At Jamieson Community Center, the work has always centered on one guiding belief that people can fulfill their potential when they have the right support.  

Through a grant from the Hunger Collaborative, Jamieson Community Center has been able to hire a Resource Coordinator for their Community Connections Program, to serve as a contact person for individuals and families needing connection to resources for support in the Warren and Henderson Counties. 

Jamieson Community Center serves residents across Warren and Henderson Counties through a wide range of programs designed to address food security and daily needs.  

“Many of the people we serve are starting from survival mode,” Commented Nancy Mowen, Executive Director of Jamieson Community Center. “When basic needs aren’t met, it’s difficult to know where to start. The Resource Coordinator role is about helping people find that starting point and then staying with them.” 

Tre Spinks, the Resource Coordinator, serves as a central point of contact for individuals seeking assistance through Jamieson’s programs or through referrals from partner agencies, landlords, and community organizations. After completing an intake process, participants work one-on-one with Spinks to identify immediate needs, connect with appropriate resources, and set both short-and long-term goals.  

Unlike one-time assistance, the Community Connections program emphasizes ongoing relations. Spinks provides regular check-ins, accountability, and life-skills assessments, remaining engaged for as long as individuals need support.  

“Sometimes just having someone who listens and believes you can move forward makes all the difference,” Spinks said. “When people know they’re not doing this alone, they’re more likely to keep taking those next steps.”  

Since the Community Connections program launched, Spinks has already helped individuals secure employment, connect to housing resources, and stabilize their situations. In one case, an individual who had been unemployed for a year was able to find work after receiving help with resume development and workforce connections. In another, two young adults experiencing homelessness were connected to housing and employment.  

This work directly aligns with the mission of the Hunger Collaborative, a partnership of more than 30 nonprofits convened by Galesburg Community Foundation to address hunger by tackling its root causes. By funding a resource coordinator at Jamieson Community Center, the Collaborative is addressing issues that often lead to food insecurity, including limited access to services, workforce challenges, housing instability, and transportation barriers.  

The Resource Coordinator role is still in its early stages, but Jamieson Community Center sees significant potential for growth and long-term impact. With continued collaboration and community support, the program is positioned to strengthen not only individual lives, but the community as a whole.  

To learn more about the Hunger Collaborative and how it supports initiatives like Jamieson Community Center’s Community Connections Resource Coordinator, visit yourgcf.org/hungercollaborative. 

To learn more or support Jamieson Community Center visit www.jamiesoncommunitycenter.org.  

The post Building Stability Through Connection and Support  appeared first on Galesburg Community Foundation.

Building on the success of similar efforts in Knox County, the Warren County Housing Authority (WCHA) recently received a Hunger Collaborative grant to expand access to free public transportation to housing authority residents in Warren County. In partnership with Warren County Public Transportation, the grant provides fare-free rides for residents of WCHA public housing.  

Since its start in February of 2025, the program has provided an average of 250 rides each month, connecting residents to medical care, employment, groceries and essential services both within Warren County and in Galesburg.  

“Many of our residents don’t have a vehicle or don’t have one that’s reliable,” shared Hank Shimmin, Executive Director of the Warren County Housing Authority. “Before this program, some people were walking long distances or relying on friends and family. Others simply stayed home. Now, they have the freedom to go where they need to go.”  

That freedom is life-changing for residents, like a 66-year-old tenant who recently retired and now travels to Galesburg three times a week for medical treatments. “I would not be able to get to my doctors,” he shared. “This is great, and I am thankful to you for letting me do this. I don’t have a lot of family and friends that would help me.” 

Another couple, one elderly and the other legally blind, said the service has been critical for maintaining their health and independence. “We use the bus for doctors, pharmacy, and the store. We couldn’t get there otherwise unless we walked,” they said. The couple estimates they save $30 to $40 each month on bus fares—money they can now use for groceries and over-the-counter medicines not covered by SNAP benefits. “We want everyone to know that we are very thankful for the service that is provided for us.” 

