Available Resources
United Way of Rock River Valley is not a direct-service agency, but we raise money to fund many resources for the residents of Winnebago County. Read below to find the help you need.
Get Help with Food, Housing, Utilities, Healthcare, Childcare, Employment, and More:
DIAL 2-1-1! Winnebago County’s 211 helpline is a critical resource that connects thousands of people to trained specialists offering help with crisis and emergency counseling, disaster assistance, food, health care and insurance, stable housing and utility assistance, employment services, veteran services, and childcare and family services.
The network supports multilingual services such as Spanish, Swahili, and more. United Way 211 is also available by calling 866-813-1731, texting your zip code to 898-211, and visiting https://uwm211.org/211-illinois/.
Food Pantry Bus Routes
Finding transportation for your important grocery errands can be difficult. Luckily, the hard part has already been done! Click the button below for information on which bus routes can take you to local food pantries.
In this document you can find a list of every food pantry in Rockford that is accessible by bus, what their hours and contact information are, the address of the pantry, and the closest bus stop. The route numbers that stop at those bus stops are also listed. There are also tips for what information you need to bring with you when you visit a food pantry.
This resource has been prepared by University of Illinois Extension, Rockford Mass Transit District, NICNE, and 100 Strong.
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Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Build your home library by enrolling your child in a program that sends a FREE book in the mail every month until the age of 5. The mailing address for the book must be within Winnebago County to be eligible. After registering it is common to wait a month or two before the first book arrives, so be sure to register your child early before they age out of the program.
Nearby Youth and Family Resources:
Find a Strong Neighborhood House! Through collaborative partnerships with other local impact organizations, we provide a pathway for community residents to gain support through the programs and services offered in our Strong Neighborhood Houses.
House locations
Irving Avenue Strong Neighborhood House — 312 Irving Avenue, Rockford