Abingdon, Bushnell, and Canton Awarded Over $1 Million in Grant Funds

Community Development /

Three western Illinois communities will now be able to complete infrastructure upgrades thanks to a recent grant award. The communities of Abingdon, Bushnell, and Canton received around $1.5 million each, or nearly $4.5 million combined. The grant awards were secured in part due to grant writing efforts by the community development team at WIRC-Community Action […]

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WIRC’s Award-Winning Weatherization Team Gets More State Accolades

Employee Spotlight, Home Weatherization, Social Services /

The Weatherization department at WIRC-Community Action Agency (WIRC) in Macomb received two awards of excellence at a recent state-wide conference. The first award recognized that the department placed 3rd out of 30 other weatherization departments across Illinois for excellence in completing projects and spending their budget. Tim Manock, Weatherization Coordinator at WIRC, personally received the

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WIRC Receives Award to Provide Area Homeowners Up to $60,000 in Home Repair Grants

Housing Rehab, Social Services /

Some homeowners in Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren Counties, plus the cities of Havana and Joy Illinois, may be eligible to receive grants to make necessary repairs to their homes.  The Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) Home Repair Program is available to eligible homeowners who cannot afford to make the needed repairs to make their home safer to live in. 

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Brightly colored t-shirts are hanging from a clothesline. Each shirt is designed with a different message drawn by a survivor of abuse or in memory of someone.

Activities Planned for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Crisis Advocacy, Social Services /

Chances are high that everyone knows at least one person who has been impacted by domestic violence. That is one of many reasons why nonprofit counseling and advocacy organizations increase their awareness efforts during the month of October, which is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Victim Services, a program of Western Illinois Regional Council-Community Action

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Press Release: WIRC Resumes 2023 Energy Assistance Program

WIRC Resumes Energy Assistance Program

Energy Assistance, Social Services /

A local nonprofit organization, Western Illinois Regional Council-Community Action Agency (WIRC-CAA), is pleased to announce they will soon resume taking applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The federal program helps eligible households with paying their winter home energy bills, reconnecting their electrical and heating utilities, and/or with repairing or replacing their

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Jeightlin Sickels receives a $5,000 scholarship to attend college thanks to the Nathan Cobb Memorial Scholarship.

Cobb Memorial Scholarship Awarded to Three Students

Scholarships, Social Services /

Gwen Kahlke, Jeightlin Sickels and John Reynolds were each awarded $5,000 for college through the Nathan Cobb Memorial Scholarship. [Photos by WIRC]. Three McDonough County college students are now one step closer to finishing their degrees thanks to the Nathan Cobb Memorial Scholarship. Jeightlin Sickels, John Reynolds and Gwen Kahlke each received $5,000 that can

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Brittany Driskell smiles in front of a colorful quilt that includes artwork designed by survivors of abuse.

Driskell Takes on Leadership Role at Victim Services

Crisis Advocacy, Crisis Counseling, Employee Spotlight /

Western Illinois Regional Council-Community Action Agency (WIRC-CAA) is pleased to announce that Brittany Driskell has been promoted to the position of Associate Director of Victim Services. Driskell is filling the shoes of Alisha Eidson, who stepped down from the role to pursue her dream job of working more directly in the children’s counseling field. Driskell’s

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A woman is smiling as she rides an electric tricycle that has a large basket on the back for her groceries.

WIRC DEBUTS A NEW BICYCLE PROGRAM

Community Services, Social Services /

In rural areas like western Illinois, where many households own a car and public transportation options are uncommon, people who cannot drive or afford a car often struggle with accessing everyday services. Lower-income and elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable to falling through the cracks. Western Illinois Regional Council (WIRC), a nonprofit, is pleased to announce

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Five people are standing and smiling, with the person in the middle holding an award certificate in a gold frame.

WEATHERIZATION TEAM AT WIRC GETS STATE-WIDE ACCOLADES

Employee Spotlight, Home Weatherization, Social Services /

The Weatherization department at Western Illinois Regional Council (WIRC) was recently recognized with an Exceptional Performance Award.  The award, given by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), recognizes WIRC’s outstanding accomplishments in serving communities in Hancock, Henderson, Fulton, Knox, McDonough, and Warren counties. Despite only having a five-person team, WIRC’s Weatherization department

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