The More You Know: CAPCIL Version

[September 22, 2017] 

LINCOLN

Did you know that CAPCIL has been in operation since 1964? Many individuals in CAPCIL’s 6 County service area don’t realize the length and breadth of the Agency’s operations and programs. The following is a list of interesting (and sometimes unknown) facts about Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois.

CAPCIL serves over 3,500 households every year, and over 9,000 individuals.

CAPCIL offers (up to) 15* programs geared towards self-sufficiency: Head Start, Early Head Start, Mental Health Services, VITA tax program, Senior Nutrition (Meals on Wheels), Kitchen to Kitchen, Food Pantry & Food Pantry CO-OP, Foster Grandparents, Volunteer Services, LIHEAP, Weatherization, The Hand Up Project (Classes on job training, financial literacy, and housing/credit counseling), Case Management, Scholarships, Strengthening Working Families Initiative, and Transportation.

CAPCIL’s service area extends through 6 Illinois Counties: Logan, Mason, Fulton, Menard, DeWitt, and Piatt.

CAPCIL (Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois) changed their name from CIEDC (Central Illinois Economic Development Corporation) 10 years ago.

CAPCIL currently employs 98 people. A recent internal survey showed that 96% of those employed were happy with their job.

CAPCIL is governed by 18 board members with 3 delegates from each County with Client, Public, and Private sectors represented.

CAPCIL operates a budget ranging from 7-9 Million dollars annually, with the most recent corporate audit having zero findings or questionable costs. Within the past year CAPCIL increased the in-kind donations from $773,673.00 to $1,090,087.00. According to the Certified Public Accountants at R.W. Hickman, P.C. in Springfield, IL, CAPCIL is in good financial standing. All are welcome to view the most recent audit by going to the Fiscal section of CAPCIL’s website at www.capcil.info. 

In 2017, CAPCIL launched 3 new pilot programs free of any State or Federal Funding: Strengthening Working Families Initiative, Kitchen to Kitchen, and the DeWitt County Food Pantry CO-OP.

In 2017 CAPCIL noted the following programmatic successes:

Forty-five percent of CSBG Hand Up Project/Strengthening Working Families Initiative participants have obtained employment or increased employment as a result of skills acquired.

Head Start/Early Head Start will have completed development, growth, hearing, and vision screenings on 368 children

The Senior Nutrition Program that administers Meals on Wheels has successfully moved from the red to the black by streamlining processes and acquiring a new food truck (made possible by the Woods and Bates Foundation). CAPCIL also received the honor of being chosen by Meals on Wheels America to receive a brand new 2018 Subaru Outback through Subaru’s Love Promise initiative called “50 Cars for 50 Years”.

The Subaru will be delivered by the end of the year wrapped with Meals on Wheels America and “Subaru Loves to Help” co-branding. Meals on Wheels America is partnered with Subaru of America.

CAPCIL has been successfully administering the Senior Transportation Program for over 43 years, and 2017 has been no exception. The total number of rides given to seniors from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 were as follows: Logan County – 7,605 & Mason County – 897.

CAPCIL has offered the Foster Grandparent program for over 50 years and currently has 45 active volunteers and 20 volunteer stations. The longest standing volunteer has been with the program for 23 years. The program gives persons over the age of 55 the opportunity to stay active, give back and work with special and exceptional needs children in educational settings.

Since Jan 1, 2016 the Volunteer Services Department has grown drastically and volunteers have donated over 110,000 hours of dedication to CAPCIL. Volunteers consist of mentors, classroom aids, community service, painters, car detailers, secretarial, meals on wheels delivery drivers, board members, event staff, etc.

Agency Development is a new department established at CAPCIL in 2016 that focuses on branding and awareness, public relations, and revenue generation. Agency Development generated an additional $90,000+ for the Agency and its programs in 2016 and is well on its way of accomplishing that same goal for 2017. Funds are generated through fundraisers such as Cheeseburger in Paradise, grant writing, and developing relationships with donors and sponsors.

These additional funds are imperative for the function of the Agency to provide the most holistic solutions for our customers self-sufficiency endeavors.
 
CAPCIL’s Dewitt County Food Pantry CO-OP opened September 5th in Clinton. This pilot program is made possible from the generous donation made by the William Davenport estate and other generous community donations. The Dewitt County food pantry CO-OP is a work for food program and already has 30 active/interested participants.

LIHEAP has processed over 2,351 applications and utilized CAPCIL’s new centralized intake system to successfully refer customers to other beneficial programs throughout the Agency.

CAPCIL has, and continues to be, one of the area’s largest social service agencies that strives to eliminate customers poverty versus just band-aiding the symptoms. For additional information on how to get involved, please visit CAPCIL’s website at www.capcil.info, or by calling the Corporate Office in Lincoln, IL at 217-732-2159.

Major funding sources include the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Illinois Department on Aging, Area Agency on Aging for Lincolnland, The United Way of Logan County, United States Department of Agriculture, Department of Human Services, Logan County, the City of Lincoln, and other local, state, and federal government grants.

It is the mission of CAPCIL, in partnership with communities in our service area, to empower persons with low income and the aged by creating and implementing poverty-fighting initiatives for those in crisis and those that endeavor a life of lasting independence.

[Katie Alexander
Director of Agency Development
Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois]