Community Resources In Illinois

For additional food resources, please see the following:

Contact Meals on Wheals

Meals on Wheels is a nationwide program that provides older Americans nutritious meals and safety checks at little to no cost. The meals can be delivered to your home if you meet eligibility requirements, or you can go to a congregate nutrition site for socialization and food. If you struggle with isolation and meal prep, then Meals on Wheels could provide ease and companionship. For more information, click here.

Contact a SNAP Team Member

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the food stamp program, provides extra funds to low-income families to buy groceries. Northern Illinois Food Bank SNAP Team is available from 8:30am – 8:00pm, Monday – Friday. Click here to contact a SNAP Team Member. 

An additional guide on food stamps for seniors on Social Security can be found here. 

Contact WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age 5 who are found to be at nutritional risk. Click here to get more information. 

Find a Local Pantry Near You

Northern Illinois Food Bank works with over 900 food pantries, mobile food truck markets, and soup kitchens who distribute perishable and non perishable foods that you can choose from based on your dietary needs. Find one near you.

Find a Mobile Market near you

Each week Northern Illinois Food Bank’s, Mobile Markets are distributing free and fresh groceries to neighbors throughout Northern Illinois. Everyone is welcome. Find one near you.

Shop Top Box Foods

A community-driven nonprofit that creates access to healthy and affordable food for all. Shop their menu of fresh fruits and vegetables, high-quality meats, seafood, local products, and seasonal specials. Top Box deliver directly to your door for no added fee and accept SNAP/Link card or Debit/Credit card. Click here to shop their menu.

USDA Food and Nutrition Service

Team Nutrition provides MyPlate materials that are developed specifically for kids and their parents/caregivers. Click here for more information.

In DEKALB County, call 2-1-1 or visit PATH to find help with housing, utilities, and more.

Find DeKalb County information here.

Contact the DeKalb County Health Department here.

Address: 2550 North Annie Glidden Road, DeKalb, IL 60115

Phone Number: (815) 758-6673

Family Service Agency

Family Service Agency serves as an “umbrella agency” of five distinct community programs: Youth Mentoring, Children’s Advocacy Center, Center for Youth Counseling, Community Action Program, and Senior Services. We organize the efforts of many local agencies to provide the best care possible to our community. For more information, click here. 

Address: 1325 Sycamore Rd., DeKalb, IL 60115

Phone: (815) 758-8616

Network of Nations

Network of Nations (NofN) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that links Northern Illinois University (NIU) and community international students with each other and with volunteers from churches in the DeKalb Co., Illinois area. Network of Nations is committed to extending hospitality and practical assistance, and offering them a caring community for friendship and cross-cultural understanding. For more information, click here. 

Safe Passage

Safe Passage, a comprehensive domestic violence and sexual assault agency, provides: a 24-hour hotline; short and long term transitional housing (including all food and personal items); counseling; children’s therapy for child victims of sexual assault and domestic violence; legal advocacy; 24-hour hospital response; prevention programs for children and adolescents and more. You can visit their website here. 

24 Hour Crisis/Client service call line: (815) 756-5228

24 Hour Crisis/Client text line (815) 393-1995

Hope Haven

Hope Haven’s mission is to provide shelter, meals, and life skills programs for homeless individuals and families as they prepare for relocation. For more information, click here. 

Address: 1145 Rushmoore Dr, DeKalb, IL 60115

Phone: (815) 758-5765

In GRUNDY County, call 2-1-1 or visit PATH to find help with housing, utilities, and more.

Contact the Grundy County Health Department here.

Address: 1320 Union Street, Morris, IL 60450

Disability Resource Center

As people with disabilities and their advocates, the Disability Resource Center strives for equality and empowerment of persons with disabilities in the Will and Grundy County areas. They inform persons with disabilities of their rights, educate them about their responsibilities, provide support services, promote advocacy, and raise community awareness about disability issues. Click here for more information.

