Community Impact

Alleviate Hunger

Phase III of the Alleviate Hunger Initiative concluded in the fall of 2008.   Our partnership with Eastern Illinois Foodbank on this project had on clear goal:  Whenever anyone in Champaign County experiences a time of needing food assistance, they can readily access timely, adequate, appropriate assistance sufficient to see them safely through that time of need.

Through this leadership effort the emergency food system has been strengthened in Champaign County.  From July 2007 - June 2008 an average of 13,534 individuals were served per month.  In the past few months that number has increased to an average of 19,508.  There is no doubt that the coordination of this effort has supported making food available when, where and how those in need could best access it.

Accomplishments of the initiative include:  creating a profile of the emergency food system, maintaining a database of emergency food providers and establishing an emergency food providers' consortium so those meeting this need can communicate and collaborate.

Results include greater capacity in the emergency food programs, greater geographic distribution, more accessible hours, expanded eligibility allowing pantries to serve clients with higher income levels, including those families working but not making enough to meet the needs of their families.

Where does Alleviate Hunger go from here?  EIF plans to continue consulting with programs to build capacity, implement best practices, volunteer sustainment and developing communication via the consortium.  This initiative can also now be replicated in other communities served by EIF.  The Hunger in America study is underway and we anticipate gathering update information on key statistics, clients and the experience of emergency food providers as they try to meet the growing need for food in Champaign County.

Francis Nelson Health Center

In the 2004 Community Wide Needs Assessment, Healthcare was rated 1st as the most serious of 18 specific issues and 3rd overall. Community Leaders identified healthcare as well as behavioral health care as constituting the major social service/human care need in our community.

Located in a medically underserved area and now accessible to all of Champaign County, the new Frances Nelson Health Center is an example of how change does matter in our community. The United Way, in partnership with CHIC-Frances Nelson Health Center and our friends in the healthcare community, celebrated the opening of the new health center on November 14, 2006. The new building is a 14,500 square foot facility which offers 20 general exam rooms, two eye exam rooms, two mental health and social services rooms, administrative space, and a medical lab. Plans are underway to expand to night and Saturday hours as well as bring on additional medical providers.

Making affordable health care accessible to all people is a primary goal of our Healthy Community Initiative. As part of our mission to help Champaign County citizens be self-sufficient, one of the greatest needs is access to health care. The 2004 Community-Wide Needs Assessment ranked health care as the most serious need, and this new facility will help to meet that need in a tangible way.

Barbara Dunn, executive director for the Community Health Improvement Center, the organization under which Frances Nelson operates, stated, “The Center has needed expanded space for clinical services, offices, and parking for years. Our dream of helping more patients in a larger facility with upgraded equipment is finally a reality.”

With the help of many generous individuals, organizations, foundations, and governmental units, $2.8 million of community resources were mobilized for this project. The result is a community effort that responds to community needs and mobilizes resources. When all is said and done, what matters® are the people served by the new Frances Nelson Health Center and the health and well-being that medical service can provide an individual and a community.