According to Hilary Martin, Program Coordinator, the impact of the grant extends far beyond transportation. “Without dependable transit options, residents face barriers to sustaining employment or accessing medical care,” she said. “This grant provides not just transportation, but opportunity. It’s helping residents access food pantries, maintain consistent jobs, and reach vital healthcare services.” 

Galesburg Community Foundation President & CEO Joshua Gibb emphasized the broader impact of initiatives like this one. “Access to affordable, reliable transportation has a huge impact on hunger in our region,” Gibb shared. “It connects people to jobs, health care, and resources that improve their quality of life. This is exactly the kind of long-term collaborative solution the Hunger Collaborative was created to support.” 

To learn more about the Hunger Collaborative, visit yourgcf.org/hungercollaborative. 

The post Expanding Opportunity Through Transportation in Warren County   appeared first on Galesburg Community Foundation.

For each area, nonprofit organizations are collaborating to develop strategies for multi-year grants. The Knox County Housing Authority (KCHA) recently received a Hunger Collaborative grant for the Fare Free Public Transit Initiative. In collaboration with the City of Galesburg Transportation Department, KCHA is now able to offer free transit services for residents of Knox County Housing Authority Public and Affordable Housing Programs. The program currently offers an average of 1,900 rides per month, demonstrating that this seemingly small change has had a profound impact on the lives of those who were previously burdened by the cost of transportation.

Before this initiative, many KCHA residents were forced to sacrifice basic necessities to afford a bus fare. This often meant choosing between buying groceries or getting medical care, a choice no one should have to make.

Jillian Isaacson, Galesburg Community Foundations Director of Grants and Programs, emphasized the significance of this grant, stating, “This initiative not only improves access to essential services such as work, school, and medical appointments, but also empowers residents to make choices that enhance their quality of life.

Amber Thurman, a resident of Knox County Housing Authority, shared the difference this program has made.

“The free bus pass has transformed my life,” Amber shares. “I get out more, experience less pain because I no longer have to carry heavy bags, and my health has improved since I can visit my doctor regularly and fill my prescriptions more easily.” The freedom to access essential services without financial strain has been, in Amber’s words, “lifesaving”.

“The Fare Free Public Transit Initiative showcases the power of proactive granting. Organizations are developing innovative solutions that address the root causes of hunger, with clear goals and outcomes driving their success.” Joshua Gibb, President & CEO of Galesburg Community Foundation.

To learn more about how the Hunger Collaborative is working to address the root causes of hunger in our region, visit yourgcf.org/community-programs/hunger-collaborative/.

The post Combating Hunger Through Transportation Access appeared first on Galesburg Community Foundation.

Convened in 2021 by Galesburg Community Foundation, the Hunger Collaborative is a group of individuals and leaders from more than 30 local nonprofits, both directly and indirectly involved in food assistance. The Hunger Collaborative is working to develop strategies to reduce hunger by addressing its root causes. In addition to direct, immediate need for food, the Hunger Collaborative has identified four priority root causes of hunger: access to and awareness of services, workforce and skills readiness, housing and homelessness, and transportation. 

With funding from the Hunger Collaborative, the Knox County Housing Authority (KCHA) and the Salvation Army have transformed their warming shelter into a year-round, overnight facility. By providing consistent shelter year-round, these organizations aim to enhance the physical well-being of unhoused individuals and assist them in securing permanent housing.

The year-round shelter offers a safe place for unhoused individuals to sleep, and its staff works diligently to connect them with necessary resources. Jordan Belville, the shelter manager, explains, “We bring them in, learn their backstory, understand why they are here, and identify the resources they need. I then reach out to partners like Bridgeway for mental health services and the Salvation Army to help them obtain an ID and access other resources.”

