We are facing an unprecedented situation due to the current national climate.
Some families are not responding to appeals of help from Fox Valley United Way out of fear. Others are less willing to provide specific information about their needs because of uncertainty. What we do know is that the needs of Kane and Kendall Counties have never been greater, and your support is more critical than ever.
Every day, families in our community face impossible choices whether to pay the rent or keep the lights on, whether to buy groceries or purchase life-saving medication. These are not hypothetical scenarios; they are the reality for thousands of households living paycheck to paycheck.
Many of these families fall into the category we call A.L.I.C.E. (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.) They work hard, but they earn too much to qualify for government assistance and too little to cover basic necessities.
Heading into the new year, we’re prioritizing assistance to the following areas apparent in our 2-1-1 data:
Rental assistance: Housing stability is the foundation of family well-being. Yet, rising rents and stagnant wages have left many families on the brink of eviction. Without help, parents and children face homelessness, disrupting education, employment, and health. Your support ensures families can stay in their homes and avoid the devastating cycle of displacement.
Utility assistance: The cost of heating homes becomes a heavy burden. Families are forced to choose between warmth and other essentials. Utility shut-offs are not just inconvenient—they are dangerous, especially for children and seniors.
Food insecurity: Hunger was a silent crisis that recently became a national headline due to the pause in SNAP benefits. Parents skip meals so their children can eat. Food pantries are seeing record demand, and still, many families go without. No child should go to bed hungry, yet it happens every night in our neighborhoods.
For more information visit www.foxvalleyunitedway.org.
— Fox Valley United Way