With the extension of the “STAY-AT-HOME Order,” people are in need of help, emotional support and resources now more than ever. We know how important it is to stay informed and band together in this time of crisis, so thank you to all the community members who have helped us stay up to date with resources!
It is amazing how our community has been working harder than ever to provide help and support to those in need. We are still receiving so much information about services, and we are updating the McLean County COVID-19 Community Resources Document daily.
Upcoming dates: Next POG: 6/05/2020 (With COVID-19 updates as well) Please submit all POG listings by 6/03/2020 to vpavlik@pathcrisis.org
COVID-19 Resources
Illinois Department of Public Health
COVID-19 HOTLINE. Any questions about Coronavirus - such as what one should do if they are feeling sick – or any other concerns –call the Illinois Department of Public Health Hotline at:
(800) 889-3931
For more information, visit their website at www.dph.illinois.gov
CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
For global and national questions about COVID-19, visit the CDC website. This website has accurate updates, what you need to know, and resources for the community. www.cdc.gov
Community-Based Testing Site for COVID-19 COVID-19 drive-thru testing at the Fairgrounds will remain open. Testing is available to individuals who meet specific criteria. This Community Based Testing Site operates out of the McLean County Fairgrounds (1106 Interstate Dr. Bloomington, IL 61705) and is open seven days a week from: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, or until the daily allotment of tests has been exhausted.
Eligibility:
Priority cases 1, 2 & 3 are now available for testing. To see the priority levels visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/priority-testing-patients.pdf
NOTE: Symptoms include fever or cough or difficulty breathing.
Documents Needed:
- Photo ID.
- Healthcare facility employee or first responder ID/badge (if applicable).
Procedure:
- Upon arrival at the site, individuals will be required to remain in their vehicles at all times.
- Testing is limited to 4 individuals per vehicle, and those individuals must be seated at a seat with a working window.
- The site utilizes a self-swab test. Each person is instructed and monitored by an on-site staff member.
------------ Daily, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (or until the daily allotment of tests has been exhausted.) Address: 1106 Interstate Dr, Bloomington, IL 61705
Announcements
MCCA Updated COVID-19 Response:
We are in this together!
For LIHEAP applications, please contact Cassie at 309-834-9203 or Fini at 309-834-9200.
For essential needs and resources, please contact Laura at 309-834-9227 or Jerri at 309-834-9226.
Our Countering Domestic Violence services for emergency shelter, Orders of Protection, counseling, and support can be accessed through our 24-hour hotline at 309-827-7070.
Our Financial Opportunity Center services for employment coaching, financial coaching, housing counseling, and support can be accessed by contacting Kathy at 309-834-9242.
We are not accepting guests at Mayors Manor, Bloomington Corporate office, or Pontiac Satellite office at this time.
We will resume our in-house weatherization services as soon as we can through September 30, 2020.
We are present for and with our community while we take measures for the health and safety of our staff.
Center for Hope Outreach Programs
Both food pantries remain open with modifications for safety and social distancing.
Hope Food Pantry at 1308 E. Empire St. Bloomington IL
Tuesdays from 9:30-11:30 am
Temba Food Pantry at 14940 Old Colonial Rd. Bloomington IL
Thursdays from 4:30-6:30 pm
We are experiencing elevated calls for home delivery of food and relevant supplies, especially from schools and families with school-aged children and are partnering with United way to distribute lunch meals. Our regular service to homebound seniors and disabled continues.
Kingdom Closet is serving clothing in emergency cases only until home sheltering guidelines are listed. Individuals in need should call 309-808-3742 to make arrangements.
YWCA Young Wonders Summer Camp
Join us for “Go for the Gold” summer camp, beginning June 1 at YWCA, Oakland, or Washington Elementary schools. Due to COVID-19, space is limited so early registration is encouraged. CCAP accepted for summer camp! YWCA is a licensed emergency provider. Learn more or register at www.ywcamclean.org/summer.
Virtual Wear Orange Event
Dear Community Friends,
Thousands of Americans will join together to recognize National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 5-7, 2020. As a result of the pandemic and necessary social distancing the shift of our Wear Orange event will be to a Virtual event. Our priorities continue to be the health and safety of our community. While we cannot predict what will happen in the next few months, it is becoming clear that large public gatherings will not be permitted and/or there may be restrictions and constraints in the planning of even small in-person gatherings. Additionally, we know that our leaders, volunteers, community partners and local governments are faced with real hardships. With that in mind, our local McLean County Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America has postponed our usual Wear Orange Event to September 12, 2020. We are shifting our remembrance of victims and survivors in June to a VIRTUAL WEAR ORANGE.
Wear Orange will happen but be different than we originally anticipated in 2020. Orange has long been the color of gun violence prevention. This year on Saturday, June 6th we are asking residents, survivors, business owners, students, elected officials, teachers, community leaders, parents, and children in Bloomington-Normal to join together to #Wear Orange and show indisputably that there is a movement of Americans committed to stopping gun violence.
What will a VIRTUAL WEAR ORANGE look like:
DECORATE ORANGE!!!!! We are asking for a wave of orange. Decorate your porches, windows, mailboxes, driveways with orange. Be creative…anything orange works!! We have placards that say Wear Orange/End Gun Violence that will be distributed to those who would like to display. Once decorated, take a photo and send it to this email address savadava@hotmail.com. Our social media lead will post your photo on our Facebook page (no names will be included, just the photo). Let us see that Orange!
There will be a random drawing for two Visa debit cards, $25 each. Make sure to include your name, along with your WEAR ORANGE photo in your email, though, so we can contact you if you win. Drawing will take place Sunday, June 7th at noon.
Wear Orange Virtual BeSmart presentation!
As part of our Gun Violence Awareness weekend, we have a great service we would like to provide. BeSMART is our 20 minute, cost-free, non-partisan education program. It is geared to adults, not children, and educates then about responsible gun storage in the home. There will be time for Q&A, to get your questions answered about keeping your kids safe from guns in your home or homes they may visit. If you are interested in attending one of our sessions, please email us at WO2020BeSMART@gmail.com and we will get you registered (please specify which presentation you would like to attend and your name). Thursday, June 4th at 7-7:45pm via ZOOM Friday, June 5th at 12-12:45pm via ZOOM
Orange Rocks! Our volunteers will be placing decorated Wear Orange rocks throughout the community. Keep on the lookout around town to see if you can find one.
Join us on our McLean County Moms Demand Action Facebook page (it is a private group so you must request to join). On June 6, we will have proclamations by our Bloomington and Normal Mayors, pictures from DECORATE ORANGE and more information about BeSMART.
Wear Orange!!! T-shirts, hats, dresses, shorts. June 6th WEAR ORANGE!!
HONK! On June 6th @ 12-12:30pm we will have small groups of MOMS around Blo-No holding up our placards to promote gun violence prevention. HONK if you see us at any of the four locations- BCPA, Kingsley Jr High, Anderson Park and the corner of Towanda & Emerson (by St. John’s Lutheran Church).
We would love to have you partner with us in this endeavor. Color our community ORANGE. DECORATE ORANGE…BeSMART…look for #WEAR ORANGE rocks… join us on FACEBOOK…WEAR YOUR ORANGE GEAR!!! … HONK!
SUMMER READING BEGINS TUESDAY (May 26)!
Starting May 26, kids, teens, and adults who are interested in participating in Bloomington Library’s Summer Reading Program will be able to print their Reading Log online at bit.ly/summerreading2020bpl. Reading logs will also be available during the library’s curbside hold pickup hours.
Please visit bit.ly/bplcovid to view curbside hours as these hours are subject to change from week to week.
CURBSIDE HOLD PICKUP – Hours increasing
Bloomington Library has been offering curbside pickup of items put on hold in advance. In the coming weeks, the Library will add several morning shifts to the available timeslots in which materials can be picked up.
For the remainder of this week, curbside pickup of hold items will be available:
Thursday (May 21) from 4-7pm
Saturday (May 23) from 1-4pm
The week of Memorial Day, curbside pickup will be offered:
Tuesday, May 26: 4-7pm
Thursday, May 28: 4-7pm
Friday, May 29: 9am-12pm
Saturday, May 30: 1-4pm
The week of June 1, curbside pickup will be offered:
Tuesday, June 2: 4-7pm
Wednesday, June 3: 9am-12pm
Thursday, June 4: 4-7pm
Friday, June 5: 9am-12pm
Saturday, June 6: 1-4pm
Items available for pickup must be put on hold in advance. Because hold items do not immediately become available, patrons will need to wait for notification that their item(s) are available before arriving at curbside pickup.
Upon arrival at curbside pickup, patrons are asked to post to the inside of their vehicle’s windshield a name placard which largely and visibly displays the cardholder’s last name, followed by the cardholder’s first name. These name placards can be as simple as a piece of paper written on with marker and will need to be brought with the patron from home.
If people have questions or need help placing a hold, please email reference@bloomingtonlibrary.org.
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BLOOMINGTON LIBRARY’S BOOK DROPS ARE OPEN, AND RETURNS ARE BEING ACCEPTED.
Late fees incurred because of the Library’s COVID-19 closure will be waived.
These items will become due 7 days after the Library is able to reopen – a date which remains unknown.
SUMMER READING: Craft Packet Distribution (May 30)
Bloomington Public Library’s very musical Summer Reading Kickoff Party cannot be presented as planned. However, from 10am-12pm on Saturday, May 30, library staff will hand out take-home packets of musical crafts and activities from a table in the Library’s parking lot. Each packet will include instructions and 5 musical crafts/activities which staff believe are most appropriate for kids age 3-11 years. Those who want to participate in the Summer Reading Program will also be able to pick up their reading logs during this time. In the coming week, recordings of these crafts and activities will become available on the Children’s Services at Bloomington Public Library Facebook Group. All recordings will be posted by the time the packets become available on May 30.
Of Note:
Children under the age of 5 will need adult supervision/assistance with smaller pieces included in the packet.
500 Packets will be available while supplies last on a first-come, first-served basis.
No submissions were received for Conferences & Workshops in this POG edition. Please check our Google Document for updates.
Grant & Scholarship Opportunities
Notice of Public Comment Period and Public Hearing for The Town of Normal's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. Amended Citizen Participation Plan & Revised 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan & 2020-2021 Action Plan.
As part of the recently passed federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Town of Normal will be receiving a special, additional allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for Program Year 2020-2021 (April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021). These funds, referred to as CDBG-CV (Coronavirus), are granted through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and are to be solely used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19). The Town’s CDBG-CV allocation is in the amount of $246,067.
In order to receive CDBG-CV funds, the Town must revise the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan (and incorporated 2020-2021 Action Plan) to reflect the budgeting and programming of these new funds. Additionally, the Town must amend its CDBG Citizen Participation Plan to allow for the ability to hold public hearings virtually, given social distancing requirements, and to shorten public comment periods related to the use of CDBG funds to as short as five days, per HUD’s CARES Act guidelines and their emphasis on proper, expeditious use of these funds. All activities undertaken or supported with CDBG funds must be approved by the Normal Town Council and, ultimately, HUD.
A public hearing will be held to solicit comments on the amended Citizen Participation Plan and the revised 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan starting at 6:55 p.m. before the regular Normal Town Council meeting on Monday, May 18, 2020. The hearing and Town Council meeting are open to the public and will take place over Zoom. The hearing will be completely virtual, so no persons will be present in the Council Chambers and no in-person public comment will be allowed.
Those wishing to provide comment at the hearing will need to register by emailing their full name and the phone number that will be used to call into the hearing to the City Clerk at ahuonker@normal.org prior to 6:30 p.m. on May 18, 2020. Once registered with the City Clerk, commenters will receive the meeting call-in number and meeting ID, along with instruction on how to join the virtual meeting.
Public comments on the plans will be also be accepted in writing via mail or email from Thursday, May 7, 2020, through Sunday, May 24, 2020. Written comments should be submitted to:
Taylor Long, Associate Planner
Town of Normal
11 Uptown Station
Normal, IL 61761
Phone: (309) 454-9642
Email: tlong@normal.org
Fundraising Opportunities
No submissions were received for Fundraising Opportunities in this POG edition. Please check our Google Document for updates.
Volunteer Opportunities
No submissions were received for Volunteer Opportunities in this POG edition. Please check our Google Document for updates.
Employment Opportunities
East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging is a fast, multi-faceted work environment. We are seeking applicants to fill this important position.
Be a part of the Area Agency on Aging team and receive competitive pay, excellent benefits, insurance, vacation, holidays, retirement, etc., and the satisfaction of helping older persons.
Service Compliance Coordinator
As a key person in the management of grant funded services, accuracy, time management, efficient and effective reporting, and critical thinking are essential. The position is responsible for monitoring, compiling information, reporting, grant reviews, conducting administrative reviews, technical assistance and interpretation of policies relative to the rules and regulations governing federally funded programs.
Competencies: Experience in Microsoft Outlook. Excellent Problem Solving/Analysis, Critical Evaluation, Strategic Thinking, Ethical Conduct, Communication, Performance Management, Time Management, Organization Skills, Interpersonal Skills, and Team Player.
Requirements: 4 Year College/University Degree in a Human Services field, Valid Driver’s License, Availability to Travel Days/Evenings, Passage of Background Check, 3 years’ experience of grant writing or grants management and community-based program
Compensation commensurate with experience and qualifications.
ECIAAA is an Equal Opportunity Employers.
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: $35,100.00 to $40,950.00 /year
Send resume and cover letter to humanresources@eciaaa.org Bloomington Housing Authority
The Bloomington Housing Authority is seeking candidates for the following positions:
Resident Services Director – This full-time management position is responsible for developing and delivering programs and services to subsidized housing residents to help them achieve life goals, move toward self-sufficiency, and improve their wellbeing. The Resident Services Director supervises multiple employees and is responsible for ensuring successful delivery of services. Requires bachelor’s degree and ten years experience in social services, including three years of supervisory/program management experience. Anticipated starting salary range is $52,000 to $58,000/year with excellent benefits. A full job posting with application instructions is available at www.bloomingtonha.com.
Director of Maintenance and Capital Improvement- This full-time management position will oversee operation of the Housing Authority’s Maintenance Department, which is responsible for upkeep of 610 units of public housing at ten sites in Bloomington. Manages department of 12 full-time employees. The Director of Maintenance and Capital Improvement is also responsible for managing the Housing Authority’s annual Capital Fund Grant (approx. $1.3M/year), which funds renovation and improvement projects at Housing Authority sites. Requires bachelor’s degree, minimum of 8 years experience in maintenance management with at least three years supervisory experience, and capital improvement planning and/or grant-funded construction experience. Anticipated starting salary range is $58,000 to $70,000/year with excellent benefits. A full job posting with application instructions is available at www.bloomingtonha.com.
The Housing Authority of the City of Bloomington is an equal opportunity employer (EOE).
Heartland Head Start
Heartland Head Start is hiring for a few positions!
We are currently hiring for:
