🥕💛 Thank you for joining our Grocery Giveaway!

Written By Will Guzzardi

Dear Neighbor,

Throughout the month of March, my office was proud to partner with elected officials and community organizations to reach and serve neighbors with food support. We organized a community meal and grocery giveaway, providing direct support to individuals and families through a warm meal or bag of groceries.

Last week, our grocery giveaway served over 250 families. This effort would not have been possible without the support of so many. 

Thank you to partnering offices: Sen. Graciela Guzman, Ald. Ruth Cruz, Rep. Lindsey LaPointe; community organizations: Chopin Park Advisory Council, Chopin Park staff, the Zakat Foundation, Islamic Relief, the Greater Chicago Food Depository; and donors Supermercado Martin’s, Aetna, Goya Foods, Jewel-Osco, Pete’s Fresh Market, and Tony’s Fresh Market for helping make this event an impactful success.

My office will continue to uplift food security resources as well as share SNAP updates to support and inform our community.

Due to more federal government changes and cuts, some SNAP recipients must meet new work requirements, for those who qualify as an Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD). You can check on those work requirements, see whether or not you are exempt from the new requirements, and find the proper form to declare an exemption, by using the IDHS screener here. You can also find out more information and resources on how to meet these new requirements here.

Further, on April 1, SNAP eligibility changes for immigrant and refugee families went  into effect, leaving an estimated 250,000 Illinoisans at risk of losing access to these benefits. You can find out more information on these changes here. The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant Refugee Rights’ Family Support Hotline, 1 (855) 435-7693, can also help to connect folks to additional support.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to my office by calling (773) 853-2570 or emailing will@repguzzardi.com. 

All my best,

Will

Illinois Housing Blueprint Survey

The Illinois Housing Development Authority is leading a statewide housing planning effort this year: the Illinois Housing Blueprint. This community survey is now live and will help the planning team further understand the housing and development needs of your community. 

The survey is open to all current residents of Illinois, available in English and Spanish, and will take less than 15 minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous, and results will only be presented in aggregate form. The survey can be found here: arcg.is/1qPjKP1. 

Office of the City Clerk Mobile City Hall and Amnesty Month

The Office of the City Clerk is waiving late fees and back charges for drivers with outstanding city sticker debt during the month of April. They are also expanding access by offering three Saturday Mobile City Hall events throughout the city. For more information about Amnesty Month, visit chicityclerk.com/AmnestyMonth. 

Car Seat Inspection Station

4 out of 5 car seats are used incorrectly! Is yours one of them? Make an appointment today and a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician will provide you with the opportunity to learn about the selection, direction, location, harnessing, and the installation of your child’s car seat. 

  • 🗓️ Thursday, April 16 

  • ⏰ 10am to 12pm 

  • 📍 St Nicolai United Church, 3000 N Kedzie Ave.

  • ☎️ Appointments required by calling (312) 695-9155. Please note that you must bring your child, car seat, and vehicle. 

Will Guzzardi
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📢🏛️ Updates from Springfield: Fair Car and Homeowners Insurance Win!