Library News

COUNT Y NEWS

Habitat for Humanit y of Ogle Count y gets g rant

A $32,000 grant will help Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County, Inc. continue its mission to provide affordable housing for Ogle County residents.

Habitat has received a $32,000 grant from the Community Grants Program of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois with support from the Dr. Louis and Violet Rubin Fund for its Building New 2022 Habitat Life Stories.

Board President Gail Tuttle and Vanessa WhiteBroome, the executive director, announced the award this week.

“By partnering with those qualified in the Ogle County service area, our affiliate provides opportunities for homeownership thus opening doors to security, stability, hope and a sense of pride in becoming a homeowner,” White-Broome said in a news release. “Though 2020 and 2021 were challenging years in so many aspects, our organization was able to continue to serve lower-income residents in Ogle County with our various housing solutions.”

Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate poverty housing by building simple, decent affordable houses for people in need, helping to revitalize neighborhoods and communities.

With volunteer labor and tax deductible donations of materials and money, the agency builds and rehabilitates houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families.

“In 2020, our largest project started was a 4-bedroom home for a family of six. We are so thankful for the long standing support of our organization,” White-Broome said. “In large part due to prior grant awards, we have been able to help more families live in decent, sustainable and affordable housing.

“In the year 2021, Habitat also completed two handicap ramp projects and other Brush with Kindness repair projects. All these projects improved day to day living activities for our new Habitat partner families.”

White-Broome said Habitat was excited to share this grant award news with the Ogle County community.

“We are very appreciative to the Board of Trustees of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, as well as countless other individuals and businesses who support our organization in one way or another,” she said. “This support has enabled us to serve many families over the years who dreamed of living in safe and affordable housing. We are fortunate to be based in a county that understands why we do what we do year after year.”

Habitat for Ogle County partners each year with families and individuals to offer them opportunities to reside in improved housing.

“We believe that everyone, everywhere should have a healthy, affordable place to call home. When an individual helps build or improve their residence, they are not only building a better life for themselves, but also building a better community,” White-Broome said.

The 2021/22 Community Foundation funds from the Dr. Louis and Violet Rubin Fund, received in December 2021, through the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, will assist in serving more families as Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County fulfills its mission.

“Since our start up in 2002, we’ve been building affordable quality homes for lower-income families that might not otherwise have qualified for a mortgage. Our programs are a “hands up, not a handout,” White-Broome said. “Specifically, the 2021/2022 $32,000 grant award will assist greatly with our 2021 building projects. One project planned is the building of a three- to four-bedroom home in Rochelle, and Brush with Kindness projects that will result in repairs and ramps.”

The agency’s goal remains working alongside individuals in Ogle County to improve their living conditions by offering opportunities for a more stable life as a homeowner, she said.

“The $32,000 grant funds from CFNIL for 2022 will aid greatly in serving more Ogle County families,” she said.

The mission of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is to serve as a catalyst for giving in order to attract, preserve and grow an endowment for the current and future needs of the people of northern Illinois. Since its founding in 1953, CFNIL has granted more than $65 million for charitable purposes in the region.

Photo provided In this 2020 photo, Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County home recipients Felix and Tanya Vega pose with their children and Rochelle Mayor John Bearrows at the site where their new home was built.

MT. MORRIS LIBRARY

Holiday Closing

We will be closed Monday, Jan. 17, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

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Curbside Service Available

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Storytime

Story time is on Wednesdays at 11:15 a.m. We will be reading books about mittens and children will be creating a craft afterward! Come and warm up at the Mount Morris Public Library! All preschool children are welcome.

Adult Book Club

The January book is The Oysterville Sewing Circle by Susan Wiggs. Copies are available at the library. This group will meet in-person at the library on Monday, Jan. 24 at 3:30 p.m.

Display Case Showings

The display cases will be changing! During January, we have a Jim Henson display supplied by Leah Ruit! Stop by to check out all the Muppets and Sesame Street characters in person. We are always looking for people who are willing to share a collection or artwork in our display cases. If you are interested, please let us know.

Explore More Illinois

Explore More Illinois is a cultural pass program that provides discounts at museums, visual and performing arts centers, park districts, and more around the state. Use Explore More Illinois to find fun and educational places to go on a free afternoon or for a little getaway.

Explore More Illinois is easy to use with your library card. Visit the library’s website to browse attractions. You can find the information on our resource page.

Rock River Center

The Rock River Center has a representative in our library the second Thursday of every month. Services provided by Rock River Center are designed to enable older and disabled persons to remain independent, thereby avoiding costly long-term care.

No appointment necessary but, if you want to make an appointment with the Rock River Center you may call 815-732-3252.

Adult Programming

We are trying to get back into the swing of offering monthly programs for adults. We would love to hear from you.

Do evenings or weekends work better?

Do you have any program ideas? Do you have a program you would like to share? Contact Mary Cheatwood at the library.

Additional Services Offered

We make copies (25¢ per black and white page). We fax ($2 for the first page and 50¢ each additional page). We can scan a document and send it to email ($2 per document). You can use a computer without a library card for $1.

Resume software is available on our computers.

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