Address: 77 N. 129th Infantry Dr, Joliet, IL 60435

Illinois Valley Industries

Illinois Valley Industries (IVI) has been assisting adults with intellectual, developmental, sensory, physical and emotional barriers to define who they are, what they want to do and how they direct their lives through vocational, educational, social and residential services for over 50 years. Illinois Valley Industries’ mission is to help people participate in their community, live independently, contribute to society and enhance the quality of their lives. Click here for more information.

Address: 1033 Third Ave, Morris, IL 60450

Phone: (815) 942-6133

Joliet Junior College

Together, Workforce Development and Joliet Junior College (JJC) are committed to encouraging local economic development. Through their partnerships, they provide helpful services to the Will and Grundy County communities. Grundy Workforce Services provides job search and career services at no cost to job seekers in Grundy County. Click here for more information. 

Workforce Development 

Address: 235 N. Chicago Street, Joliet, IL 60432

Phone: (815) 280-1526

Grundy Workforce Services

Address: 725 School Street, Door 27, Morris, IL 60450

Phone: (815) 942-0566

Morris Hospital & Healthcare Center

Lifeline

Morris Hospital is pleased to connect members of the community with Lifeline, a medical  alert system that enables individuals to live independently and with peace of mind. Click here for more information.

Address: 150 West High Street, Morris, IL 60450

Phone: (815) 705-7251

Patient Transportation

Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers is pleased to offer a free, non-emergent transportation service to the Morris Hospital main campus and area physician offices. This important service makes healthcare accessible to patients who may be unable to drive or have limited mobility. Their vehicles are equipped to accommodate wheelchairs. Click here for more information. 

Address: 150 West High Street, Morris, IL 60450

Phone: (815) 705-7250

In KANE County, call 2-1-1 or visit PATH to find help with housing, utilities, and more.

In KANKAKEE County, call 2-1-1 or visit PATH to find help with housing, utilities, and more.

In LAKE County, call or text 2-1-1 for help with housing, utilities, mental health and addiction, health care, crisis help, support, and more. Visit 211LakeCounty.org

Find Lake County information here. 

Find Lake County Health Department information here. 

Address: 3010 Grand Avenue, Waukegan, IL 60085

Phone Number: (847) 377-8000

A Safe Place

A Safe Place is the sole provider of services exclusively addressing domestic violence and human trafficking in Lake County, Illinois. Through multi-faceted programs we assist victims in transforming their lives after violence, prevent future abuse by addressing its root cause through abuser intervention programs, and educate the community about domestic violence and human trafficking and how we can all be involved in ending them. For more information, click here. 

24 Hour toll free hotline: (800) 600-SAFE (7233)

Main office: (847) 731-7165

Kids Above All

Since 1894, our mission has been to protect, heal and educate children and families so they can build better lives. Using a trauma-informed, clinical framework, Kids Above All invests in children and youth, strengths families through various programs, and offers therapeutic and counseling services. For more information, click here. 

Address: 415 Washington St., Suite 002 Waukegan, IL 60085

Phone: (773) 867-7360

Mano a Mano

Mano a Mano’s mission is to empower immigrant families to become full participants in their community. Our vision is an integrated community where everyone has access to opportunities and pathways to success. Through programs that support engaged citizens, healthy families, productive parents, and successful children. Serving Lake and McHenry Counties. For more information, click here. 

Address: 1801 Sheridan Rd., Suite #101 North Chicago, IL 60064

Phone: (224) 538-7270

PADS Lake County

PADS Lake County is a community-based organization that provides trauma-informed support, resources, and shelter to individuals and families experiencing a housing crisis. For more information, click here. 

Address: 1800 Grand Ave, Waukegan, IL 60085

Email: info@padslakecounty.org

If you or someone you know are experiencing homelessness you can find help at (847) 689-4357 or help@padslakecounty.org

Need help now?

