5 Non-Profits To Get Behind In the Elgin Area

ELGIN, IL — Nonprofit groups are keystone community organizations in the Elgin area. Fortunately, there is no shortage of organizations to volunteer or get behind financially, and that need your help.

Here are five outstanding nonprofit groups you should know about in the Elgin area:

1. Common Ground Community Rescue Network is a not-for-profit organization that operates under a philosophy of a CARE core strategy program. The rescue is built around components of Community, Advocacy, Rescue, and Education. The pet rescue group is run entirely by volunteers who network, partner, collect, distribute, and teach to rescue animals and to help deliver food and supplies to pets in need who need assistance. Teams of volunteers rents and sometimes borrows large conversion vehicles to cover the needed miles to deliver rescue services and supplies to animals across the region.

2. Habitat For Humanity of Northern Fox Valley provides homes for people in need by working with groups of volunteers to construct and furnish homes for those who need them most. Once complete, the Habitat homes provide affordable living environments to help the residents achieve a sense of independence while living in a home they can call their own. The Elgin chapter of the organization has already logged more than 32,000 volunteer hours in 2023 and has served 815 families since it began working in Fox Valley communities. In fiscal year 2023, the organization has built eight new homes while providing repairs to 58 other homes that can be enjoyed by families in need.

3. The Community Crisis Center and Food Distribution Center provides services including a 24-hour crisis hotline, temporary housing, and shelter, legal assistance, medical assistance as well as financial services for women who are victims of sexual assault, domestic battery, and other crisis situations. The organization provides safety, hope, advocacy, respite, and education for women who need help while also providing them with a safe haven when often, they have no other place to turn. Founded in 1975, the Community Crisis Center is one of the oldest domestic violence shelters in Illinois and began by providing shelter for 14 people each night in a historic Victorian home in Elgin. The organization later moved to the former Franklin Elementary School, which can provide shelter and other services seven days a week.

4. Children’s Theater of Elgin and the Fox Valley Theater Company is a not-for-profit organization that brings local youngsters together to form the largest and oldest children’s theater companies in Illinois. The organization develops fun and exciting programs that offer children and area youth an affordable opportunity to experience the performing arts. Since 1988, the theater company has performed more than 30 productions, including theatrical classics and favorites. In addition to full-scale theater productions, the organization also offers workshops, summer camps, and other fine arts opportunities.

5. Senior Services Associates is now in its 50th year and in that time has offered a collection of programming and community services to meet the needs of the community’s older residents. Started originally as an adult day center, the organization developed into a multipurpose senior center and offered transportation, recreation, health, and educational programs along with other essential services. The organization has continued to add services to assist local residents with the services that they need most.

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