Nicor Gas awards $100,000 in grants to support basic needs, energy assistance across its service territory

NAPERVILLE, IL – November 2, 2023 – Today, Nicor Gas is announcing $100,000 in grants to support the basic needs of our customers including food, clothing and shelter through community organizations across its service territory.

“At Nicor Gas, we have a goal to support the basic needs of 250,000 families across our communities through agencies that address food, housing and clothing insecurity,” said Jackie Nagel, manager of Community Affairs at Nicor Gas. “Nearly 11% of residents in the state of Illinois currently live in poverty. Providing for the most critical needs of our customers ensures our neighbors are able to not just survive but thrive.” 

This year, Nicor Gas is proud to award 25 organizations with grants to support their basic needs programming:  

Cook County: 

• Allendale Association, Inc.’s “Hope and Healing Starts Here” Program – Provide emergency shelter and supportive services for young adults ages 14-23, ensuring safe and stable housing in Cook, DuPage, Lake and McHenry Counties.
• Better Sister & Brother Growth Network’s Community Drive-Thru Food Pantry - Provide a monthly supply of nonperishable food to underserved community members in Harvey.
• Beyond Hunger’s Direct Hunger Relief Program - Provide a drive-thru food pantry in addition to an onsite community food market in Oak Park, Berwyn and Cicero.
• Council for Jewish Elderly’s SeniorLife Benefits Services Program – Assist older adults with access to benefits services, food assistance programs and other crisis intervention services to provide stability and safety in Cook, DuPage, Kane and Lake Counties.
• Elmwood Park Community Church’s Food Pantry – Provide food and other basic supplies for food insecure individuals.
• Home of the Sparrow’s Transitional Shelter for Homeless Women and Families – Provide transitional shelter, including clothing and food resources for women and children in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and McHenry Counties.
• Howard and Evanston Community Center’s Food Pantry – Distribute weekly groceries for at-risk families.\
• Immanual Lutheran Church’s “Put Your Hands Together” Emergency Food Assistance Program – Support the Hillside community through food distribution, mobile food pantries and community engagement, as well as education, with the goal of reducing food insecurity in the community.
• Meals on Wheels Foundation of Cook County – Provide daily meals to seniors and people with disabilities across Northern Illinois.
• Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago Inc.’s Nutrition Distribution Program – Provide freshly prepared meals for senior residents within low to moderate incomes living in underserved communities.
• Open Arms Foundation’s “Mothers Loving Mothers” – Provide infant supplies, school, clothing and hygiene supplies for families in need in Cook and Will Counties.
• PADS to HOPE – Provide shelter, food pantry, clothing, health care and other basic needs to suburban Cook County residents in the Palatine area.

DeKalb County: 

• Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry’s Outreach and Food Distribution – Provide food distribution services three times a week, as well as pop up pantries in DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties.

DuPage County: 

• Big Hearts Fox Valley’s “Big Hearts Throughout the Year” – Supply basic needs items such as clothing, shoes, toiletries, hygiene products and winter clothing for residents in DuPage and Kane Counties.
• CASA of DuPage County’s Court Appointed Special Advocates – Provide supportive services for children who have been removed from an unsafe home. The advocate represents the child while ensuring that the child has a safe, permanent home.
• DuPage Senior Citizen Council’s Meals on Wheels – Provide homebound and food insecure seniors with fresh, hot, and ready to eat meals each weekday and a frozen meal for the weekend and holidays.
• Loaves and Fishes Community Services’ Grocery Assistance Program – Provide access to healthy, nutritious food to improve the health of vulnerable and at-risk community members in DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and Will Counties.
• Outreach House’s “Serving Families Under One Roof” – Provide a centralized facility for food distribution, infant needs, clothing and emergency utility assistance.
• People’s Resource Center – Provide food, clothing, financial assistance and social services during times of crisis.
• West Suburban Community Pantry’s “Nourishing Neighbors in Need” – Provide food distribution on-sight and via online shopping orders that will be fulfilled for ease of pickup.

Kane County:

• PADS of Elgin – Provide emergency shelter and 24-hour a day care to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Lake County:

• Community Action Partnership of Lake County’s Hot Meals Delivery Program – Provide at least one hot meal delivery per weekday to at-risk residents including seniors.

Will County:

• Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet’s Mobile Food Pantry – Provide fresh, healthy food through a mobile food pantry to areas identified as low-income and/or in a food desert.

Winnebago County: 

• Brightpoint’s MotherHouse Crisis Nursery - Provide up to 72 hours of no-cost crisis childcare for families to keep children safe when parents are unable to care for them.
• Rock House Kids – Provide hot meals and supportive services for youth including a food bag to take home.

To learn more about Nicor Gas’ commitment to basic needs and energy assistance initiatives, visit www.NicorGas.com/CharitableGiving.