Find Shelter: 847-689-4357

After-hours Support: 847-377-8088

Street Outreach: 847-616-5557

Stay in Your Housing: 847-389-4357

YWCA

YWCA empowers women, children, and families in the Lake County community. They have been in Lake County for over 98 years and continue to strive for the growth and success of all those living in the area. YWCA provides services such as: childcare resources and referral, an economic empowerment program, health services program, and youth development programs. For more information, click here. 

Address: 1425 Tri State Pkwy Suite 180, Gurnee, IL

Phone: (847) 662-4247

In WILL County, visit PATH to find help with housing, utilities, and more.

Find Will County Center for Community Concerns here

The mission of Will County Center for Community Concerns is to assist and enable low and moderate income individuals to obtain the opportunities needed to prepare themselves for self-sufficiency.

Address: 2455 Glenwood Avenue, Joliet, IL 60435

Phone: (815) 722-0722

Find Will County Health Department information here

Address: 501 Ella Ave Joliet, IL 60433

Phone: (815) 727-8480

In WINNEBAGO County, visit PATH to find help with housing, utilities, and more.

Winnebago Community Market

The Winnebago Community Market is a healthy, client-choice market serving neighbors in need of food assistance in Winnebago County by providing groceries and other resources. For more information, click here. 

Address: 765 Research Parkway Rockford, IL 61109

Phone: (815) 639-1257 ext. 555

Find Winnebago County information here

Find Winnebago County Health Department information here

Address: 555 North Court Street, Rockford, IL 61103

Phone: (815) 720-4000

Rock Valley College Dislocated Workers Program

Click here to find more information.

Phone Number: 815-921-2200 or 815-395-6619

The Workforce Connection 

The Workforce Connection serves Winnebago, Boone, and Stephenson counties. Current resources include: job training, computer and internet access, job search and resume assistance, refugee and immigrant services, assistive technology, and more. For more information, click here. 

Phone: 815-847-7574

Find additional resources with the Northern Illinois Food Bank click here 

CaptionCall

CaptionCall is a federally funded program, established by the Americans with Disabilities Act, and is a no-cost resource for those with hearing loss who could need captioning to use the phone effectively. Helps people with hearing loss live more independently for a longer period of time. For more information, click here.

Services in English and Spanish

(630) 605-2394

COBRA

https://www.dol.gov/ebsa/newsroom/fscobra.html

Comprehensive healthcare for children

https://www.allkids.com/

To locate child care for parents at this time, call the statewide toll free number (888) 228-1146 

Free way to find a list of housing options in Illinois

https://www.ilhousingsearch.org/

Free services for career, education and work support

https://www.illinoisworknet.com/

Free/Low Cost Internet

For more information, visit: https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/ConnectIllinois/Pages/LowCostBroadband.aspx

Illinois Comprehensive Health Insurance Program

https://www.chip.state.il.us/

Illinois Department of Aging: Senior HelpLine

If you’re a senior citizen in Illinois trying to reach the Senior HelpLine, call: 1-800-252- 8966

Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES)

For unemployment benefits questions, call: 1-800-244-5631

Or visit the IDES website: www.2.illinois.gov/ides/Pages/default.aspx

Please note: IDES has been experiencing a higher than normal influx of inquiries. Please be patient but persistent in your outreach

Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)

Apply for SNAP, Medical Assistance, and other assistance programs.

Visit their website to learn more about what programs and assistance IDHS can help provide: http://www.dhs.state.il.us

To apply for assistance visit: ABE.Illinois.gov

You can also call the ABE hotline for assistance at 1-800-843-6154

Official Health Marketplace

http://getcoveredillinois.gov/

Utility Bill Assistance/LIHEAP

http://www.illinois.gov/dceo/CommunityServices/UtilityBillAssistance/Pages/HowtoApply.aspx or call 877-411-9276

Veteran Services

https://www1.va.gov/

https://www.ides.illinois.gov/Pages/Veteran_Services.aspx

WellCare – Medicare Advantage Plans

https://www.wellcarenow.com/