Latest news with #SeniorServices
Chicago Tribune
24-05-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Senior Services in Elgin to hold rally Wednesday to decry proposed federal cuts
Senior Services Associates Inc. in Elgin is one of many nonprofit groups participating in rallies Wednesday to protest proposed federal budget cuts to the Older Americans Act. The Elgin event is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. at 101 S. Grove Ave., and there will be others at Senior Services locations in Aurora, Crystal Lake and Yorkville. Advocates are worried there'll be 'literally no dollars for the Older Americans Act,' which funds programs that provide meal delivery and transportation for seniors, said Adele Larsen, director of marketing for the Elgin office. 'The older citizens in each of our communities in the state of Illinois built these communities. We can't turn our backs on them now.' As part of the event, staff will be helping seniors write letters in opposition to the cuts and providing information about how to contact local lawmakers. All ages are welcome to attend, Larsen said. There's a sense of urgency in getting the word out, she said, because the U.S. House has already voted to support the bill and the U.S. Senate could vote on it at any time. 'We are all trying to beat the clock,' Larsen said. The Older Americans Act 'funds a myriad of programs for seniors,' she said. Among them are those the provide access to transportation, prevent social isolation, deliver meals and offer assistance with Medicare and Medicaid. Senior Services' programs not only offer assistance in practical ways, they also deal with things like social isolation, which is considered a health issue, Larsen said. The surgeon general has said isolation is like smoking 15 cigarettes a day in terms of the effect it can have on health, she said. 'It shows how harmful being alone is,' she said. Our staff is 'so knowledgeable about it. They do it all day. They are trained. It's so helpful,' she said. If the cuts are made, thousands of seniors around the state would be impacted, Larsen said. An estimated 15,000 seniors receive transportation services and more than 183,200 have meals delivered to their homes, she said. A program through which staff visit seniors at home would be affected as well, Larsen said. Illinois receives about $54 million through the act, according to AgeOptions. Senior Services has foundational grants, does fundraisers and seeks out private donations to help support their efforts, Larsen said. Donations are wonderful and help keep '(the agency) afloat, but those government dollars are really crucial,' Larsen said. Activity Director Minnie Vasquez works with seniors daily. 'They are worried about it,' she said. 'They say, 'This is our place. We depend on Senior Services.'' They are also mad, Vasquez said. Many of them spent the last week making posters for the rally. 'They very much want their voice heard,' Larsen said. 'Seniors have enough to worry about with finances, home repairs and all those things,' Larsen said. 'We are always there to try to calm the storm a little bit and help them through it.' Senior Services has about 20,500 clients in Kane County. 'It's a very precarious time,' Larsen said. 'We, as an agency, are not political. We don't care if it's a Republican or Democrat who helps us. It's not a partisan issue. It's just important to get the message out and save these programs.'
Chicago Tribune
14-02-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Deadline extended for taking part in St. Patrick's Parade in St. Charles
The deadline to apply to take part in the St. Patrick's Parade in St. Charles has been extended to Friday, Feb. 21, event organizers said in a press release, The parade is set to begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 15, along Main Street in St. Charles, beginning at Sixth Street and concluding at Fourth Avenue. Local businesses, community groups and non-profits are encouraged to participate in this year's parade, organizers said. To view the St. Patrick's Parade entry form, go to Entries that will have more than 20 walkers will need to reach out to the St. Charles Business Alliance at 630-443-3867 or at info@ for special permission and guidelines, according to the release. For more information on the parade, go to Senior Services offering free tax help from AARP AARP is hosting free income tax preparation services at Senior Services Associates at 2111 Plum St. in Aurora, officials said. Appointments will be available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through April 8. Those interested in the service can stop in at Senior Service to pick up a tax information packet and schedule an appointment during normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 630-897-4035. Kane sheriff's office to award college scholarship The Kane County Sheriff's Office will be awarding a $500 scholarship through the Illinois Sheriffs' Association to a student wanting to pursue higher education during the 2025-26 academic year. Scholarship money can be applied to tuition, books and fees only, according to a news release. Students must be enrolled full time at a certified institution of higher learning in Illinois. Applications are available at They need to be submitted by Friday, March 14, to the Kane County Sheriff's Office, Attention: Sheriff Ron Hain, 37W755 Route 38, Suite A, St. Charles, IL 60175. DuPage County proclamation recognizes 211 helpline The DuPage County Board proclaimed Feb. 11 as 211 Day at its meeting Tuesday to recognize the helpline that connects county residents with health and human services. DuPage County residents can dial 211 to receive around-the-clock information and referrals to mental health services, addiction support and rehabilitation, crisis counseling, supplemental food programs, shelter and affordable housing options, a news release on the board's action said. Additional services include information on employment, financial assistance, senior programs and transportation. To access the free, confidential service, call 211, text a ZIP code to TXT211 or 898211, or go online at In 2024, specialists connected about 8,650 people to services, according to the release. More than 4,100 residents sought assistance for utility payments, more than 2,100 requested rent assistance and about 650 received referrals to local food pantries, the release said. Genealogy in spotlight at library The St. Charles Public Library will host 'Too Good to Be True: Learn How to Spot and Stop Genealogy Fraud' with professional genealogist Candace Marx at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, in the Huntley Community Room at the library, 1 S. Sixth Ave. in St. Charles. The genealogy world has a long history of fraudsters and fabricated facts, library officials said. Good family historians want to create truthful trees and avoid being conned by information that looks 'too good to be true,' according to event organizers. In this lecture, Marx will discuss past and present genealogy scams and tips for avoiding them. For more information or to register, call 630-584-0076. Plano Food Pantry open Feb. 21 Those in need can pick up a box of canned goods, fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen meat, bread, milk, eggs and more at the Plano Food Pantry from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at First Lutheran Church, 200 N. Center St. in Plano. Participants should bring their food pantry card, if they have one. If they don't, they can bring identification and one will be issued in a couple of minutes, pantry officials said. Kane County launches Behavioral Health 360 initiative The Kane County Health Department has launched Behavioral Health 360, an online platform to help people facing mental health and substance abuse issues. A self-help tool, the site provides information, strategies and local resources to assist people in taking control of their well-being, according to a news release. It's free to use, confidential and designed for both teens and adults. Mental health providers also can use Behavioral Health 360 to share reliable information and resources with their clients, helping to supplement in-person care, the release said.
