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The Restaurant Employee Relief Fund is a program of the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (IRAEF) that offers emergency assistance to Illinois food and beverage workers facing an unanticipated hardship within the past 90 days such as: accident, illness, injury, death of an immediate family member, or natural disaster. If you are in need of assistance, please complete the online application form. All grant requests will be reviewed. The IRAEF Restaurant Employee Relief Fund grants are awarded to eligible individuals based on available funds and limited to one per individual. Grants cover costs of living expenses for life-altering events and range from $250-$3,000.

Founded in 2004 as a non-profit, non-partisan 501(c) (3) organization, the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes provides assistance, as resources allow, to the wounded veterans and families of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn.

The Veterans Assistance Commission is an agency that is operated by and for veterans. The commission provides aid to those indigent veterans and their families residing in Tazewell County who meet eligibility requirements.

The Salvation Army Canton & Fulton County 360 Life Center offers a variety of services for Fulton County residents in need. This location partners with Loving Bottoms to offer diapers, wipes, period kits including pads and tampons, as well as adult diapers and bed pads.

Woodford County Heartline exists to provide financial aid and essential basics for residents of Woodford County who find themselves in a short-term crisis.

The Veterans Assistance program is an emergency and interim financial assistance program and should not be considered to be an ongoing financial supportive program. All assistance provided by the VACPC is predicated on an established standard of need as set forth by IDHS. It is not the intent of either the Commission or the County to provide assistance either less than or in excess of the levels of assistance adopted by IDHS. The following assistance is given upon qualification: *Food Orders and Personal Items: Depending on size of family. *Utilities and Fuel: Utility payments will be made, providing the applicant qualifies in other respects. No deposits or past due bills will be paid to the utility company. *Rent Payments: This Veterans Assistance office does not pay security deposits, back rents or home finding fees. Rents shall not be paid to relatives unless it is a separate rental dwelling. *Transportation: The VA will provide Transportation for the veteran to the local Veterans Medical Center by the least expensive means when necessary.

Community Needs Agency in Chillicothe is an all-volunteer resource center that serves residents of Illinois Valley Central School District 321 (Chillicothe, Rome, Mossville area). All programs and services are income-based. A couple of service clarifications: -Emergency food can be provided as available to clients by appointment only. -One aspect of energy assistance is LIHEAP application assistance, offered by appointment only for clients.

The Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) of Fulton County is available to assist veterans with their VA administrative needs, like filing claims; re-certifying paperwork with the VA; obtaining military and civilian medical documents, etc. for help with Veterans Administration claims; registering for VA Health Care; and acquiring legal copies of military records to include copies of Certificate of Discharge and Release from Active Duty (DD-214). The VAC has an accredited veteran service officer available to file claims. The office also offers Emergency Financial Assistance to Honorably Discharged Fulton County Veterans who qualify under the Federal Poverty Guidelines. In addition, the Veterans Assistance Commission provides free transportation to and from VA Health Care Facility appointments in Illinois and Iowa. These rides are on a first come first serve basis. Veterans should call in to reserve their ride immediately upon notification of their next appointment.

The Salvation Army is an international movement and an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. It offers numerous assistance programs for those in need. ------------------ 2025-26 Warming & Cooling Center Information: Open as a warming center when the temperatures fall below freezing. The Salvation Army's building is at 243 Derby St. in Pekin, and The Pekin Outreach Initiative is housed on the East Side of this building. The Pekin Outreach Initiative portion is open from 11am-4pm, Monday through Sunday, for people to drop in and warm up. The Salvation Army shelter in the gym at the same location is open overnight 5pm-10:30am, Monday through Sunday, for warming. Usually limited to 10-15 people at most for this purpose.

Provides one-time financial assistance grants (up to $2,500) to eligible active-duty service members, activated Guard or Reserve members, and their families who are experiencing unexpected financial hardship due to deployment, military-related injury, or service-related circumstances. Assistance may help cover basic living expenses such as rent, utilities, or other essential bills. Grants are paid directly to creditors and do not require repayment. Expenses Eligible for consideration of payment (daily necessities): *Housing expenses - mortgage, rent, repairs, and homeowners’ insurance (establishing residence/insurance or paying off expenses for a residence that is no longer being occupied will not be considered) *Vehicle expenses - payments, repairs, insurance (purchasing/paying off loan, major repairs for vehicles over 10 years old, registering, establishing insurance will not be considered) *Utilities (establishing/paying off utilities for a residence no longer being occupied will not be considered) *Childcare *Medical bills (the patient’s portion for necessary or emergency medical care only). Expenses Ineligible for consideration for payment: *Military debt/repayment, tuition assistance debt/repayment *Cable, internet, secondary phones *Taxes owed of any kind *Rentals of any kind (vehicle, furniture, and/or electronics) *Any other expenses not determined to be a "daily necessity" The eligible and ineligible expense lists are not all inclusive. Each case will be carefully reviewed for its own merits. All applications are individually reviewed, and the VFW reserves the right to make exceptions on a case by case basis.

The Woodford County Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) is operated by and for U.S. veterans. VAC officers work with veterans and dependents to determine their entitled benefits and file claims with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. VAC officers guide applicants through the entire process and fight to ensure a fair review of all claims. The Veterans Assistance Commission's programs are considered emergency and interim financial assistance programs and should not be considered as an ongoing financial supportive program. All assistance provided by the VAC is predicated on an established standard of need as set forth by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). It is not the intent of either the Commission or the County to provide assistance either less than or in excess of the levels of assistance adopted by IDHS.

The Stark County Good Samaritan Fund accepts applications from working families in the area that have needs beyond their means to pay. The Fund provides stop gap assistance to get them back on their feet and can potentially assist with a variety of services. About one third of all funds will be used to pay utility bills. Another one third will pay for housing, rent or mortgage payments. The final third will end up going for everything from medical services, to car mufflers. The aim is to keep the people in their present homes, to keep their car working so they can get to work, and to get them needed medical attention so that they can work. The Fund has a board that determines who qualifies for help and how much help can be provided. The board also governs all other aspects of the organization.

The Salvation Army is an international movement and an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. It offers numerous assistance programs for those in need. ======================== Some additional details on a few common services: ------------------------------------------------ For RENTAL ASSISTANCE, there are two programs: 1. First month's rent and/or deposit assistance: Only available in domestic violence situations, disasters, or when being released from an institution (jail, hospital, or other facility) after 90 days. May call anytime for screening. Please ask for a case manager and state that you are in such a situation. 2. Back rent: -Will need proof of hardship and proof of income (or projected income). Please call repeatedly the first Monday of the month @ 8:30 a.m. (if Monday is a holiday, please call Tuesday) -Back rent program also includes contract for deed and lot rent for trailers. ----------------------------------- Mortgage Assistance (principle & interest only; no late fees or escrow/taxes): -Applicant will need proof of hardship, income (or projected income), and some sort of statement from the lender about delinquent payment. Please call repeatedly the first Monday of the month @ 8:30 a.m. (if Monday is a holiday, please call Tuesday) ============================= Warm Neighbors, Cool Friends *Electric/Gas Assistance (Warm Neighbors, Cool Friends for Ameren Illinois customers): For moderate-income people in crisis situation (those with low incomes must go through Tazwood Community Services-LIHEAP or Peoria Township Relief/try local township office). Please see specific income guidelines and further eligibility guidelines here: https://www.warmneighborscoolfriends.org =============================