SOCIAL SERVICES
E
ven in an affluent community like Elmhurst, there is sll a need for social services ranging from food and clothing to job training and employment, especially for youths, seniors and those with disabilies.
¢ ECONOMIC CHALLENGES
Assistance is available for residents in financial need and related challenges due to job loss or cutback hours, divorce, disability or other sudden/unforeseen circumstances. Located at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, the Elmhurst Walk-In Assistance Network (EWAN) provides financial assistance with rent, ulies, car repairs and gas, and prescripons, coordinates access to local food pantries and clothes closets, and funds essenal dental care via partnering densts. Serving all of DuPage County, People’s Recourse Center (PRC) provides basic needs such as emergency rent and mortgage assistance, food and clothing, and offers skill-building resources such as literacy classes, job assistance, computer training and art. LOVE Chrisan Clearinghouse provides financial assistance with rent, ulies and car repairs. Metropolitan Family Services - DuPage provides family-strengthening programs and services, including early learning and after-school educaon, job readiness programs, counseling, mental health services and legal assistance. DuPage County Area Project (DuCAP) connects families to resource, services and educaon that provide a posive impact to their daily lives and further promote a healthy environment for children to grow live and grow. Sharing Connecons enables families and businesses to share gently-used furniture, household items and clothing with families in need, and refers clients to partnering organizaons such as domesc violence shelters, housing organizaons and food pantries.
¢ FOOD INSECURITY
Across DuPage County, some 100,000 people—including 16.4% of children—
are food insecure, but resources are plenful. Over the past 37 years, the Dan Gibbons Foundaon’s Annual Turkey Trot 5K Fun Run on Thanksgiving Day (but virtual in 2020) has raised more than $4 million to feed the hungry countywide. Located on Yorkfield Presbyterian Church property in south Elmhurst, the Elmhurst-Yorkfield Food Pantry (EYFP) operates a 2,500-square-foot facility with separate areas for grocery-style client shopping and food storage. On a monthly basis, EYFP purchases milk, eggs and personal care items at retail cost, totaling 53 percent of the annual budget. The rest of the shelves are stocked with donaons from individuals and food drives sponsored by youth groups, community organizaons and churches. The Food Pantry also partners with Elmhurst’s Jewel Osco stores on a “Food Recovery” operaon. In 2019, EYFP distributed 300 tons of both perishable and non-perishable foods and personal care products serving 488,852 meals annually to 3,834 individual clients in Elmhurst and seven surrounding communies. Of those served, 53% had children under the age of 19 and 34% had a senior family member. During the first half of 2020, food distribuons increased by 42 percent to 3,710 and new client registraons tripled to 354 due to COVID-19. United Community Concerns Associaon (UCCA) distributed $146,710 in food, grocery gift cards and related assistance—including sponsorship of Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry—to more than 350 families and 80 seniors in Elmhurst in 2019-20. More than 1,300 boxes of food valued at $39,000 are distributed during the Annual Holiday Food Drive. EWAN provides access to clients wishing to use Immaculate Concepon Church’s Food Pantry and also serves Elmhurst students through its school snack program and Students With Acvity Needs (SWAN) fund, ensuring children can parcipate in school programs.
In 2019, PRC served 30,000 individuals and distributed 39,884 carts filled with groceries, including fresh produce, frozen meat and bread.
¢ CLOTHING CLOSETS
Residents in need of gently-used, seasonally-appropriate clothing can visit the Community Clothing Center at First United Methodist Church and PRC’s Clothing Closet.
¢ CARING FOR KIDS
Synapse House provides rehabilitaon and job-training skills for those affected by traumac brain injury and stroke, while Special Kids Day stages celebratory events for children with abilies and their families
¢ CARING FOR SENIORS
The DuPage Senior Cizens Council (DSCC) iniates, delivers, monitors and coordinates services that promote the ability of older person to live with dignity. Services include Meals on Wheels, community dining, well-being checks, health and wellness, yard cleanups, minor home, pet care and food assistance, contractor referrals, friend visits and intergeneraon acvies. The City of Elmhurst runs a Senior Cizens Commission out of an office at City Hall.
¢ EMPLOYMENT AND JOB TRAINING
Federally-funded job training and workforce development are available through the State of Illinois Department of Employment Services’ (IDES) Employment Training Center (800-2445631) and County of DuPage’s workNet DuPage Career Center (630-955-2030), which share a Lisle office at 2525 Cabot Dr., Ste. 302.
¢ SOCIAL SECURITY
United States Social Security Administraon (SSA) offices are located in Oak Brook (866-964-7344) at 2301 W. 22nd St., #201 and Hillside (866-9646290) 230 Mannheim Rd. To register for benefits or to obtain informaon, call 1-800-772-1213 or visit ssa.org.
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