SVdP NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS 50/50 RAFFLE

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL HOLDS ITS 2022 NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS ANNUAL 50/50 RAFFLE. SPRING IS HERE AND SO IS THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL 50/50 RAFFLE

Check out all the details displayed on the 50/50 Raffle Poster above. Be one of the first to buy a ticket or tickets in support of this event, which funds the SVdP food pantry and financial aid program that helps needy families in our community. Don’t miss out on the possibility of being the BIG WINNER of the 50/50 raffle. Our goal is to sell 1,500 tickets and the winner could receive as much as $3,750.

Tickets are available at the SVdP food pantry Monday through Friday from 12:00 to 2:30 p.m. Tickets will also be on sale at various business locations around the Sterling and Rock Falls area. LOOK for our SVdP 50/50 raffle table outside the businesses listed below and STOP by to support us:

County Market, Sterling — Saturday May 21, June 11, and July 9, 2022

Walmart, Sterling — Saturday May 28 and June 18, 2022

Farmers Market, Sterling — Saturday, June 4 and June 25, 2022

Food Truck Fridays, Riverfront, Rock Falls — Friday, June 10 and July 8, 2022

OR SCAN THE QR CODE DISPLAYED ON THE RAFFLE POSTER AND PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS NOW!

United Way Addresses Summer Hunger

Meals will feature kid-friendly foods like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, juice, crackers, granola bars, and fruit cups. No registration or ID is required, and participation is open to all children and teens.  

Meals will feature kid-friendly foods like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, juice, crackers, granola bars, and fruit cups. No registration or ID is required, and participation is open to all children and teens.

Kids and teens will be able to get a grab and go meal from one of 18 sites throughout Whiteside County. Each site will serve on Wednesdays but will provide three lunches for each child. The program runs every Wednesday from 12:00PM -12:30PM starting June 1st and ending on August 10th.

2022 Meal Sites

ERIE
Margaret Park

FULTON
First Reformed Church

LYNDON
Richmond Park

MORRISON
Crossroads Comm. Center

MILLEDGEVILLE
Public Library

PROPHETSTOWN
Eclipse Square

ROCK FALLS
Coloma Homes
Merrill School
Rock Falls Public Library
Wallingford Park

STERLING
Broadway Methodist
Latin American Social Club
Scheid Park
Sterling Public Library
SterLynn Apartments
Salvation Army
St Paul’s Church

TAMPICO
Community Building

United Way of Whiteside County has run the Let’s Feed Our Children program for 21 years with the help of countless community partners. United Way is looking for additional donations and volunteers to support this program. Those interested in volunteering can sign up at: https://signup.com/go/fXBAKtz or by contacting Keri Olson at 815.625.7973 or kolson@uwwhiteside.org.

MAY QUOTE

God doesn’t give us what we can handle, God helps us handle what we are given.

FAMILIES HELPED IN APRIL

SVdP in April assisted 276 families with food. Helping 518 adults and 195 children, that consists of a total 713 individuals. In financial aid 52 families were assisted in rent, utilities, motels, prescriptions and gas for doctor appointments. Whiteside community, SVdP is grateful for your support.

Aiden Mackay Collecting Food Donations

Boy Scout Aiden Mackay is shown delivering food he collected for a scouting project to the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry. Aiden made up flyers with suggested food items and passed them out to his school mates. Thanks to his diligence, he received a great response! GREAT JOB, AIDEN! You are making a difference in your community. Aiden is a student at St. Mary’s School in Sterling and the son of Dr. and Mrs. Steven Mackay.

March Numbers at SVdP

In March SVdP helped 292 families. That consisted of 538 adults and 175 children, a total of 713 getting food. In financial aid 59 families were helped in the areas of utilities, prescriptions, motels, and rent. SVdP would like to thank the communities that help in any way to help provide for the families.

Pritzker Administration Encourages Residents to Apply for over $150 million in Utility Assistance for Families in Need

SPRINGFIELD –Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today encouraged families in need to apply for $150 million in utility bill assistance through the Help Illinois Families Program. All families who meet the criteria and provide required documentation are eligible to receive utility bill assistance for natural gas, propane, and electricity through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Since the launch of the program year in September 2021, more than 230,000 households have received utility assistance so far.

In addition to utilities benefits that are available each year, the $150 million in available benefits includes an additional $80 million for the Utility Disconnection Avoidance Program (UDAP) for current year LIHEAP recipients who are in imminent threat of utility shut-off.  This expanded safety net through UDAP is expected to support over 50,000 additional resident accounts currently on ICC utilities disconnect lists across the state.  

