hand corner of the website. In addition to the programs mentioned above, other township programs have recently been created to meet new or growing community needs. They include: The township added an Older Adult Programming and Support Specialist to help streamline services and offer more resources for seniors. This individual manages the Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP), is a certified counselor, assists with Mobile Dental Clinic screenings, navigates the Benefit Access Program and more. Township seniors can make an appointment by calling 2244-222-0942. The “Older Adult Angel Tree” is a new program that served 164 lower-income seniors who received gifts of their choosing for the holidays. Additionally, 124 children were sponsored through the “Hope for Holidays” program, where gift cards were given to in-need parents to purchase gifts for their children. The Township would like to thank the Fusion Xtreme Cheer team, whose enthusiastic support of the township’s holiday programs made a huge difference! This group of young people not only dedicated their time to wrapping gifts for the Older Adult Angel Tree but also filled stockings with candy to support the Hope for Holidays program. Community groups, such as Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts, athletic teams, nonprofits and others looking to donate or give back through volunteering are encouraged to follow the township on its social media channels- including Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn to learn more about upcoming events.  Monetary or food donations to help support neighbors in need can be made in person during regular business hours, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monetary donations can also be mailed to: Elk Grove Township, 600 Landmeier Rd, Elk Grove Village, IL, 60007 or accepted online by clicking the “Ways to Donate” button in the upper-right-hand corner of the website. For any questions, please call the township at 847-437-0300.

“Needs in our community have dramatically increased, which is why we are seeking donors for our holiday giving programs earlier this year than in previous years,” said Elk Grove Township Supervisor George Busse. “We are hoping to be able to help all of our residents in need, but we will need some support from our community to reach this goal.” Monetary donors are currently being sought for the Thanksgiving Donation Drive, $50 gift card donations are requested to support the Holiday Gift program, and individuals are being sought to help to fulfill the holiday gift wish lists for older adults through the Angel Tree program.   Thanksgiving Donation Drive: Usage of the Elk Grove Food Pantry has increased by approximately 150% over the last four years, and the Township wants to ensure every resident who utilizes the food pantry can also receive a complete Thanksgiving meal this holiday season. To this end, the Township is hosting a virtual donation drive with the goal to reach $12,000 by early November. Donations can be made by calling 847-437-0300, visiting our website www.elkgrovetownship.com, or dropping them off at the Township offices, 600 Landmeier Road in Elk Grove Village. Individuals can follow the Township’s fundraising progress on its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/elkgrovetownship.   Holiday Gift Drive: Parents experiencing financial challenges oftentimes cannot afford to give gifts to their children over the holidays. Residents can sponsor a child and help to fulfill their holiday wish list by providing a $50 gift card for a local retailer. Gift cards serve multiple purposes; they give parents the opportunity to experience the joy of giving despite their hardships, support local commerce through the purchase of gift cards at local retailers, and fulfill children’s wish lists from Santa. Consider purchasing a gift card to benefit children over the holidays. To register as a donor please visit the Township, register on our website, or call the Social Services Department at 224-222-0944. Once registered you will receive detailed instructions of delivering gift cards.  Older Adult Angel Tree:  We know that the holidays can be a difficult time for older adults, especially those who are living alone or who have limited financial resources. By purchasing a gift from the Older Adult Angel Tree, you can help to make sure that these individuals have a happy and memorable holiday season. The Township will display an “Angel Tree” on the west side of the Township office building starting November 1. Senior residents who have been screened by the Social Services Department will be invited to place a gift request, not to exceed $50, on a tree ornament which will then be used to decorate the Angel Tree. Community residents will be invited to choose an ornament with its gift request after November 1, Monday – Friday, between 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. We ask that gifts are returned to the Township by December 8th so they can be disbursed to the resident in need.  Elk Grove Township thanks the community for their continued support in making these holiday programs successful.  Your donations help to ensure that no one in our community goes without a festive meal or a gift this holiday season. For more information on all the services provided by the Township, please visit elkgrovetownship.com or contact Director of Social Services and Community Outreach, Corey Dewey, at 224-222-0944.