Jordan emphasizes that the shelter serves as a crucial entry point, where individuals can begin receiving the assistance they need. “We collaborate with other KCHA staff to help connect shelter residents with permanent housing.”

The shelter is low-barrier, welcoming help to those who need it. “If someone needs somewhere to go, we open our arms and allow them to come and get the help they need, in a place that is safe,” continued Belville.

To learn more about the Hunger Collaborative visit yourgcf.org/hungercollaborative.  

The post Year-Round Shelter Supports the Unhoused appeared first on Galesburg Community Foundation.

That’s been the case for the Hunger Collaborative, a group of more than 30 nonprofits brought together by Galesburg Community Foundation to combat the root causes of hunger in our region.

“Leaders from these organizations meet regularly to discuss challenges and develop projects to address food insecurity,” said Jillian Isaacson, Director of Grants and Programs at Galesburg Community Foundation. “It was at these meetings that we saw just how much our local food pantries are currently struggling.”

Increasing food costs are resulting in higher usage for families that can no longer afford groceries. At Jamieson Community Center in Monmouth, the number of people coming to the center for food increased 91% from 2022 to 2023.

This increased demand, combined with higher food costs, is depleting food pantry cash reserves. At FISH of Galesburg, the pantry almost doubled the amount of money spent on food last year.

“Now, more than ever, it’s crucial for us to come together and explore innovative solutions to ensure that food pantries in our region have the resources needed to continue their critical mission of providing nourishment to those in need,” said Joshua Gibb, President & CEO of Galesburg Community Foundation. “For this reason, we invited local food pantries to come together to discuss the obstacles they’re facing and opportunities to work collaboratively.”

Linda Wastyn of Wastyn & Associates was invited by the Community Foundation to facilitate a series of discussions with food pantries in Knox, Warren, and Henderson counties. The first session in January focused on the current state of pantries in the region, what barriers are affecting fundraising efforts, and what opportunities are possible for sustainable fundraising in the future. The second two-day session was developed based on the findings of the discussion held in January. Content included fundraising principles, practices tailored to food pantries in our geographic area, and time to strategize a collaborative fundraising plan.

A crucial partner in the sessions was River Bend Food Bank, which provides food to many of the food pantries in the region. Because of their relationship with food suppliers and retailers, the Food Bank can provide up to five meals for every $1 donated.

Nancy Renkes, President of the Food Bank, talked with the participating food pantries about how the Food Bank and food pantries could unify efforts to raise awareness of the issues they face, write grants, and raise funds to purchase food. “If we work collaboratively, we’ll be much more efficient and have a much stronger voice,” said Renkes to the representatives of the participating food pantries. “If we can go into this bigger, bolder, and more strategically, it helps us serve you better. That’s really our goal, to make sure you have enough food to serve hungry people.”

“I am so relieved,” said Julie Meloan of the Family Outreach Center in Henderson. “We’re always thinking, ‘Are we going to be able to keep doing this?’ So, hearing what you’re saying, I’m almost in tears because this can be so much easier.”

These sessions are the first of what will be an ongoing collaboration between River Bend Food Bank and local pantries. “The Community Foundation is invested in helping these hardworking organizations find the best ways to feed hungry people in our region and to shorten the line for food through our work with the Hunger Collaborative,” said Gibb. “We’re committed to this journey.”

You can support initiatives to combat the root causes of hunger in the region by making a gift to the Hunger Collaborative.

The post Exploring innovative solutions to support food pantries appeared first on Galesburg Community Foundation.

“People aren’t just hungry—there are other things going on that result in food insecurity,” says Stacy Brown, Vice President of Behavioral Health Services at Bridgeway. “If we want to reduce hunger, we need to find more holistic solutions.”

Brown is leading the subgroup of the Hunger Collaborative that is seeking to increase awareness of services in the two counties. To date, two grants have been made.

