Neighborhood House 1020 S. Matthew St Peoria, IL 61605 www.nhpeoria.org April 2020
Quarterly Newsletter Responding to COVID –19 For over 120 years Neighborhood House has responded to the needs of the community and today we continue to do so. Although current circumstances present new challenges, we are committed to supporting those in our community who need it most. Through the hard work and dedication of staff, volunteers and the outpouring of community support we have been able to maintain meal services to both our seniors and our youth. However, as a result of the shelter-in-place order, many people are facing hardship and the need for home delivered meals is increasing beyond our capacity and limited resources. Currently, we have added an additional 200 homebound seniors to Meals on Wheels, and created a new home delivered meal service for 180 children in need. We are proud to offer this new service and to serve the additional seniors, however it continues to spread our limited resources even thinner and is incurring a deficit each month. Here at Neighborhood House we are doing everything we can to continue to hold true to our critical mission. We are grateful for all the support our area community is able to provide.
We Are Essential Neighborhood House recently responded to the challenge #WhyIAmEssential put forth by OSF, helping us create community awareness of our great programs as well as boost spirits and morale when we all need it most. Well done team!
Inside this issue After School Meals ................... 2 Sunday Meals & Food Pantry ...2 Meals On Wheels ..................... 3 Critters Meals On Wheels ........ 3 Education ................................. 3 Events....................................... 4 Sponsorships ............................ 5 Your Support ............................ 6
To provide a safe environment, resources, and education to empower our community to reach their fullest potential through all life stages.
THANK YOU to our Volunteers! Volunteers have logged
1,500 hours since March 16th
After School Meals During COVID-19 During the state mandated school closures due to COVID-19, many of our youth program participants face food uncertainty. Here at Neighborhood House we are committed to helping our children year round no matter the circumstances. Our youth education staff recently delivered 180 hot meals to children in our community, as well as snack packs that included breakfast and dinner for each child. That number continues to grow by 9-14 children daily. Our staff is often approached by children not on the delivery schedule and asked for meals. We are committed to seeing no child go hungry.
When the school day stops, that shouldn’t mean meals stop too. Feeding children and families after school & work, on the weekends, and over summer vacation helps build & maintain a strong community.
Sunday Meal and Pantry Programs Through the generosity of our community and volunteers, we have been able to keep our pantry program open, even adding additional days, as the community needs rise. Although we have temporarily suspended serving meals in person, we have been able to provide shelf-stable meals for pick-up and delivery for our seniors and others in need. By developing a new partnership with Northwoods Mall, we were able to host a successful canned food drive, which helped us supply our pantry for the additional days needed.
Please consider donating www.nhpeoria.org
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Heart of Illinois United Way also donated funds from the Covid-19 Emergency Response Funds for essential services to increase the value of our food pantry baskets by 400% and the total number of boxes by 700%. We are grateful for that funding and the impact it has made, however that funding will come to an end April 30th. Fortunately, due to Kim Blickenstaff and Greg Birkland’s generous $40,000 donation, we will be able to continue to meet the needs of the community through May. Thank you Kim and Greg!
Meals on Wheels Here at Neighborhood House, we are dedicated to providing safe and healthy meals every day to our senior citizens whom are most at risk during this pandemic. We are currently taking extra precautions with cleaning and sanitation throughout our entire building, as well as increasing rules for staff and volunteers staying home when sick or showing any signs of symptoms. We are currently utilizing management staff and volunteers to ensure there is minimal disruption to meal deliver schedules.
We have reached
20% of our annual Meals on Wheels capacity in just 5
weeks.
That number continues to grow daily. Please consider donating.
www.nhpeoria.org
In addition, shelf stable meals are being delivered in the event we are unable to deliver meals due to reduced staffing. Neighborhood House understands the necessity of these much needed meals. We are currently creating new procedures during these uncharted times to ensure we continue to serve our community.
“Just when I think everyday how much I appreciate getting a nice meal from you and your staff, I was even more grateful that you all thought ahead to see that we seniors will have food just in case they can’t make our regular delivery.”
Education Due to the stay-at-home
Critter Meals on Wheels Several years ago, the Meals On Wheels drivers discovered the seniors were sharing their meals with their pets and neither were getting enough to eat. Critters Meals On Wheels began. The resulting seniors who are able to keep their pets have a reduction in loneliness, anxiety and depression. We are proud to help make this possible for our seniors. Through a recent donation and discounted prices from PetSmart we have been able to continue supplying our seniors' furry friends up to this point. However as the needs of our community increase we are struggling to keep up with those needs. We are currently in critical need of 7-10 lb bags of dog/cat food. For more information about how to donate, call Trevor at 674-1131 ext. 243 or email trevorn@nhpeoria.org
order and social distancing protocols we have temporarily suspended in person education services. However we are working hard each day to maintain our connection with our students.
