Salvation Army has grants for unemployed
The Elgin and Carpentersville Salvation Army has a new program to help those in need over the summer, especially those recently unemployed.
The organization has some $36,000 to dole out in one-time grants of up to $300.
Major Ken Nicolai said the grants will go toward a recipient's rent, mortgage or utility bills instead of straight cash.
If everyone gets the one-time, $300 grant, that would mean 120 families would get help.
But Nicolai said officials hope to award 150 to 200 grants because not all will be for the maximum.
"We're in unique circumstances here," he said of the grant program, which is new. "We're stretched beyond our means."
Today is the first day people can apply for the grants, which are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Applicants must have become unemployed or had their hours significantly reduced within the last eight months, be below the poverty line on the Federal Poverty Scale and not received assistance from the Salvation Army within the last 24 months.
Families may apply at 316 Douglas Ave., Elgin, 60120. For more information, call (847) 741-2304.
The city of Elgin and Elgin United Way also contributed to the grant pool. Donations may be sent to the Salvation Army's Elgin address and checks marked "Faith Stimulus Funds."
Give them a hand: Elgin recently hosted the USA Team Handball's club championship tournament and could find out next month whether 30-plus teams from across the country will converge here in 2010 and 2011.
"The event was fantastic, almost flawless from our perspective considering we had three different venues and the overwhelming majority of our participants, referees and fans had never been there before," said Steve Pastorino, USA Team Handball general manager.
He said he will sent out a bid package to Elgin and other communities this week for the next two years.
"Elgin will very much be considered a front-runner, but we have at least six other cities interested," Pastorino said.
Team handball is an Olympic sport and officials want to cultivate interest in the Chicago suburbs with the city bidding for the 2016 games. The last time a U.S. team qualified was in 1996.
Some spectators at the Elgin tournament May 8 through 10 said that it was impossible to watch the entire side of the men's or women's draw because matches were going on at the same time at more than one venue.
Pastorino said organizers purposely scheduled the tournament so teams would play at all three locations: Judson University, the Centre and Elgin Community College.
He said each venue has a different backdrop and playing surface, so the organizers wanted to ensure each team was being treated equally.
More than 1,000 people attended the tournament and Pastorino hopes that will grow in the future.
One of them, according to Pastorino, was Hassan Moustafa, president of the International Handball Federation, which is based out of Cairo, Egypt,
"The sport tends to sell itself," Pastorino said. "It's fascinating to watch. It's easy to pick the rules of the game and it's fun to play."