Nicor Gas awards $100,000 in grants to support basic needs and provide bill payment assistance throughout its service territory

NAPERVILLE, Ill. Nov. 26, 2024 – Nicor Gas is announcing $100,000 in grants to support the basic needs of customers including food, clothing and shelter through community nonprofit organizations across its service territory.

"A thriving community is built on health and stability and at Nicor Gas, we are committed to investing in organizations that provide essential services to help communities flourish," said Jackie Nagel, manager of Community Engagement at Nicor Gas. "Through our Basic Human Needs and Energy Assistance giving pillar, we support initiatives that address critical needs such as food, shelter, clothing and disaster relief, ensuring our communities have the resources necessary for stability and wellness."

This year, Nicor Gas is awarding 23 organizations with grants to support their basic needs programming including:  

Cook County: 

• Connections for the Homeless - Provides homelessness prevention services, emergency shelter services, short- and long-term housing services and advocacy services for people facing homelessness.
• Cornerstone Community Development Corporation - Provides community members with crucial access to health services, information and connection to resources.
• Housing Forward - Provides emergency support services and shelter, street outreach and case management, rapid-rehousing, medical respite, prevention and diversion services.
• Howard and Evanston Community Center - Provides relief for food insecure individuals and families through twice weekly food distributions.
• PADS to HOPE - Supports the HOPE Center, where clients can access a food pantry, clothing closet, showers, laundry, transportation and shelter as part of the Interim Housing Program.
• Pathlight Human Services - Provides comprehensive support for older adults with difficulty accessing, affording and/or preparing nutritious food.
• Westchester Food Pantry - Provides families in the greater Westchester area with nutritious food through a once-a-month large food order.
• WINGS Program - Provides emergency housing and supportive services to survivors of domestic abuse and their children.

DuPage County: 

• Loaves and Fishes - Provides access to nutritious food and resources to break the cycle of poverty-related chronic disease and address the root causes of hunger.
• Outreach House - Provides access to basic needs including food, diapers and clothing for all ages and emergency financial assistance for utilities.
• People’s Resource Center - Provides free groceries, clothing and financial assistance for housing and utilities.
• West Suburban Food Pantry - Supports the Food for Health initiative, which gives families in need access to food items through shopping at a physical food pantry and online at a virtual food pantry.

Iroquois County:

• Watseka Area Food Pantry - Provides food and essential household items through self-selection of grocery and hygiene needs.

Kankakee County:

• Coal City Food Pantry - Provides food including dry goods, dairy and fresh meat to support families experiencing food insecurity in the Coal City area.

Kane County:

• Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry - Provides food distribution services to families, including weekly food deliveries to homebound residents and emergency text for food services.
• Big Hearts Fox Valley - Provides basic essential items such as day-to-day clothing, shoes, toiletries, laundry detergent and warm outwear, including winter coats, gloves, hats and boots to families in the Fox Valley area.

Kendall County:

• Kendall County Community Food Pantry - Provides nutritious protein to families in need through supplemental meat purchases and distribution.

Lake County:

• Council for Jewish Elderly - Supports clients in helping to identify, enroll in and maintain vital government benefits and help increase participation in private assistance programs through education, guidance and advocacy.

McHenry County:

• Home of the Sparrow - Provides transitional housing for women and children with essential shelter and resources such as food, clothing and disaster relief.

Will County:

• Faithful Meals in Motion - Provides a boxed supply of food for children and families experiencing food insecurity. Food is also provided during extended school breaks.
• Morningstar Mission Ministries - Provides programs and services to families in need including a women's shelter, hot meals café, residential recovery program and a veteran's program.

Winnebago County: 

• Rock House Kids - Provides a hot meal for students Monday through Friday evenings and a supplemental food bag for weekends and holidays.
• Rock River Valley Pantry - Provides nutritious food distribution to those in urgent need.

To learn more about Nicor Gas’ commitment to basic needs and bill payment assistance initiatives, visit www.NicorGas.com/CharitableGiving. 

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About Nicor Gas
Nicor Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Nicor Gas serves more than 2.3 million customers in a service territory that encompasses most of the northern third of Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago. For more information, visit nicorgas.com.

About Southern Company Gas
Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.4 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states and more than 600,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines, asset management for natural gas wholesale customers and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities.

Media Contact:
Nicole Frett
nfrett@southernco.com