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Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa RAGBRAI—July 25-31, 2021 Unfortunately with the current spread of COVID-19 this year’s RAGBRAI has been postponed until next summer. Our team is excited to participate in next year’s 48th RAGBRAI event and is currently working on ways to ensure our community does not suffer from the loss of this major fundraising opportunity. We hope to see you for RAGBRAI 2021!
RAGBRAI 2021 Route
Saddle Up—August 21, 2020
Neighborhood House is putting the FUN back in FUNDRAISING!
It’s an open call to all cowboys and cowgirls to Neighborhood House’s annual dinner. Join in this lively country western themed event featuring a live band, whiskey tastings, as well as silent and live auctions. Each year proceeds benefit a specific need of our community. Past projects have included: ▪ employment and literacy programs ▪ after school meals ▪ freezer for meal programs ▪ childcare playground
8th Annual Food Fight—February 18, 2021
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This Food Network inspired event begins with a live auction for a cooking spot in the chef competition and two judge spots. Once the battle begins the chefs have 45 minutes to make an entrée with a bag of secret ingredients. It’s a fun social event where you get to taste signature items from all the chefs. Food Fight proceeds help support our meal programs, like Meals on Wheels, Critters Meals on Wheels, After School Meals, and Summer Meals for Kids.
Sponsorship For more than 120 years, multiple generations have ensured the success of Neighborhood House. Our mission is to provide a safe environment, resources, and education to empower our community to reach their fullest potential through all life stages. To achieve our mission, Neighborhood House hosts three of the fastest growing and most popular events in Peoria. Your sponsorship will provide critical services in our community while at the same time reaching new audiences for your business.
Without the charitable gifts from local organizations, the work we do & the impact we have would not be quite as magnanimous. Thank you to all of our sponsors!
Help us continue our tradition of helping people help themselves in our community.
Sponsorship Opportunities Platinum Sponsor……….$10,000 & Above Feeds 122 Children for 1 year
Gold Sponsor……….$5,000 Feeds 25 Pets for 1 year
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Ten (10) tickets to Food Fight Ten (10) tickets to Saddle Up Invite to our new 1896 Society Gala Recognition during each event Name on sponsor board at each event Full page ad in all event programs Company logo on all event invitations, fliers, media advertising and press releases Name & logo on RAGBRAI t-shirts Prominent Placement of name & logo on agency website Name & logo listed in our agency newsletter and annual report
Bronze Sponsor……….$1,000 Provides Tutoring & Enrichment Activities for 1 child for 1 year • • •
Five (5) tickets to one event Name on sponsor board at one event Name & logo listed in our agency newsletter and annual report
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Ten (10) tickets to one event of choice Recognition during each event Name on sponsor board at each event Half page ad in two event programs Name in media advertising and press releases Name & logo listed in our agency newsletter and annual report
Silver Sponsor……….$2,500 Provides Funding for 21 individuals to take the GED test • • • • •
Five (5) tickets to one event Name on sponsor board at two events Half page ad in one event program Name in media advertising and press releases Name & logo listed in our agency newsletter and annual report
RAGBRAI Sponsor……….$500 Feeds 1 Senior for 6 months • • •
Name & logo on RAGBRAI t-shirts Name on sponsor board at one event Name & logo listed in our agency newsletter and annual report
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Neighborhood House 1020 S. Matthew St Peoria, IL 61605 www.nhpeoria.org
Your Support We are currently experiencing an unprecedented increase in individuals needing meals and your donations are essential to our ability to continue to provide this necessary service.
It’s in these tough times we rely on your support and generosity to enable us to hold true to our mission. www.nhpeoria.org
We recognize the economic toll we are all facing and welcome all avenues of support you are able to offer: volunteering, meal distribution, shelf stable meal packaging, canned food donations, pet supplies, as the needs are great. We are grateful for all the support our area community is able to provide. Neighborhood House understands the needs of our community, and is adapting to the ever changing situation as best as possible to continue our 120 year tradition of providing for the needs of our community. Thank you for your consideration and for partnering with us. Visit www.nhpeoria.org to learn more or donate.