Your Community is Our Community

With the coming of winter, some of our families may struggle financially due to loss of income from seasonal work, ice and snow causing places of work to close, family members getting sick, or other unexpected expenses. When money becomes tight, access to healthy food may be scarce and unfortunately children may not have enough to eat and go hungry. Programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are available to assist low income families afford food, but this assistance is not always enough. This is where IMCAP and your lodge can step in and make a difference through the Youth Organization Connection program.

The Youth Organization Connection is a microgrant program that provides funding to a variety of youth organizations with partnership through Illinois Lodges. This year, IMCAP has seen a rise in Youth Organization Connection proposals to assist food pantries and backpack programs due to the impact of COVID. We are anticipating that the need to support community food programs will continue to be detrimental through the rest of the year. If your lodge knows of a youth organization that they would like to assist, please contact IMCAP to apply for the Youth Organization Connection program. Through your partnership, we can help provide food to those in need in your communities.

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You can contact IMCAP to apply, refer, or to learn more about all of the programs that IMCAP offers by contacting Director Gale Kilbury by phone 217-529-8900 ext 222 or by email gkilbury@ilmason.org.