Ela Township offers residents a multitude of services

Ela Township offers a multitude of services for residents:

• Lending Closet: Medical equipment to lend to Ela Township residents, including walkers (with or without wheels), crutches, canes, wheelchairs, toilet risers and shower chairs. Donations of clean, gently used equipment are also appreciated.

• Handicap Placards: Applications for a parking placard can be picked up at the Ela Township Supervisor's Office or are provided by physicians. They need to be filled out and signed by a doctor and then returned to Ela Township. The township can issue a 90-day placard; if a longer placard is needed, the township will mail the application to the Secretary of State's office for them to mail recipients the extended placard.

• Voter Registration: Change of address? New voter? Come to the Supervisor's Office at Ela Township with an item that has a current address (drivers license, bill or bank statement) and fill out the registration card. The township will mail that to Lake County. In an election year, early voting is provided at Ela Town Hall. On election day, no voting takes place at Ela Township; voters must vote at their designated precinct.

• LIHEAP (Low Income Heating and Electric Assistance Program): Applications can be taken at the Ela Township Supervisor's Office starting in September for the elderly and persons with a disability, in October for families with a child 5 years and younger and in November for all others who are eligible under the LIHEAP income guidelines. Items needed: identification; Social Security cards for all members living in the home; proof of income for all people 18 and older; most recent gas and electric statements; and a lease agreement if you rent. Theses items must be the most recent.

• Ela Township Vehicle Stickers: If you park in Chicago you will need to show that your vehicle is from Ela Township. There is no cost.

• General Financial Assistance/Emergency Financial Assistance: Ela Township provides help to those in need of financial assistance, overdue rent, car repair (if employed), gas, electric, water bills. For more information and details about this assistance, call the Ela Township office at (847) 438-7823.

Ela Township serves more than 40,000 residents and covers 36 square miles. Within its borders are all or part of the villages of Barrington, Deer Park, Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer, Lake Zurich, Long Grove, North Barrington and portions of unincorporated Palatine and Mundelein.

The Ela Township Offices are at 1155 E. Route 22 in Lake Zurich. For more information about township programs and services, visit www.elatownship.org and like us on Facebook.