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The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation is a nonprofit serving people affected by multiple sclerosis (MS). Callers receive personalized information about multiple sclerosis and connections to local and national resources related to MS. Service coordinators and peer counselors can talk through needs, answer questions, and help find the right support. Through the helpline, people with MS can also learn about and apply for a variety of support programs (eligibility usually requires an MS diagnosis), such as *Emergency Assistance Grant -- financial help for urgent needs like rent or utility bills (documentation required) *Healthcare Assistance Grant -- helps uninsured individuals pay for neurologist or dental visits *Homecare Assistance Grant – short-term homecare, caregiver respite, therapy services *Transportation Assistance Grant – funding for paratransit or rides to medical appointments (Lyft/Uber) and minor car repairs *Assistive Technology Program – info and partial funding for devices that aid daily living (e.g., canes, adaptive tech) *Computer Program – provides computers to help people with MS stay connected. *Cooling Program – cooling vests and accessories for heat sensitivity. In addition, the helpline can connect callers to peer counseling, advice on local support groups, and online communities.

Tri-County Opportunities Council is a community action agency serving Bureau, Carroll, LaSalle, Lee, Marshall, Ogle, Putnam, Stark, and Whiteside counties. ============================================== 2025-26 LIHEAP Utility Assistance Details Please call after September 16, 2025 to schedule for October onward. Marshall County LIHEAP Office: 309-246-2200 Stark County LIHEAP Office: 309-286-0001 Putnam County, please use main office line for LIHEAP: 815-625-7830 October Appointments - priority scheduling for: -Seniors (60 & over) -Disabled individuals -Families with children 5 & under -Households disconnected or under imminent threat of disconnection November-Open enrollment for all households. In addition to LIHEAP, Tri-Counties Opportunities Council offers the "Neighbor to Neighbor" program for possible utility assistance.

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 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.

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.

Tazwood Community Services, Inc. is organized for the purpose of reducing the causes and alleviating the effects of poverty in Tazewell and Woodford counties. ==================== 2025-26 LIHEAP Energy Assistance Program Tazwood Community Services continues to set appointments, as they become available, for 2025-26 LIHEAP Energy Assistance, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-Noon & 1-4 p.m. Online scheduling is available at www.tazwoodcs.org/appointments If there are no appointments available when visiting the scheduling system, that means they are filled up for the full 60 days ahead at that time. IF IN A CRISIS SITUATION, SUCH AS PENDING DISCONNECTION OR ALREADY BEING DISCONNECTED , IT IS RECOMMENDED TO STILL CALL ANYWAY, EVEN IF NO APPOINTMENTS ARE LISTED ONLINE. PLEASE NOTE THAT FURNACE ASSISTANCE IS A SEPARATE PROGRAM, SO YOU SHOULD GO AHEAD AND CHECK WITH TAZWOOD, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS LISTED ONLINE. In addition, customers can either call or go to their local office, but this is ONLY to schedule an appointment. When calling into the office, you might get a recorded message stating that the phones are disconnected, the number cannot be completed as dialed, all circuits are busy, etc. The type of message you receive varies based on your phone carrier. Unless Tazwood makes a post on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064748766860) the phones ARE working. There can be thousands of customers calling on a given day, and Tazwood has around 20 staff answering the phones and scheduling appointments. It is important to remember that LIHEAP runs from October 1, 2025 - August 15, 2026, or until funding is exhausted. Customers can opt to wait and come in during the winter months if they would like to avoid the rush that that beginning of the program year brings. ====================================== *Warm Neighbors, Cool Friends, which is for higher income households, also resumes October 1, 2025. *Tazwood will continue to complete applications to enroll customers in the Low Income Discount Rate (LIDR) if you are an Ameren gas or Nicor gas customer

People who receive assistance from the Poverello Outreach ministry are hardworking men and women who are simply having a tough time making ends meet. Often they are working at two or three jobs or suffer from ill-health. They simply need a little bit of help, and Poverello Outreach strives to assist them.

Tazwood Community Services, Inc. is the community action agency now serving Peoria County, in addition to Tazewell and Woodford counties.

The Salvation Army sometimes has funds available to assist with car repairs.