EGTAC was established in 2016, meets twice per year, and includes nearly 40 organizations. Member groups serve a wide variety of individuals and families in need of help. Examples of needs they address are homelessness, mental health, drug abuse, domestic violence and senior-disabled transportation. These needs are expanding as the northwest suburbs continue to grow in terms of population and diversity. Elk Grove Township includes nearly 100,000 residents that live in portions of Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights, Des Plaines and Rolling Meadows. The most recent EGTAC meeting was held in late February in the Elk Grove Township Town Hall, and member, Partners for Our Communities, presented to the group. The organization works with other agencies and nonprofits to help underserved people become more self-sufficient, with a goal to help them become community leaders. The presentation focused on the issues surrounding immigration and the resources needed to address the associated challenges. Those who attended also had the opportunity to network and share information about their specific services, so that if a need arises, they know to whom a referral should be made. “Through EGTAC, we are able to get all of these different entities into one room and have real conversations that help us to stay up to date on each group’s core competencies,” said Corey Dewey, Elk Grove Township’s Director of Social Services and Community Outreach. “Through this collaborative effort, we can explore partnerships and provide vital referrals for residents facing different needs and challenges, in a more holistic way.” A recent example Dewey cited was when a young boy attending a District 59 school continued to come to school without completing his homework. The school social worker learned the reason why was that the family didn’t have electricity due to unpaid bills, and had been experiencing other financial challenges after the father lost his job. The school district referred the family to the Township to not only provide funding sources for electricity restoration, but also to connect the father with the Township employment specialist to find work. The Township then referred the family to a local church that had a clothing closet to help them provide clothing for their children. Dewey added that she believes EGTAC’s existence is vital to the effective use of available social service funds and to the ability of organizations like Elk Grove Township to provide immediate, comprehensive assistance to residents working to get back on their feet and become self-sufficient. For more information about EGTAC and how you can get involved, please contact the Elk Grove Township Social Services Department at 224-265-6111.

EGTAC was established in 2016, meets twice per year, and includes nearly 40 organizations. Member groups serve a wide variety of individuals and families in need of help. Examples of needs they address are homelessness, mental health, drug abuse, domestic violence and senior-disabled transportation. These needs are expanding as the northwest suburbs continue to grow in terms of population and diversity. Elk Grove Township includes nearly 100,000 residents that live in portions of Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights, Des Plaines and Rolling Meadows. The most recent EGTAC meeting was held in late February in the Elk Grove Township Town Hall, and member, Partners for Our Communities, presented to the group. The organization works with other agencies and nonprofits to help underserved people become more self-sufficient, with a goal to help them become community leaders. The presentation focused on the issues surrounding immigration and the resources needed to address the associated challenges. Those who attended also had the opportunity to network and share information about their specific services, so that if a need arises, they know to whom a referral should be made. “Through EGTAC, we are able to get all of these different entities into one room and have real conversations that help us to stay up to date on each group’s core competencies,” said Corey Dewey, Elk Grove Township’s Director of Social Services and Community Outreach. “Through this collaborative effort, we can explore partnerships and provide vital referrals for residents facing different needs and challenges, in a more holistic way.” A recent example Dewey cited was when a young boy attending a District 59 school continued to come to school without completing his homework. The school social worker learned the reason why was that the family didn’t have electricity due to unpaid bills, and had been experiencing other financial challenges after the father lost his job. The school district referred the family to the Township to not only provide funding sources for electricity restoration, but also to connect the father with the Township employment specialist to find work. The Township then referred the family to a local church that had a clothing closet to help them provide clothing for their children. Dewey added that she believes EGTAC’s existence is vital to the effective use of available social service funds and to the ability of organizations like Elk Grove Township to provide immediate, comprehensive assistance to residents working to get back on their feet and become self-sufficient. For more information about EGTAC and how you can get involved, please contact the Elk Grove Township Social Services Department at 224-265-6111.

The Food Pantry served an average of 522 families each month throughout 2022, which represented a 38% increase compared to 2021. The number of residents who use this valuable service has continued to show an increase through the early part of this year, with an average of 648 families served in January of 2023, indicating a 66% increase compared to January of 2022. “Services provided through the Food Pantry are vital for many of our community members who are struggling to keep food on the table. We are implementing creative solutions to help ensure we can provide this assistance to everyone who needs it,” said Elk Grove Township Supervisor George Busse. “Generous individuals, businesses, organizations, churches and other groups are invited to help us reach this goal, as we work to assist those experiencing food insecurity.” Starting in early February, the Food Pantry increased the number of days it is open to four days per week. Appointments are required, and can be made Tuesdays between 9:30 a.m. – 7 p.m., and on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. To receive a Food Pantry card, a photo ID and current utility bill are required. Going forward, the Food Pantry will launch a monthly campaign to increase donations for specific needs. Lists of requested items will be published on the Township Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn pages, which can be found by searching @elkgrovetownship. February’s campaign is dedicated to more “family-friendly” items targeted to families with small and school-aged children. Requested items include children’s snacks, baby products, diapers, and other personal hygiene products for children. For individuals or groups who would like to make larger donations, the Township can schedule a pick-up time for convenience. Smaller donations can be dropped off at 600 Landmeier Road, in Elk Grove Village from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., between Monday and Friday. Monetary donations are also welcome and accepted to fill the gap between what is donated and higher demand items. Checks can be made payable to: “Elk Grove Township Food Pantry” and dropped off/mailed to the Township offices, 600 Landmeier Road, Elk Grove Village, Illinois, 60007. Please call 224-265-6111 with any questions and for more information.