Our community is home to many low-income immigrants who need assistance providing for their families and becoming productive residents of the United States. Our Services Helping Hands Emergency Assistance Food Pantry - About 75 people per month are given food that has been donated by our community. Churches, businesses and individuals conduct periodic food drives to keep our shelves full. The food pantry is for the use of people in the process of qualifying for food stamps, those who are unemployed or find themselves in emergency situations. Children s Clothing - Clothing donations for children up to 12 years of age are regularly distributed to needy families. Financial Aid - Qualified clients are helped financially with rent, food, utility bills and medical care when funds are available. Family Services All Kids Insurance Program - All Kids is a state program that offers healthcare coverage to children through age 18 and to pregnant women. The program can also help pay premiums for employer-sponsored or private insurance plans. Access to Care - The Access to Care program provides medical care to people who work and have no insurance or have a deductible of $500 or more. The program includes doctor visits, laboratory tests, x-rays and prescriptions. Thanks to this program many people have access to medical care for a minimal charge. mcs is a registration site. Referrals to doctors & hospitals - We refer clients to a doctor who speaks their own language and one whom they can afford to pay. Volunteers may provide transportation in emergency situations. Public Aid - Assistance is offered to qualified families who need to apply for Public Aid. Our help consists of filling out forms and providing orientation to the process. Vacation Bible School - Local churches partner with mcs to offer week-long Vacation Bible School to school-aged children in our community. Mosaic Reading Program - In cooperation with the Daily Herald, children are provided an opportunity to read about other cultures and then experience them as well. Back-to-School Program - Every Fall, Meadows Community Services in cooperation with Willow Creek Church distributes backpacks and school supplies to area children. Easter - A party is held for the most needy children in the community. The children participate in crafts, enjoy Easter egg hunts, have snacks and leave with a beautiful Easter basket. A local Pastor shares the message of Christ s death and Resurrection. Thanksgiving - An average of 250 hungry families receive food baskets each year. Local businesses and churches donate food. This service brings happiness to families who are too poor to have the tranditional meal on this special day. Christmas - An average of five hundred children and their parents are invited to a special Christmas program in December that focuses on the miracle of Jesus Birth. Empowerment Programs English Classes - Students attend 18 different English as Second Language (ESL) classes each week at mcs. These classes prepare students for jobs by improving their oral and written communication skills. Citizenship Classes - Citizenship classes help people who have legal residence status apply for U.S. citizenship and helps them prepare to take the required Citizenship test. The program is designed for students to learn American Civics and the History of the United States. Financial Literacy Classes - A series of classes is periodically offered that teaches budgeting, wise use of credit and how to save for the future. Homemaking Seminars - Homemaking seminars teach homemaking skills such as sewing and knitting. Family Seminars - Periodically seminars are offered on topics such as parenting, anger management and marriage enrichment. Legislative Rights Seminars - mcs recognizes the need for both employers and immigrant employees to better understand how to work effectively together. In this vein, we offer seminars aimed at better understanding cultural differences and what the law says about Worker s Rights and Immigrant s Rights. Mobile Dental Clinic - The Northwest Community Hospital Mobile Dental Clinic periodically visits mcs offering free dental exams and teaching children good dental hygiene. Individual Services Immigration Services - We help people fill out forms and give them a brief orientation about the immigration process. Our immigration department helps with United States citizenship and legal permanent residence petitions and forms. We are one of the only BIA accredited sites in the Chicago Northwest suburbs. Nominal fees are charged for these services. Translations - Our clients bring important documents to us to be translated. We provide this assistance in person or over the phone to help them solve a variety of matters. Filling Out Forms - We help those who have educational or language barriers fill out applications for birth certificates, social security forms, job applications, unemployment statements, insurance applications and other forms. Income Tax Preparation - State and Federal income tax returns are prepared for those who experience barriers in preparing forms themselves. A small fee is charged. Advocacy - Indivuals receive communication assistance in situations related to work, school, rent, healthcare, etc. Most situations are easily solved once language or cultural barriers are addressed. Counseling - Individual and family counseling is available (by appointment only) to help clients with their emotional needs and family crises.

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