Published for the Clients of Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry
CommunityConnections Upcoming programs and opportunities PANTRY REMINDERS
To ensure Loaves & Fishes operates efficiently for all clients, we must enforce the following policies:
Parking
Clients are not permitted to park at Loaves & Fishes or stand outside before 8:00 a.m. Los clientes no se les permite aparcar en Loaves & Fishes o estar de pie afuera antes de las 8:00 a.m.
Pantry Hours/Registration
Registration ends 30 minutes prior to closing. El registro termina 30 minutos antes del cierre.
Give Your Children a Great Start!
Sign your children up for Metropolitan Family Services DuPage Head Start Programs. Head Start is available for families in DuPage County with children from birth to age 5. It’s free! Head Start offers programs to help children learn and get ready for school. Enrollment is open now for families who meet income guidelines or have a child with a disability or special needs. For locations and to learn more call 630-784-4801.
De A Sus Hijos Un Gran Comienzo
Inscriba a sus hijos en los programas de Head Start de Metropolitan Family Services DuPage. Head Start está disponible para las familias en el condado de DuPage con niños entre la edad de nacimiento hasta las 5 años. Y Es Gratis! Head Start ofrece programas para ayudar a los niños a aprender y prepararse para la escuela. La inscripción esta abierta para las familias que cumplan con los requistitos de ingresos o tengan un hijo con una discapacidad o necesidades especiales. Para obtener más información llame al 630-784-4801.
November • Community Calendar
Looking forward to the December Holiday? If you are in need of holiday gifts for your children, contact your local church, DuPage County Community Services (for qualifying families) or Sharing Connections. DuPage County Information and Referrals (630) 407-6500 Sharing Connections – a Toys For Tots site (630) 971-0565.
¿Mirando adelante a la fiesta de diciembre?
Low Interest Car Loans Loans made through the Ways-To-Work organization help families buy or repair a car, allowing parents to more easily meet job demands while raising a child. Must be employed 20 hours a week for at least 6 months, and reside in Cook, DuPage County or Aurora. Other qualifiers apply. Call 1-877-601-2769, or visit www. waystowork.org for more information.
Do your kids/teens need Transportation?
DuPage County Information and Referrals (630) 407-6500
Kids Teen Rider offers safe and costeffective transportation service for kids and teenagers. Riders must live in Naperville/Aurora School Districts 203 & 204 or surrounding areas. Call Tiffany Stephens at 630-405-4572 if you have questions or to make an appointment. Find our more at www.kidsteenrider.com
Sharing Connections – a Toys For Tots site (630) 971-0565.
Tutoring in English
Si usted está en necesidad de regalos de navidad para sus hijos, póngase en contacto con su iglesia local o DuPage County Community Services o Sharing Connections.
Trouble paying your mortgage due to job loss or pay cut? The Illinois Hardest Hit program offers temporary help to homeowners faced with unemployment or underemployment to catch up on their payments and save their home. Free application. For details and to apply go to www.illinoishardesthit.org
¿Tiene problemas con pagar su hipoteca por que perdió su trabajo o disminuyó su salario? El Programa Hardest Hit de Illinois ofrece ayuda temporal para dueños de casa que se enfrentan con una pérdida de empleo o bempleo y desean ponerse al corriente con sus pagos y salvar su casa. Solicitud Gratuita.Para más detalles y información sobre la solicitud, visite www. illinoishardesthit.org
Would you like to improve your English speaking, reading and writing skills, but find it impossible to attend classes? Literacy DuPage offers tutoring schedules that are customized to meet your needs. Contact Literacy DuPage at 630-416-6699 and tell them that Loaves & Fishes sent you.
Hands & Feet Outreach
St. Paul Lutheran Church is sponsoring an outreach program at 537 S. Ardmore in Villa Park to help those in DuPage County who need item which cannot be purchased by food stamps (soap, toothpaste, diapers, shampoo, toilet paper, laundry detergent, and more). Hands and Feet will be open the first Sunday of the month from 2-4pm. Call 630-832-5580 if you have questions. Bring ID or lease to show address.
November • News & Reminders Public Benefit Assistance
Got Questions on What You Eat? We’ve got answers! FREE Nutrition Counseling is now available and may help you: • Learn which foods may improve or prevent illness •
Plan menus and gain food preparation and shopping knowledge
•
Learn how to understand food labels and more.
Appointments are available on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for individuals and families with no insurance. Visit the reception desk to schedule an appointment.
If you are facing an emergency, or need help in understanding the community assistance that might be available to you or your household, meet with a representative from Loaves & Fishes while you are at the pantry. •
Illinois Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP)
Submit your application online for additional food for your family. Benefits are provided on the Link Card, an electronic card that can be used at most grocery stores.
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) This assistance program helps eligible households pay winter gas or electric bills. •
Need Help Paying your Gas or Electric Bill?
LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) can help. An overdue bill or disconnect notice is not required to receive LIHEAP assistance. All households that meet income eligibility may apply starting November 1.
Please have copies of the originals of the following required documentation: • • • • •
Social Security cards for all family members Proof of last 30 days of income Most recent gas and/or electric bills Proof of rental cost If a member of your household receives TANF or AABD benefits, bring the “Medical Eligibility Card.”
Medical Care (Access DuPage) Access DuPage provides medical care to DuPage residents with no health insurance. Make an appointment to fill out an application at the reception desk. •SNAP El programa de asistencia de nutrición suplementaria de Illinois puede ayudarle con los costos de la comida. Los beneficios se proveen a través de la tarjeta Link– una tarjeta electrónica que puede ser usada en la mayoría de las tiendas de alimentos . Nuestro representante trabajará con Ud durante para enviar la aplicación.
• El PROGRAMA DE ASISTENCIA DE ENERGIA PARA HOGARES DE BAJOS INGRESOS (LIHEAP por sus siglas en Inglés) ayuda a hogares elegibles a pagar costos eléctricos o de gas durante el invierno. Nuestro representante trabajará con Ud durante para enviar la aplicación.
Featured Community Resource
Sharing Connections provides gently used furniture and household items such as beds, tables, chairs and sofas to families at or below the poverty level struggling with fire, flood, job loss, domestic violence relocation and veterans suffering from war trauma by providing them with the items they cannot afford to purchase.
5111 Chase Ave. • Downers Grove, IL 60515 • Phone (630) 971-0565 • Fax (630) 971-9594
Eligibility for furniture and household items is on a referral basis only. That means in order to use their services you will need to have a referral submitted by an approved social worker or case manager that you actively work with. During this referral process you will have to show proof of annual income and circumstances in order to qualify. Home visits may be required in some instances. Sharing Connections does not replace furniture you currently own and only provides services to individuals without home furnishings. Sharing Connections does not provide new furnishings. The items are gently used items from the community. To promote a sense of ownership and encourage self sufficiency, Sharing Connections charges a $50 access fee to use their services - regardless of the amount of items provided. This minimal charge allows them to continue to provide this service.