COVID-19 Resources
We know this is a challenging time for families in Evanston.
Here is a list of up-to-date resources available to you in Evanston to help with whatever you might need.
Information updated as of Thursday, June 15, 2020
Food
Free breakfast and lunch for all Evanston youth (ages 1-18) 5 days' worth of breakfasts and lunches will be available in one pick up every Monday from 10:30am-12pm thru June at the following locations:
- Fleetwood-Jourdain, 1655 Foster Street
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Robert Crown, 1801 Main
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Kamen Park, 1115 South Blvd
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Mason Park, Church St. and Florence
Food Pantries
- City of Evanston Emergency Food Pantry
- Open 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month from 11am-1pm at James Park Field House. Requires proof of Evanston residency.
- Produce, meat, and nonperishable foods
- Levy Center Produce Mobile
- 2nd Tuesday of each month, 9:30-11:30am
- Vineyard Church, 2495 Howard, Evanston
- Open Wednesday from 6-7pm in the parking lot next to Jewel. Requires proof of Illinois residence.
- Hillside Food Pantry, 2727 Crawford Ave., Evanston
- Wednesdays 4-6pm
- Saturdays, 2-4pm
Grocery Stores and Food Availability
- Area grocery stores have designated hours for senior and vulnerable populations throughout the area. A full list of hours and shopping parameters can be found here. A few notables:
- Jewel-Osco: priority shopping for seniors DAILY from 7-9am
- Whole Foods: Customers 60+ can shop DAILY 1 hour before the store opens to the public.
- Mariano's: DAILY senior shopping hours from 6-8am until further notice
- Target: Customers 65+ can shop EVERY WEDNESDAY for the 1st hour of opening.
- Target on Howard: 8am-9am
- Target on Sherman: 7am-8am
- Walmart: Customers 65+ can shop EVERY TUESDAY 1 hour before the store opens to the public until 4/24/2020.
- Walmart in Skokie: 7am-8am
- A map of Give and Take food bins throughout Evanston (coordinated by Evanston Aid) can be found here. Drop off or pick out shelf-stable pantry items as needed at any location on the map.
Internet
- Comcast is offering free internet for two months if you apply by June 30th. Currently, after the 2 months free, you will be charged $9.99/month to continue the service. https://www.internetessentials.com/
- Comcast has extended high-speed broadband without data limits for free to all of its existing customers for the next 60 days regardless of your current package
- Anyone can access an XFinity Wifi Hotspot free of charge (you do not need to be a Comcast customer). A map of hotspots can be found at www.xfinity.com/wifi.
- Comcast will not disconnect service or assess late fees for inability to pay. To prevent disconnection in these circumstances, please CONTACT COMCAST to discuss your options.
- For more information please visit Comcast's dedicated CoVID-19 disaster services page at here.
- Evanston Public Library is offering temporary 30-day library cards remotely so everyone can take advantage of their digital services and resources. Fill out their online form to get yours.
childcare
- ETHS Student Union is coordinating babysitting. To sign up, fill out the form linked below to be matched with an ETHS or college student offering babysitting help while schools are closed. http://www.tinyurl.com/evanstoncovidbabysitting
- The Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development offers help in finding emergency childcare and downloadable resources for parents and childcare providers, including a staffed helpline
- Evanston Care Network has information regarding child care centers as well as background checked individuals available to provide in home care
mental health
- Feeling stressed? You're not alone. Set up an online meeting with a psychologist at www.tinyurl.com/covidpsychologist
- The Family Institute's Betty D. Harris Clinic is offering child or family counseling without regard to ability to pay.
- Rainbows for All Children Check out their guide Peace Amidst the Pandemic for more mental health resources
- PEER Services provides affordable substance abuse prevention and treatment services. No one is turned down due to inability to pay. They are accepting new clients for all services and are using telehealth treatment to keep everyone safe. Contact them at (847) 492-1778 or for more information here.
- St. Francis continues to staff its mental health crisis line at (708) 681-4357
- JCFS offers a staffed warmline to combat social isolation and anxiety. Please call (855) 275-5237 to speak to a clinician.
utilities
- Nicor Gas has voluntarily suspended service disconnections for non-payment, effective immediately for all residential and commercial customers.
- ComEd has announced a moratorium on service disconnections and will not charge fees for late or missed payments until July 1, 2020.
- Applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) are open to any households at or under 150% of the federal poverty guidelines (around $38,625 for a family of 4). Visit www.liheapillinois.com or call (877)411- 9276.
- City of Evanston has waived nonpayment penalties and delayed enforcement measures regarding water, sewer, and sanitation bills; parking and compliance citations; and liquor and amusement taxes.
legal assistance
- The Moran Center is available to provide its regular legal and social work services at (847) 492-1410 to the extent possible given the current closure of our County courts.
- Answers to noncriminal legal questions can be accessed by families living on a lower income at https://il.freelegalanswers.org
- FLAP Illinois (Farmworkers and Landscaper Immigrant Project) www.flapillinois.org can provide legal assistance to undocumented and other immigrants. Contact them at (630) 877-8381 or outreach@flapillinois.org.
housing assistance
- If you need a place to stay for shelter-in-place call Connections for the Homeless at (847) 475-7070
- Connections' drop-in center on Dewey is open every week day to pick up food and receive assistance
- Open Communities is providing free rental counseling, help finding housing, landlord and tenant mediation, foreclosure delinquency help and more. Contact Ryan Mitchell at ryan@open-communities.org for assistance.
- Homeowners can find Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage forbearance and crisis assistance at the links above. Both resources have tools to help you determine who your mortgage lender is if you don't know
UNdocumented immigrants
- FLAP Illinois (Farmworkers and Landscaper Immigrant Project) www.flapillinois.org can provide legal assistance and financial aid to undocumented and other immigrants who do not qualify for other assistance. Contact them at (630) 877-8381 or outreach@flapillinois.org.
- Refugee, Immigrant and Children subcommittee of the Illinois Childhood Trauma Coalition is providing assistance and guidance for undocumented communities and others who may have concerns around immigration and refugee issues at (773) 907-4167.
- Check out a national resource guide for undocumented communities here.
Unemployment and job search resources
- The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) has adopted emergency to measures to respond more broadly to those who may be out of work due to CoVID-19. Click this link to determine if you qualify for unemployment insurance and to begin your application.
Youth Employment Resources
- City of Evanston Youth and Young Adult Division continues to offer job-matching to employers for students. Visit www.cityofevanston.org/msyep for more information
Other supports
- The City of Evanston continues to take applications for for the Emergency Assistance Program. Find the application online here.
- Staff are available from 8:30am-5pm every week day to complete a phone application if you are having trouble with the online application. Call (847) 448-8112.
- Evanston Aid, a collaboration of existing community and neighborhood groups is coordinating a community list of individual needs and also individual contributions volunteered during this crisis. To see what they're offering or to let them know your interest in volunteering services or goods, visit www.Evanstonaid.com.
- Follow @eths.studentunion on Instagram for information and updates regarding food, healthcare, shelter, and volunteering.
- Visit City of Chicago's COVID-19 Response Center to find detailed resource lists including food, shelter, housing, unemployment and more.