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, my administration provided record funding to help families keep a roof over their heads and prevent them from falling behind on their bills,”said Governor JB Pritzker. “With many Illinoisans still facing hardship brought on by COVID-19, we are making sure Illinoisians have additional support to prevent utilities disconnections and ensure families in need can make ends meet.”

“Support for families struggling to pay their household bills is still available through our Help Illinois Families program.” said DCEO Director Sylvia I. Garcia. “I urge all Illinoisians in need to visit our website or call our hotline today to apply for assistance; it’s not too late to enroll and receive help with your utility costs.”

Ahead of the voluntary winter utility shut-off moratorium facilitated by the Illinois Commerce Commission ending on March 31, 2022, families should visit www.helpillinoisfamilies.com to apply or call the hotline for real-time assistance in over 30 languages at 1-833-711-0374.

“The COVID-19 pandemic combined with high energy prices has put a tremendous financial strain on many consumers. The Illinois Commerce Commission remains very concerned and continues to work with utilities and advocacy groups to protect low-income customers from losing vital utility services,” said ICC Chairman Carrie Zalewski. “If you find it hard to pay your utility bills, please contact your utility company immediately, and take advantage of the resources available through the LIHEAP program and act quickly to apply.”

UDAP provides emergency relief dollars for Illinois customers at risk of service disconnections. Following Governor Pritzker’s initial UDAP Executive Order in April 2021, more than $110 million was used to help over 121,000 residential accounts avoid disconnection of services last year. 

To be eligible for UDAP, households need to have received LIHEAP benefits between September 1, 2021 and May 31, 2022, and be in imminent threat of disconnection. A UDAP participant may receive a one-time credit, per utility, based on the utility account balance. Assistance can range from $250 up to a maximum of $5,000.

Information for Households:
The State of Illinois offers various programs to support eligible low-income families with utility assistance. These programs are open to ALL eligible low-income Illinois families who meet the criteria, including undocumented families. While the amount of support varies based on the needs of individual families, this year’s LIHEAP recipients have received an average of $930 per household. Through LIHEAP, support for eligible families includes: 

  • One-time Direct Vendor Payment: All LIHEAP recipients typically receive a one-time payment to help with utilities bills. 
  • Crisis/Reconnection Assistance: Funding is available for families in heating-related emergency situations. 
  • Furnace Assistance: Based on funding availability, Furnace Assistance may be provided to households that do not have an operating furnace for their residence.
  • UDAP: UDAP provides support for current year LIHEAP and Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) customers either on a utility’s disconnection list or in imminent threat of disconnection due to an arrearage of $250 or more. Families who receive LIHEAP benefits automatically qualify for this program and do not need to apply separately.    
  • Home Weatherization Program: The Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) helps low income residents and households conserve fuel and reduce energy costs by making their homes and apartments more energy efficient.

Information for Families to Apply:

  • For households interested in the LIHEAP program, the State encourages residents to apply by May 31, 2022. To apply:
  • Visit helpillinoisfamilies.com to fill out and submit a request for services form online OR visit your local agency (a list of partners throughout the State can be found here)
  • After you submit the form, someone from your local agency will be in touch. 
  • Call 1-833-711-0374 for assistance at any point during this process. 
  • Additional information about eligibility and criteria can be found on the website; links to fact sheets in English and Spanish can be found here:

English Fact Sheet

Spanish Fact Sheet 


About DCEO:

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) administers several programs to provide utilities support to families in need. To apply for these programs, visit helpillinoisfamilies.com, or contact the hotline which provides real-time assistance in over 30 languages at 1-833-711-0374.

About ICC: 
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) oversees the provision of adequate, reliable, efficient and safe utility services at the least possible cost to Illinois citizens served by electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water and sewer public utility companies. Additional resources are available through ICC, including counselors who can help with other utility assistance needs. They can be reached Monday through Friday, from 9 am -5 pm by calling 1-800-524-0795.

ASSISTING FAMILIES in FEBRUARY

SVdP assisted in February 224 families. Distribution of food was given to 178 families consisting of 430 adults and 149 children, a total of 579. Financial aid was given to 46 families, in the area of rent, utilities, motel, gas, and prescriptions. Whiteside County communities, SVdP THANK YOU for your support and generosity.