East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging

09/01/2026

Su***de Prevention Month

Each September, NAMI recognizes Su***de Prevention Month as a time to raise awareness, spread hope, and spark meaningful action around one of the most urgent mental health issues of our time.

Suicidal thoughts, like mental health conditions, can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. While they may be common, they should never be seen as normal. More often than not, they signal deep emotional pain or an underlying mental health concern that deserves understanding, care, and professional support.

Yet, su***de is still too often met with silence, stigma, or shame. At NAMI, we believe that silence should never be the response to someone’s pain. That’s why we’re working tirelessly to change that. Our goal is to ensure that individuals, friends, and families have access to the tools, resources, and support they need to talk openly about su***de, recognize warning signs, and seek help without fear or shame.

This September: Start a Conversation. Be the Difference.
With one conversation, asking someone how they’re really doing, and being ready to truly listen, can save lives. Because here's what we know: No one has to face this alone. Help exists. Healing is possible. And all it can take is for one person to start a conversation.

• If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 immediately.
• You can also chat with the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline at 988lifeline.org.
• Know the Warning Signs and Risk Factors of Su***de: https://www.nami.org/co-occurring-conditions/risk-of-su***de/
• Being Prepared for a Crisis: https://www.nami.org/your-journey/family-members-and-caregivers/being-prepared-for-a-crisis/
• Read NAMI's guide, “Navigating a Mental Health Crisis”: https://www.nami.org/support-education/publications-reports/guides/navigating-a-mental-health-crisis/
• What You Need to Know About Youth Su***de: https://www.nami.org/kids-teens-and-young-adults/what-you-need-to-know-about-youth-su***de/

Need more information, referrals or support? Contact the NAMI HelpLine: https://www.nami.org/support-education/nami-helpline/

08/24/2026

08/21/2026

National Senior Citizens Day - Friday, August 21, 2026
On , we celebrate the older adults who built our communities and recommit to ensuring they can age in place with dignity.

Healthy aging starts at home. On National , we highlight the power of nutrition as preventative care. Home-delivered meals do more than combat hunger, they reduce hospital readmissions, prevent isolation, and lower long-term healthcare costs for Illinois families. ECIAAA Nutrition Service Providers served 653,980 last year to keep older adults thriving in East Central Illinois. Together with nutrition providers across Illinois, we are delivering care to every corner of our state.



For more information about the Home-Delivered Meal Nutrition Programs in East Central Illinois, contact:
• OSF Peace Meal Program at (309) 665-5900 for Champaign, DeWitt, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, McLean, Piatt counties
• CRIS Healthy-Aging Center at (217) 443-2999 for Vermilion County
• Peace Meal Senior Nutrition at (217) 345-1800 for Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie & Shelby counties
• Catholic Charities at (217) 428-3458 for Macon County

ECIAAA proudly serves older adults and family caregivers in Champaign, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, Macon, McLean, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby and Vermilion counties. We can be reached at (800) 888-4456 or [email protected].

08/17/2026

Take Charge of Your Diabetes
August 26-October 7, 2026
Shelby County Senior Center
Register by August 24th, call (217) 543-3755

08/08/2026

Back-to-School State Sales Tax Holiday August 7-16, 2026

With the summer quickly coming to an end and the school year rapidly approaching, the stress of the cost of school supplies is entering people’s minds. To provide Illinois residents some financial relief this August, Illinois is offering a Back-to-School State Sales Tax Holiday.
From Aug. 7 until Aug. 16, families can purchase certain clothing and school-related items and pay sales tax at a reduced rate. Items include qualifying clothing and footwear that cost less than $125 per item and certain school supplies, including backpacks, calculators, pencils and more. School supplies are not subject to the $125 threshold. For a full list of qualifying items, click here: https://tax.illinois.gov/research/publications/bulletins/fy-2026-30.html

08/06/2026

Have you heard? Illinois now has an exciting new multisector plan for aging - EngAging Illinois. This historic plan is the result of collaboration across state agencies, community partners, including us, and Illinoisans from around the state, laying out a 10-year roadmap to ensure all of us can live with dignity, health, connection, and security as we age.

The Plan focuses on four key areas:
1. Creating livable & connected communities
2. Ensuring health for all ages
3. Investing in caregivers
4. Affording aging

Aging well benefits everyone, and it will take all of us for the plan to succeed! Learn more and get involved with : https://bit.ly/engagingillinois

08/04/2026

Fresh Program to Help Eligible Illinoisans Who Lost SNAP Benefits

Illinois is launching the Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) program to help eligible Illinoisans who lost SNAP benefits due to recent federal work requirement changes. Beginning August 1, eligible individuals can automatically receive a one-time $400 benefit per eligible household member – no application required. Learn more about eligibility, benefit timing, and available resources in this press release: https://gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com/governor-pritzker-launches-fresh-program-to-support-up-to-175000-illinoisans-the-trump-administration-kicked-off-snap?fbclid=IwcGRvZgVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETExd0M1TkIwODIyTVNmc3E4c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHrWVtsb2na39GighV5N4JrExc3J4zgnBucmFnLvflA0XZaL5FGnp2ngRgBjo_aem_4Y5sqk_S__OXi2EWMasLDQ

08/04/2026

Report Shows Medicare Scams Spreading on Facebook:

Seniors who use Facebook should be on the lookout for shady Medicare advertisements on the social media site that could leave users vulnerable to identity theft. A watchdog group says Medicare scam ads have surged on the social media site. The organization says that in the past year, Medicare scam ads that appear on Facebook have racked up more than 215 million views. That total is nearly six times higher than the total for the previous years combined. Current schemes include politically-branded scams, fake Part D refund calls, AI voice cloning, and fake new card verification calls.

https://smpresource.org/report-shows-medicare-scams-spreading-on-facebook/

07/29/2026

Senior Expo on August 5th in Pontiac