Resource Directory /

Financial Assistance and Grant Programs Resources

  • SAM’s Sweet Heart Memorial Foundation

    SAM’s Sweet Heart Memorial Foundation is dedicated to helping Illinois families with children with complex medical diagnoses.

    SAM’s Sweet Heart provides financial assistance to Boone and Winnebago county families with children under the age of 18 who have a medical condition requiring lifelong treatment. Local families may apply for a grant during open application periods.

  • Sangamon County Resource Guide

    The Sangamon County Department of Community Resources strives to improve the quality of life for people in-need in Sangamon County through department programs, services and referrals that promote economic stability and/or self-motivation.

    The department provides several resource guides that cover financial assistance, food pantries, health care, housing and more for the residents of Sangamon County.

  • Sarah D. Culbertson Memorial Hospital Health Profession Scholarship Program

    Sarah D. Culbertson Memorial Hospital (CMH) Foundation provides a variety of annual scholarship programs. Scholarships are available for high school seniors, college students, Connect Care participants and CMH employees entering a healthcare-related field that is in high demand at CMH. The award amount may change from year to year. Information, applications and scholarship deadlines are available online.

    Foundation scholarship opportunities include:

    • The Elmer Hugh Taylor Health Profession Scholarship for high school seniors in Schuyler, Cass and South Fulton counties entering a healthcare-related field at CMH
    • The Regina Ehrhardt Scholarship for Rushville-Industry High School or Brown County High School senior who is entering a nursing-related field of study that is currently available at CMH
    • The Career Connect Scholarship for any Rushville-Industry High School senior participating in Career Connect at CMH
    • The Future of Culbertson Scholarship for potential future employees obtaining a secondary education in a healthcare-related field of study that is currently available at CMH
    • The CMH Foundation Scholarship for full or part-time employees who are taking healthcare courses for a position that is considered a critical need at CMH

  • Sertoma Organization for People Affected by Hearing Loss

    Sertoma provides information and support to people at risk of or affected by hearing loss. National and local chapters across the United States support hearing health through a variety of programs and activities. Sertoma services include annual scholarships, access to amplified hearing devices, teen and college-level service programs, the “Adopt-an-Agency” program and more.

    Sertoma offers two scholarship programs:

    • The Scholarship for the Hard of Hearing or Deaf is open to students with clinically significant bilateral hearing loss. Graduating high school students or undergraduate students pursuing four-year college degrees in any discipline are eligible for the scholarship.
    • The Communicative Disorders Scholarship is for graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in audiology or speech-language pathology from institutions in the United States. The program awards these scholarships in the spring to help offset the cost of tuition, books and fees incurred during the following school year.

    See Sertoma’s website for eligibility requirements. The program accepts applications between Nov. 1 and March 31 each year.

  • SNAP Online Purchasing Program

    The Illinois Department of Human Services is offering online purchasing for more than 1.8 million Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) customers across a million households.

    Online SNAP will give families easier access to food during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. Busy parents will no longer have to stress about how they can pick their kids up from school and make it to the grocery store before dinner. And those working multiple jobs or the late shift won’t have to rush to make it before the store closes. All families will have another option to independently secure the food they need.

  • Social Security Administration

    Social Security administers benefits such as Retirement, Disability, Survivor and Family. It also manages Supplemental Security Income (SSI), enrolls people in Medicare and issues Social Security numbers and cards.

    The Social Security Administration website provides information on how to check your eligibility for benefits, apply for benefits and check your application or appeal status. It also has tools to help you manage your benefits and information.

    For contact information and a list of frequently asked questions, visit the Social Security contact page.

  • Spanish Coalition for Housing (SCH)

    The Spanish Coalition for Housing (SCH) seeks to build generational wealth through housing counseling, financial education, advocacy and by connecting low-to-moderate income households to resources that create housing stability, homeownership and economic mobility. Services are based in Chicago and include workshops, homebuyer education, homeowner education and counseling, landlord certification and more. SCH programs also include:

    • Financial education and coaching
    • Rental and mortgage help
    • Utility assistance
    • Health and housing

  • Springfield Office of Community Relations Resources

    The Springfield Office of Community Relations provides information on where to find help with homelessness, rental and utility assistance, micro-pantries and more.

    You can also contact the Springfield Office of Community Relations at (217) 789.2270 or Community.Relations@springfield.il.us

  • Springfield-Area Micropantries

    The micropantries in Springfield and its surrounding communities in Sangamon County operate independently and allow people to take what they need and leave what they can.

    The City of Springfield provides a a list of micropantries in Springfield and the surrounding area.

  • St. James Lutheran Church Food Pantry in Bettendorf, IA

    The St. James Lutheran Church Food Pantry provides emergency food to families in need who reside in the food pantry service zone. Visitors are provided with a pre-packed box of food items, along with milk, eggs, and protein. Visitors are encouraged to schedule visits every 30 days, but can return each week for bread and fresh vegetables that may be available.

    St. James Lutheran Church Food Pantry is at 1705 Oak Street. The pantry is open on:

    • Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m.
    • Thursdays from 9 to 11 a.m.

    For questions, please call (563) 355-4161.