SOCIAL SERVICES

SOCIAL SERVICES

Even in an affluent community are food insecure, but resources are like Elmhurst, there is sll a need plenful. for social services ranging from food and clothing to job training and employment, especially for youths, seniors and those with disabilies. Over the past 37 years, the Dan Gibbons Foundaon’s Annual Turkey Trot 5K Fun Run on Thanksgiving Day (but virtual in 2020) has raised more than $4 million to ¢ ECONOMIC CHALLENGES feed the hungry countywide. Assistance is available for residents in Located on Yorkfield Presbyterian financial need and related challenges Church property in south Elmhurst, the due to job loss or cutback hours, divorce, Elmhurst-Yorkfield Food Pantry (EYFP) disability or other sudden/unforeseen operates a 2,500-square-foot facility circumstances. with separate areas for grocery-style Located at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, the Elmhurst Walk-In Assistance Network (EWAN) provides financial assistance with rent, ulies, car repairs and gas, and prescripons, coordinates access to local food pantries and clothes closets, and funds essenal dental care via partnering densts. 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 donaons from individuals and food drives sponsored by youth groups, community organizaons and churches. The Food Pantry also partners Serving all of DuPage County, People’s with Elmhurst’s Jewel Osco stores on a Recourse Center (PRC) provides basic “Food Recovery” operaon. In 2019, needs such as emergency rent and EYFP distributed 300 tons of both mortgage assistance, food and clothing, perishable and non-perishable foods and and offers skill-building resources personal care products serving 488,852 such as literacy classes, job assistance, meals annually to 3,834 individual clients computer training and art. in Elmhurst and seven surrounding LOVE Chrisan Clearinghouse provides communies. Of those served, 53% had financial assistance with rent, ulies children under the age of 19 and 34% and car repairs. had a senior family member. During the first half of 2020, food distribuons Metropolitan Family Services - DuPage increased by 42 percent to 3,710 and provides family-strengthening programs new client registraons tripled to 354 and services, including early learning due to COVID-19. and after-school educaon, job readiness programs, counseling, mental United Community Concerns Associaon health services and legal assistance. (UCCA) distributed $146,710 in DuPage County Area Project (DuCAP) assistance—including sponsorship of connects families to resource, services Northern Illinois Food Bank’s Mobile and educaon that provide a posive Food Pantry—to more than 350 families impact to their daily lives and further and 80 seniors in Elmhurst in 2019-20. promote a healthy environment for More than 1,300 boxes of food valued children to grow live and grow. at $39,000 are distributed during the Sharing Connecons enables families Annual Holiday Food Drive. and businesses to share gently-used EWAN provides access to clients wishing furniture, household items and clothing to use Immaculate Concepon Church’s with families in need, and refers clients Food Pantry and also serves Elmhurst to partnering organizaons such as students through its school snack domesc violence shelters, housing program and Students With Acvity organizaons and food pantries. Needs (SWAN) fund, ensuring children ¢ FOOD INSECURITY can parcipate in school programs. Across DuPage County, some 100,000 people—including 16.4% of children— food, grocery gift cards and related 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 rehabilitaon and job-training skills for those affected by traumac brain injury and stroke, while Special Kids Day stages celebratory events for children with abilies and their families

¢ CARING FOR SENIORS The DuPage Senior Cizens Council (DSCC) iniates, 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 intergeneraon acvies. The City of Elmhurst runs a Senior Cizens 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 Administraon (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 informaon, call 1-800-772-1213 or visit ssa.org.