The first grant was made to fund an Adult Systems of Care position at Bridgeway. Jamie Stark has been in the position for a little less than a year, working with nonprofit and governmental service providers to support individuals in Knox and Warren Counties with accessible services so they can thrive.

“I meet people where they are in their life at that moment and work with them to get past barriers,” says Stark. An example is a mom and two young children coming from a domestic violence situation. Stark helped the mother fill out an application for Knox County Housing Authority and get a link card, and she connected her with a childcare provider so that she could get a job. “She did most of the legwork herself. I was just there to support her and provide resources.”

In addition to receiving referrals, Stark is at the Galesburg Public Library on Wednesdays from 1:30-4 pm and Fridays from 9 am-noon. She plans to have regular hours at a location in Warren County soon. Individuals and organizations can connect with Stark at jamies@bway.org or call 309.368.2305.

The second grant was made to develop a multilingual service and resource online database. The database allows those in need of services and organizations access to current information on resources available in Hancock, Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren counties. Check out the database.

“When you’re in survival mode, it’s sometimes hard to know where to turn for help,” says Jamie Roth, Community Services and Public Relations Director of the Western Illinois Regional Council (WIRC), the lead grantee for the initiative. The top of the web page asks one question, “Hey, how can we help?” Based on what’s asked, the response can be anything from where to find food pantries to how to find resources to get rid of bed bugs to where to get help with heating bills.

It’s a resource that’s available anytime, day or night, that was built based on the questions most often answered by staff at WIRC.  “It’s a living resource that we will improve and build as time goes on,” continued Roth. “It not only helps individuals in need, but helps local organizations spread the word about the services they offer.” The website is available in English and Spanish and will be translated into French in 2024.

Hunger Collaborative initiatives are being funded through more than $1.4 million entrusted to Galesburg Community Foundation by the Knox County Board, along with $750,000 invested by the Community Foundation itself and more than $100,000 generously contributed by local residents. Learn more about the Hunger Collaborative.

The post Two initiatives increase awareness, combat root causes of hunger appeared first on Galesburg Community Foundation.

But as Nancy Mowen enters her tenth year as executive director of the Center, Jamieson is experiencing unprecedented financial strain as the need for services continues to climb. “Seventy percent of residents qualify for food assistance and yet we are only reaching twenty percent of the population.”

To help Jamieson meet the growing needs of the region, they are working with Galesburg Community Foundation to build their endowment. The endowment provides Jamieson with a stable and reliable source of funding for the nonprofit’s ongoing initiatives. This financial security will allow the organization to plan strategically, expand its reach, and implement innovative solutions. “As the endowment grows, so does the nonprofit’s capacity to adapt to evolving community needs and create lasting change,” says Sarah Grant, Galesburg Community Foundation Director of Development.

To give Jamieson the opportunity to focus on building their endowment, the Community Foundation provided a multi-year grant to the nonprofit. The Community Foundation also produced materials that Jamieson can use to tell their story and brought them together with a cohort of four other nonprofits building their endowments who are sharing their experiences and learning from each other.

Partnering with Galesburg Community Foundation enables Jamieson to reap the benefits of the Community Foundation’s philanthropic services, expertise in charitable giving administration, and network of professional investment services, allowing Jamieson to focus on their mission.

Gifts of any kind can be made to support Jamieson’s endowment, from cash and securities to real estate or grain.

“The needs and opportunities for our neighbors are ever-present,” says Mowen. “At Jamieson Community Center, we are building an endowment fund to not only provide a permanent revenue stream so we can always deliver on our mission to increase food security and essential services, but to also ensure we can forever serve our neighbors with compassion.”

“When people feel valued,” Mowen continued, “they can move forward.”

To make a gift to the Jamieson Community Center endowment or other endowed funds at Galesburg Community Foundation, visit yourgcf.org/give. To learn more about endowments, contact Sarah Grant at info@yourgcf.org or 309.344.8898.

The post Endowment aims to lift families in Warren County appeared first on Galesburg Community Foundation.

“It’s important to take the time to inform legislators about what it is nonprofits are doing, since they make decisions every day that impact our work,” said Galesburg Community Foundation President & CEO Joshua Gibb. “It’s one thing to tell them about that work. It’s another thing to be able to show them.”

Senator Mike Halpin and his aide, Debra Grey-Gibson; Representative Dan Swanson; and Annie Hewitt from the office of Senator Neil Anderson began their day at Galesburg Community Foundation, where they met with some of the members of the Hunger Collaborative. This group of nonprofits was brought together by the Community Foundation to develop strategies to reduce hunger in the region by addressing its root causes.

From there, the group traveled to the new home of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony, where the Community Foundation is offering a match grant to assist the symphony as they build their endowment.

The group then headed west, touring the Community Foundation’s largest Mission Impact Investment, River Bend Food Bank, Galesburg Branch, before ending in Monmouth at Buchanan Center for the Arts. The Center is part of a cohort of nonprofits working with the Community Foundation to build their endowment as they look to expand their usable space and programming. Advisory Board members from the Roseville and Monmouth Community Funds were also on hand to share the good work happening in their towns.

During the tour, legislators had the opportunity to engage directly with the leaders of many regional organizations, gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges they face and the impact of their initiatives on our region. “It’s all about learning more about the community,” said Swanson about the tour. “There’s so much good going on in the community that we got to see today.”

Halpin emphasized that the more they can learn about organizations, the better equipped he and other representatives will be to help them. “Needs change over time, so it’s very good to reconnect and figure out what specifically is going on with organizations at that moment,” said Halpin. “We talked about capital campaigns, physical expansions, challenges with funding, maximizing the efficiency of donations—that’s information that we need to have on a regular basis to help us do our jobs.”

Nonprofits also shared with the legislators where government contracts and grants are overlapping and the difficulty they have when resources are needed but the process to get those resources in place can be burdensome. “I think the legislators saw how, in contrast, the Community Foundation has the ability to make sure dollars are well spent, but it’s not at the same level of burden that state or federal dollars can sometimes be,” said Gibb.

One of the best ways to overcome many of the challenges nonprofits currently face is with proposed legislation to incentivize donors to give gifts of permanent endowment for the benefit of nonprofit organizations. “What the legislators saw today was the result of endowment being well purposed and well positioned within a community to have the greatest amount of impact,” said Gibb. “I wanted them to be able to see endowment at work so when the opportunity to create an endowment tax credit is in front of them, they can advocate for it.”

Gibb said the tour not only showcased the challenges nonprofits navigate but also emphasized the significant impact they have on the lives of residents. “I hope this experience inspires continued collaboration and support from our state legislators to ensure the ongoing success of these vital community initiatives.”

The post Legislative tour showcases impact of local nonprofits appeared first on Galesburg Community Foundation.

They were headed to the SkillsUSA National Championships to compete against thousands of their peers from career technical education programs across the country. At the end of five days, they flew home with real-world skills, newfound confidence, and the drive to do even better next time.

Alice and Axel aren’t the only students in the region who are excited about the opportunity to practice technical skills and explore career paths. The Galesburg Area Vocational Center (GAVC) has seen a 60 percent increase in enrollment from last year, and participation in the local SkillsUSA program, which was established at GAVC in 2022, has nearly tripled in that same time. In its first year, the program was made possible thanks to resources from the City of Galesburg, while for the next two years Galesburg Community Foundation will continue to fund it.

“That growth is evidence of the need—and that this is money well spent,” says Adam Seaney, GAVC’s director. “We’ve learned that four-year college is not for everybody, and it doesn’t have to be. Everything we do here is from the standpoint of high-skill, high-wage, high-demand careers.”

According to Ken Springer, president of the Knox County Area Partnership, a growing interest in career technical education is a positive signal in a region where the loss of large manufacturers over the last generation has left today’s employers short of the workers needed to fill available jobs. “We’re trying to rebuild our economy on the strength of workforce, and in the last five years we’ve made a concerted effort to get the message out about vocational training,” he says. “SkillsUSA is another way of spotlighting the importance of technical education and celebrating who we are as a community.”

GAVC has invested in a state-of-the-art facility where students from eight area schools can enjoy hands-on training and instruction in a wide variety of skills, from automotive technology and early childhood education to law enforcement and web development.

Alice and Axel recently qualified for their second year at nationals and will be accompanied by three other GAVC qualifiers. As they prepare for the competition, the two sophomores are also looking further ahead, and they both see the lasting value of competing in SkillsUSA.

“It’s a huge opportunity for when you’re older,” says Alice. “You can find out what you want to do in your career, and you can meet people who will be good connections.”

“For career technical education, this is our varsity,” says Seaney. “Students get to take all the skills they’ve learned and use them to compete. But even more important, it’s the work along the way. That’s going to be the long-term benefit for our students and for our area employers.”

Tackling a root cause of hunger

SkillsUSA is supported by the Hunger Collaborative, a group of individuals and leaders from 27 nonprofits both directly and indirectly involved in food assistance. Community members with food insecurity may lack the training and skills needed for higher-paying jobs that provide better financial stability. Career technical education for young people is one of several approaches the Hunger Collaborative has outlined to support workforce and skills readiness, with a goal of creating a talent pipeline to build opportunities for regional employers and trades students alike.

The post Building the regional workforce of tomorrow appeared first on Galesburg Community Foundation.

Viewed another way, it’s about the deeper disparities, from education and income to transportation and housing, that lead to hunger in the first place. Tackling these root causes means rethinking how entire systems work.

The Hunger Collaborative is doing just that. Convened in 2021 by Galesburg Community Foundation, the Hunger Collaborative comprises individuals and leaders from 27 local nonprofits both directly and indirectly involved in food assistance. Together, they’re working to develop strategies to reduce hunger by addressing its root causes. Those strategies will become realities thanks to more than $1.4 million entrusted to the Community Foundation by Knox County, along with $750,000 invested by the Community Foundation itself and more than $100,000 generously contributed by local residents.

“We’re listening to the nonprofits on the front lines of this work,” says Joshua Gibb, the Community Foundation’s president and CEO. He explains that the Community Foundation brought these organizations together after observing how they had already begun collaborating in new ways in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We saw an opportunity to help keep that collaboration moving forward and to direct resources in a different way.”

In addition to direct, immediate need for food, the Hunger Collaborative has identified four priority root causes of hunger:

• Access to and awareness of services
• Workforce and skills readiness
• Housing and homelessness
• Transportation

For each area, small groups are crafting proposals for multi-year grants. Under access and awareness, for example, a single, coordinated network of nonprofit and governmental service providers could remove barriers to available resources. Under housing, plans for emergency shelter beds, permanent housing with wraparound services, and services for those at risk of homelessness are under consideration.

The Hunger Collaborative’s advisory board worked with the Community Foundation to establish an open, ongoing grant cycle to fund these projects. This flexibility gives the nonprofits time to develop solutions organically, though all Knox County funds will be allocated by 2024 and spent by 2026.

“What we can’t do is be okay with the status quo,” says Roger Pavey, advisory board member and executive director of the Western Illinois Regional Council. “So much great work is happening out there—and it’s not enough. The Hunger Collaborative gives us a chance to change the status quo. If we can demonstrate that it works, then we can advocate for change in the system.”

Ultimately, progress made by the Hunger Collaborative today means that systems will be in place so that when the next pandemic—or other disaster— happens, the need will not be so great that it takes resources away from other important work.

If we continue to knit this together well,” adds Gibb, “we have the opportunity to change people’s lives.

The post Meet the Hunger Collaborative appeared first on Galesburg Community Foundation.