JCE receives funding for Neighbor to Neighbor Care program

Jo-Carroll Energy received a $30,000 grant from the Northwest Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund for the cooperative’s Neighbor to Neighbor Care program.

The grant was one of 30 awarded to nonprofit organizations based throughout Stephenson, Jo Daviess and Carroll counties by the Freeport Community Foundation (FCF) and the United Way of Northwest Illinois (UWNWIL).

“This grant couldn’t come at a more critical time, as members throughout the service area are receiving their last heating bills of the winter months,” said Jennifer Meyer, Jo-Carroll Energy’s vice president of member services. “Many are facing economic hardships, and energy security, or accruing bills at the cooperative, is the last thing we want our membership to be worried about.”

The grant to Jo-Carroll Energy will be used to assist cooperative members residing in Jo Daviess and Carroll counties.

JCE’s Neighbor to Neighbor Care program works in tandem with the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Any residential member needing assistance can receive Neighbor to Neighbor funds whether they received LIHEAP or not. The Neighbor to Neighbor funds are administered for Jo-Carroll Energy by the respective area agencies serving each county in the cooperative’s service area.

Funds from the NWIL COVID-19 Response Fund are intended to benefit nonprofits and programs serving the most vulnerable populations in Stephenson, Jo Daviess and Carroll counties affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Together the two agencies awarded $205,000 in emergency needs grants.

Funds supporting UWNWIL grants included $100,000 awarded to the agency partnership from the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund and an additional $5,000 from private donations. The additional $100,000 emergency relief funding came from the Freeport Community Foundation’s Community Needs/Matt Marvin Unrestricted Fund.

Jo-Carroll’s grant was distributed by the UWNWIL.