Tag: food

Replacing Food Destroyed Due to Recent Wind Storms

If food you bought using SNAP was destroyed due to the recent wind storms, you can receive additional SNAP benefits.

The SNAP Program allows for additional SNAP benefits when food bought with SNAP benefits is destroyed in a disaster.

  • A disaster is a fire, flood, tornado, or other devastating event beyond the control of the unit.
  • Additionally, food can be replaced due to a power outage of at least 4 hours.
  • More details: PM 22-03-01

COMED is reporting that 127,00 customers experienced outages because of extreme weather with hurricane-force winds, in excess of 90 miles per hour, that resulted in severe damage across the Northern Illinois service territory.

SNAP recipients who lost food because of the recent wind storm power outages should complete, sign, and submit a Request for Replacement of Destroyed Food form.

  • Most Department of Human Services Family Community Resource Centers (FCRC) are closed.
  • The best way to submit this form is by email to the SNAP recipient’s local FCRC.
    • Click the links below to download the form in English and Spanish.
    • You can find your nearest FCRC using the table below.
  • A request for replacement SNAP must be submitted within 10 calendar days of the power outage
    • In the case of the recent wind storms, that would be AUGUST 20, 2020.
Replacement of Destroyed Food Form – EnglishDownload
Replacement of Destroyed Food Form – SpanishDownload

Cook County Family Community Resource Center Email Addresses:

FCRC #FCRC NeighborhoodFCRC Email Address
203Mid Southdhs.midsouthfcrc@illinois.gov
208Englewooddhs.englewoodfcrc@illinois.gov
212Woodlawndhs.woodlawnfcrc@illinois.gov
213Calumet Parkdhs.calumetpark@illinois.gov
218Southeastdhs.southeastfcrc@illinois.gov
226South Suburbandhs.southsuburbanfcrc@illinois.gov
236Roselanddhs.roselandfcrc@illinois.gov
201Ogdendhs.ogden@illinois.gov
202South Loopdhs.southloopfcrc@illinois.gov
204Northsidedhs.northsidefcrc@illinois.gov
209Special Unitsdhs.specialunitsfcrc@illinois.gov
228Lower Northdhs.lowernorthfcrc@illinois.gov
229West Suburbandhs.westsuburbanfcrc@illinois.gov
231Humboldt Parkdhs.humboldtparkfcrc@illinois.gov
233Northerndhs.northernfcrc@illinois.gov
237Northwestdhs.northwest.fcrc@illinois.gov
243North Suburbandhs.northsubfcrc@illinois.gov

Apply for Growing Home’s Paid Production Assistant Job Training Program

Apply by August 21st to join Growing Home’s paid Production Assistant job training program.

Growing Home’s urban organic farm is once again hiring for its Production Assistant job training program.

Based in Englewood, Growing Home is Chicago’s leading expert in farm-based training for people with employment barriers.

Growing Home knows that when people have jobs, they have financial stability in their lives. Financial stability helps people eat healthy and live a healthy lifestyle.

Also, when communities have access to healthy food options, the overall well-being and health of the community improves.

Production assistant job description
Growing home recruitment flyer
Apply now

Job Training Program Highlights

Growing Home’s paid Production Assistant job training program combines time spent working on the on-site urban farm with lessons on work readiness and environmental literacy, an emotional resilience curriculum, and ongoing support for career success post-graduation.

  • Applicants who are accepted begin with a job training program that pays $16/hour for 16-20 hours per week.
  • The job training program will be via remote learning due to COVID-19.
  • Applicants must be 18 years or older, unemployed, and Chicago residents.
  • Participants are meant to transition into permanent, full-time employment after graduation.

Program participants also have opportunities to earn professional certifications, gain access to free legal consultation for record sealing and expungement, and receive the support of a case manager available to provide referrals for supportive services.

COVID-19 Considerations

Growing Home will continue to facilitate the 2020 program as a blended virtual and in-person curriculum.

  • Farm-based portions of the program will still be held on-site with heightened health and safety measures.
  • All traditionally classroom-based lessons will be facilitated virtually over Zoom.

Attached to this email is an updated Production Assistant Job Description that provides more detail on exactly what the blended on-site/remote job training program will look like.

Applying

Application Deadline for Cohort 3: August 21st, 2020

The application process will be run entirely remotely. It is outlined at the end of the Job Description flyer.

If you have any questions about the remote application process or the program, you can reach out to Amelia Nawn, Growing Home’s Program Operations Coordinator, at anawn@growinghomeinc.org. 

See this link for more details and check out the flyers below!

Apply now
Production assistant job description
Growing home recruitment flyer

Important P-EBT and SNAP Updates: Apply for P-EBT Today!

Illinois households can now apply for P-EBT financial assistance until 8/31! (Plus important SNAP updates)

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Extended to 8/31

Does your family have school aged children? If so, you can still apply for Pandemic EBT (P-EBT), which will provide you with financial assistance!

  • The deadline to apply for P-EBT has recently been extended to August 31st.
  • P-EBT provides financial assistance to families with school aged children.
    • Families receive an EBT card that can be used offset the cost of meals that would have been consumed at school.
    • P-EBT provides the value of school meals at the rate of $5.70 per child per school day.
  • Please download the P-EBT Guide below and share with community members who may be eligible for P-EBT.
P-EBT Guide for IllinoisDownload

Community Organizations: Are you interested in receiving training on P-EBT outreach and how to talk to immigrant families about P-EBT? Do you have P-EBT questions your clients keep asking? If so, reach out to pif@povertylaw.org for free training.

SNAP Recertification Extension

Did you recently receive a SNAP Recertification Letter from the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)? If so, please read on!

  • Illinois households that were scheduled to have their SNAP recertification in July and August 2020 will automatically have their SNAP certification period extended 6 months.
    • If you were going to be recertified in July, your recertification will be extended to January 2021.
    • If you were going to be recertified in August, your recertification will be pushed back to February 2021.
  • Unfortunately, IDHS already sent some recertification letters out.
  • Your benefits will not expire if you received a recertification letter for July or August 2020.

Maximum SNAP Benefits

  • All Illinois households receiving SNAP benefits will receive the maximum SNAP benefit for July and August.

IDHS Offices Reopening

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) is starting to reopen local offices to client services.

However, IDHS still urges clients to use phone and online options to get help whenever possible.

Authorized community organizations are continuing to help households apply for SNAP over the phone.

For information on how to apply for SNAP online or over the phone, check out our blog post.

NFPN’s Spring Food Drive

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The following businesses are drop-off locations for the

Northwest Food Partner’s Network 2013 Spring Food Drive!

Knockbox Cafe, 1001 N. California

Cafe Con Leche (Bucktown), 1732 N. Milwaukee

Adams and Son Gardens, 1057 N. California Avenue

Dill Pickle Food Co-op, 3039 W. Fullerton Ave.

Wish List of Most Needed Items

Food items
Rice
Beans   (dry or can)
Cereal
Cereal/granola bars (snacks)
Any non-perishable goods
Non food items
Toiletries (tooth brush/paste, deodorant, soap etc.)
Laundry Detergent
Cleaning Supplies (Lysol spray and bleach etc.)
Diapers (both child and adult)
Feminine Products

If your organization, business or group is interested in participating in the 2013 NFPN Spring Food Drive, or have items that you wish to donate, please contact the NFPN coordinator, Sarah Finkel at sarah@lacasanorte.org or call 773-276-4900 ext 214.

See our partners section to see which food pantries and hot meal programs will benefit from your support! Also visit our Facebook Page to see our current happenings and events!