New alliances mean more services in Elgin
Three neighborhoods ringing downtown Elgin will benefit in the coming year, thanks to a new partnership with the city, United Way and three local nonprofits.
At-risk families and seniors are the two major groups of people who will see increased services in the near-southwest, northeast and eastern neighborhoods near downtown.
Diane O'Connor, director of Community Impact for the United Way of Elgin, said changes in how the organization funds local groups is prompting the new partnerships. Of the $950,000 the United Way will fund for the coming year, $80,000 will go to neighborhoods - one of its three strategic areas, which also includes families and children.
The Renz Addiction and Counseling Center, Salvation Army Golden Diners and Senior Service Associates - all of which service Elgin - will begin working with the Summit Park Neighborhood and Settlement, the South West Area Neighbors and the North East Neighborhood Association in identifying seniors and families who can use intervention and ongoing services, such as meals or help with maintaining their yard or home.
"We are excited about this new arrangement and how we are finally putting the new pieces together," said O'Connor. "Everyone has something to offer - the neighborhoods and the social-service nonprofits - but we need to work together."
O'Connor said 2008 marks the first year the United Way is working with its three strategic focuses. At a meeting earlier this week with neighborhood representatives, Renz, the Salvation Army and Senior Services, the United Way's neighborhood council chose the three neighborhoods and asked each nonprofit to start marketing its programs to more people.
For example, bilingual outreach to more seniors is critical to the Salvation Army's Golden Diners program, which has seen its lunch crowd dwindle to as low as 10 people for one meal. The organization has moved its lunches from an American Legion Post on Liberty Street in Elgin to the Salvation Army headquarters at 316 Douglas Ave. Seniors can have lunch delivered to their home or go to the facility between noon and 1 p.m. Monday - Friday for a donation of $3.50.
The council encouraged the Salvation Army to use the new butterfly garden at the northeast corner of Ann and Douglas to help counter the poor perceptions some attendees may have of South Douglas.
"The Salvation Amy's program encourages participation from everyone, not just low-income seniors," said O'Connor. "This is a nutritious lunch and it's a great opportunity to socialize with other residents. Every Wednesday is Bingo Day. We really want to see this program grow."
Senior Services, which has an Elgin location at 101 S. Grove Ave., is hoping to increase participation in two programs this coming year. One, called a RSVP initiative, is designed to link seniors with local projects. Another, called Neighbor to Neighbor, is for anyone - including seniors, said O'Connor.
"Neighbor to Neighbor is taking the assets and talents of a neighborhood to help meet people in need," she explained.
The Renz Addiction Counseling Center will partner with the Elgin Police Department's Resident Officer or ROPE program to provide more comprehensive services to families. The resident officers live in certain sections of the city with the intent of proactively working with residents to deter crime and increase safety.