Latest news with #ChristianCare
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
$20,000 grant helps Christian Care serve more residents
A new $20,000 state grant is helping a Rock Island nonprofit help more people in need of food and housing. Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced on Friday that Christian Care, which offers shelter, food and support services for homeless people and transitional housing for veterans received a $20,000 Charitable Trust grant. The grant was one of 10 awarded to small nonprofits throughout the state as part of the treasurer's Charitable Trust Stabilization Program. The grants help nonprofits serve people in need by providing housing, food and workforce and economic development assistance. Christian Care has been providing services since 1916. 'We know the essential work that organizations like Christian Care do to support our communities. They deliver services to those in need,' Treasurer Frerichs said at a news conference at Christian Care in Rock Island. 'It's a domino effect. I believe when you invest in people, people invest in themselves, and in turn we all benefit.' 'I want to thank the members of the Illinois Charitable Trust for believing in the work we do,' said Christian Care Executive Director Frank Roe. 'Your support will ensure that we are ready for the expected increase in usage of our meal site over the coming year. We are incredibly grateful to have been selected.' Christian Care provides safe shelter for men, women and children who find themselves experiencing homelessness. It operates a 42-bed men's shelter, with six beds for a Veterans Transitional Housing Program. The women's shelter has a 20-bed capacity for women and children. Meals are provided daily at the shelters. The grant will help Christian Care in its work against food insecurity; the group serves 45,000 meals a year, a 9% increase. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served 365 days a year to over 500 people. Christian Care is in a food desert, with 20.9% of people living below the poverty line, almost double the 11.9% rate in Illinois. Food prices are increasing and nonprofits have to deal with federal funding cuts for programs that help with food and housing. 'Here in Rock Island, and in Illinois we look after our own. Unfortunately, we are hearing about Federal cuts to the very programs that help organizations like Christian Care feed and house our most vulnerable, including unhoused Veterans,' Frerichs said. 'As Treasurer, I will make sure Charitable Trust is here to help those organizations around Illinois that help our neighbors, and make our communities stronger through compassion, faith, and volunteerism.' Treasurer Frerichs' Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund helps small nonprofits with annual budgets of $1 million and at least one full-time employee. Money for the fund comes from fees that not-for-profit corporations pay when they file annual reports with the Illinois Secretary of State. Personal or property tax dollars are not used for the grants. Funds for the fall 2024 cycle were awarded to nonprofits in two categories: organizations with food programs and organizations with workforce and economic development programs. An independent 11-member committee oversees management and guidelines of the fund and chooses the grant recipients. The maximum award amount is $20,000 for each organization. Grant applicants located in an area with pervasive poverty, unemployment and economic distress receive special attention. Previous grant recipients may apply if their grant term has been completed for at least one calendar year. The Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund program was established in 2017 and has awarded 241 grants totaling over $4.8 million to 204 nonprofit organizations. The program has improved life over 100,000 people. The Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund's next grant application period runs from July 1 to September 30 and will award grants to nonprofit charitable programs in two categories: food and housing. Click here or contact the Treasurer's Office at (217) 836-4590 for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
QC warming center sees rise in use during dangerously cold temperatures
The Quad Cities is entering a stretch of dangerously cold weather. 'Many of us take for granted that we have homes to go to, and that we have warm beds and cars to get into,' said Cindi Gramenz, operations manager at Christian Care, Rock Island. To help those experiencing homelessness, Christian Care is opening its warming center doors from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, when the temperature is 15 degrees Fahrenheit or below with windchill. 'Folks who are experiencing homelessness, or even those that are living in poverty, walk everywhere just to get their basic needs met,' Gramenz said. 'Basic needs shouldn't be privilege, it's just a right.' According to Christian Care staff, its day room reached capacity within 45 minutes of opening Monday morning. 'This year, in particular, the need just seems to be far greater,' Gramenz said. 'There's just a lot of folks out there with no place to go, and it's always our goal to make sure that folks are warm and safe.' Gramenz said that when Christian Care reaches capacity it works with partner agencies to locate additional warming centers that can help those experiencing homelessness get off of the street. 'To be able to offer that to them is important,' Gramenz said. 'Whatever we can do to make their quality of life better is what we are all about.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
