First-Call Organizations

These four organizations are partnering with WILL to help you learn how to get help. » Read more

Welcome! You’ve come to a good place. You are not alone.

Illinois Public Media has been listening to people just like you in Vermilion, Macon and Champaign counties to find out how the aspirations you hold for yourself and your community have been affected by the economy, and to connect you to resources in your community.

We’ve partnered with First Call for Help Decatur, United Way of Danville, Family Service of Champaign County and the Community Service Center in Rantoul. They are your first connection to local resources. Their numbers are to the right.

In the Stories/Programs section of this website, you’ll hear from people just like you who are struggling and those who might be able to offer you help and new opportunities.

Featured StoryMore

75,000 people in eastern Illinois live in poverty. What Should We Do About It?

A rich discussion of the major systemic issues creating poverty and hunger--and what organizations in central Illinois can and should be doing to address them. With audience questions. Hosted by Dave Dickey of Illinois Public Media with Steve Anderson, Associate Professor, School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Donna Camp, Director, Wesley Evening Food Pantry; Senator Mike Frerichs, IL General Assembly, District 52 (Champaign and Vermilion Counties); Jennifer Hrycyna, Skadden Fellow and Staff Attorney, Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law; Lyn Jones, CEO, United Way of Champaign County; Kate Maehr, President of the Board, Feeding Illinois and Executive Director, Greater Chicago Food Depository;Amy Terpstra, Senior Research Analyst, Social IMPACT Research Center (formerly Heartland Alliance Mid-America Institute on Poverty). The 2009 Hunger Symposium was sponsored by the Eastern Illinois Food Bank.
Download: mp3 file
Tags: Food Banks