Mayor Irvin's Weekly Update - November 24, 2020

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

On Saturday, November 21, Aurora's two primary food pantries - the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry and the Aurora Area InterFaith Food Pantry - joined forces with the Northern Illinois Food Bank and the City of Aurora to provide Thanksgiving meals to 2,500 Aurora families. (L to R) Zaida Rodriguez, Interim Executive Director of the Aurora Area InterFaith Food Pantry; Julie Yurko, CEO of the Northern Illinois Food Bank; Mayor Richard C. Irvin; Mary Clark, Area Leader of the Northern Illinois Food Bank; and Dianne Renner, Executive Director of the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry.

‘Gratitude’ and ‘Giving Back’ are clearly evident in our community every season, but even more so this holiday season. As we conclude the final months of a year that has presented both challenges and opportunities, Aurorans remain thankful and continue to be of service to their fellow neighbors.

On Saturday, I saw volunteers help distribute meals to thousands of families and then watched dozens more people join a car parade to celebrate the 100th birthday of one of our veterans. On Sunday, I joined leaders of different faith communities in Aurora for a virtual celebration of our diversity and commitment to equity and justice. On Monday, I felt the sincere gratitude of more than 300 residents who received personal deliveries of meals, thanks to the generosity of our community partners. This is our Aurora.

Each day, I was reminded of how much we truly have to be grateful for, even during these uncertain times.

As we plan for safe Thanksgiving celebrations with our immediate families, I encourage all Aurorans to reflect on our year and remember what matters most. While we cannot gather in a traditional way, it doesn’t prohibit us from showing love and gratitude to our family, friends and neighbors in a sincere way. Take some time to cherish old memories as you creatively make new ones. How we choose to celebrate in the present can have a direct impact on how we are able to celebrate in the future ….and the future has limitless potential, indeed.

Let’s keep on being grateful. Let’s keep on giving back. Let’s keep Aurora safe and strong.

From my family to yours, I wish you a hopeful, healthy and Happy Thanksgiving!

-- Mayor Richard C. Irvin

On Monday, November 23, more than 300 Thanksgiving meals were delivered to residents of the Aurora Housing Authority thanks to an extended partnership with the Aurora Housing Authority, Top Box Foods and the City of Aurora.

One of the most effective ways to combat the spread of COVID-19 in our community is to WEAR A MASK! It is one of the important 3 Ws: Wear a mask, Watch your distance and Wash your hands. Free masks are available to individuals, families, large groups and organizations.

Learn more at www.aurora-il.org/MaskUpAurora.

TOTAL AURORA COVID CASES: 11,409

TOTAL AURORA COVID DEATHS: 155

(As of November 24, 2020)

ABC 7 CHICAGO:

NURSE'S PLEA BRINGS CITY OFFICIALS TO TEARS

After Mayor Irvin's recitation last week of nurse Carol William's plea to the community, both the mayor and Williams sit down with ABC7 to discuss the response

ABC7 Chicago: Mayor Irvin and Nurse Williams Speak About Covid in Aurora

ADVISORY COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES:

A CONVERSATION WITH THE SSA

The Aurora Advisory Commission on Disabilities hosted a virtual Community Conversation with the Social Security Administration to inform the community on requirements for getting SSI and other pertinent details

A Conversation with the Social Security Administration

Aurora City Hall to Reduce Public Hours Amid Surging Covid Rates

As Covid-19 rates continue to increase, the City of Aurora will reduce public hours to just two days per week on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The first hour is reserved for senior citizens.

Aurora event works to make sure everyone has enough food this Thanksgiving

Jolene Degeeter believes she has a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

“I’m pleased to have gotten this food as I have two kids and I’m not working,” Degeeter said Saturday morning as she drove through Phillips Park in Aurora. “For me, this really means a lot because if I didn’t get this box of food, we’d be eating whatever I had at home and that would mean no turkey."

City of Aurora Non-Profit Grants Deadline Next Week

The deadline for the City's Quality of Life Grant is next week. Grants are provided non-profit organizations that serve the residents of Aurora. Previous grant recipients include food pantries, museums, youth services providers and other local agencies serving the Aurora community. In 2020, the City awarded Quality of Life grants to more than 25 community agencies.

Apply today

KANE COUNTY BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM

Kane County is now accepting grant applications from businesses under Round Two of its CRF Business Grant Program. The Kane County Board has allocated $5 million for this initiative. The county has streamlined the process for Round Two in order to assist as many businesses as possible. Businesses that participated in Round One may apply under Round Two, provided they have eligible expenses that were not already reimbursed by the county or another source of financial assistance.

Learn more and apply at: https://www.countyofkane.org/Pages/CRF.aspx

STATE OF ILLINOIS BUSINESS INTERRUPTION GRANTS

The State of Illinois Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program is a program developed to provide economic relief for small businesses and non-profits hit hardest by COVID-19. Funding may be used to help businesses with working capital expenses, including payroll costs; rent; utilities; and other operational costs as defined in the eligible cost list found below. Round 2 of the BIG Grants is currently underway and accepting applications.

Learn more and apply at: https://www2.illinois.gov/dceo/SmallBizAssistance/Pages/C19DisadvantagedBusGrants.aspx