Central Illinois Veterans Commission

08/16/2024

Happy Friday!

A HUGE THANK YOU to the Marine Corps League Det 1336 for putting new flags on our veteran’s houses on Decatur Street and for replacing two on College Street!

We appreciate you!
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08/14/2024

House #6 has new shingles and side door; House #7 has a new front door! 😊

08/14/2024

We’re wrapped and windowed!!

Thank you Michelle Allison for a magnificent lunch on Monday!! She kept the boys going!

08/11/2024

Sunday, August 11th was Veteran's and Gold Star Families Appreciation Day at the Illinois State Fair. Veterans and their families were admitted to the grounds for free. A veterans parage and activities were some of the day's highlights. Discounted ride passes for families of military veterans were also provided. Jim Allen and Annie Coers, board members, represented The Central Illinois Veterans Commission and helped spread the word about our veterans' programs.

08/11/2024

Sponsored by the Logan County Board!

The Lincoln Women's Club will also be having their ice cream and cake social during the event!

08/07/2024

Thank you to MOPH Hayes/Krell Memorial Chapter 159 for your generous donation to our organization and our work.

08/07/2024

The clouds are welcomed, and so is a new builder, Karry, from Lincoln. Welcome aboard…and thank you for volunteering! The men really do work, but fun is also had by all! 🤪

Delicious lunch from Mary Sunday today. The guys were grateful and grinning over the yumminess😋!

08/07/2024

08/06/2024

New Board Member Spotlight:
Steven L. Watts II, Colonel, retired, is a veteran of the United States Air Force with over 25 years of service. He graduated from Delavan High School in 1994 and went on to earn his commission following graduation from Illinois Institute of Technology, in Chicago, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil and Structural Engineering. He also holds three Master’s Degrees from Webster University, the United States Naval War College and the United States Air War College. He is a career Intelligence officer with operational and staff assignments at every level of the Air Force including two headquarters tours at the Pentagon. He commanded Air Force units at multiple levels, the last of which included 1,200 military, civilian and contractor personnel operating a $190 million annual budget. He also has 3 combat deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
Colonel Watts is married to Mrs Kelly Watts and they have two sons who live in Texas. He officially retired from the Air Force effective 1 January 2024.

08/06/2024

Hot and steamy again today, but these guys are relentless! So much was completed today on House #6😊!

A big thank you to Sam Nagrocki for nourishing the workers last Friday. Yum!!

08/05/2024

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” Matthew 5:9

The CIVC keeps growing and our support has grown again.

Thank you to the United Riders Motorcycle Club for hosting Cruise in for a Cause at the Oasis on Saturday.

They raised over $9000 for Central Illinois Veterans Commission!!!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Also, Widows Sons Shriner’s Motorcycle Club presented to us a check for $250.

Local motorcycle clubs like to support one another’s causes.

08/02/2024

Today more electrical work was completed on House #7 in Atlanta. Despite the heat and humidity, there were still smiles!

Thank you to the ladies of the Atlanta Assembly Church for a delicious lunch! The men were very grateful 😋

08/01/2024

The Central Illinois Veterans Commission (CIVC) is now taking applications for consideration in the awarding of two new homes currently being constructed in Atlanta, Illinois. The picture shown is of two previously completed homes that have been awarded to veterans in Lincoln, Illinois.

Eligible veterans, or those that want to nominate veterans for this opportunity may apply online at https://www.civeteran.org/tiny-home-application or call the CIVC office at 217-605-8157. To be eligible to receive a mortgage-free home through this program, one must be a veteran who has been honorably or generally discharged, notcurrently own a home, and have the means to pay the other expenses associated with home ownership.

Founded in December of 2018, it is the vision of the Central Illinois Veterans Commission to provide veterans with tools and support systems to eliminate barriers in obtaining permanent housing. To date, five homes have been completed and awarded to deserving veterans. Find out more about CIVC at https://www.civeteran.org/ and follow up on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CIVetran/.

07/30/2024

A HUGE work day in Atlanta today!! House #7 was being roofed by brothers Dwayne and Derrick White (THANK YOU!!); and the subfloor was started with the assistance of a new volunteer David Harris (THANK YOU and welcome!!) on House #6!

All of the workers were treated to a wonderful lunch compliments of Brenda Garey😋!

07/30/2024

Just a little reminder that you can sponsor a hole in memory of or in honor of your loved one and if affiliated with the military, it will have their name and branch of service! When you do this, you can collect your sign after the golf outing and post it in your yard for Veteran's Day!

07/29/2024

Meet one of our newest board members:

Kelly Watts joined the CIVC board in the fall of 2023 along with her husband, Colonel Ret. Steve Watts. Kelly and Steve have 2 adult sons who they love visiting in Texas. Kelly has a Bachelors degree in Social Work and has worked with many non-profits over the years, most recently, CIVC and Common Ground Bakery and Cafe. Her passion is to love people where they are, while helping them reach where they're going.

07/28/2024

This morning CIVC Board Member and Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch gave a presentation about the Tiny Homes for Veterans program to those in attendance at the Veterans Appreciation breakfast in Morton. Tracy, and wife Annette, were honored to speak afterwards with many others who were interested in the overall mission of the organization. We are truly blessed to be able to serve those who have served us with their many sacrifices. God bless!

07/26/2024

Another gorgeous day to be working! More siding going up, shingles thrown up and roofing is beginning, tub surround has been delivered and will be placed soon!

The guys LOVED their lunch yesterday provided by the Lincoln Women's Club! Said they were "living high on the hog" with how well they've been fed by everyone! On Wednesday, the women of the Methodist Church of Atlanta spoiled them with a hearty lunch, and the workers returned the favor by giving them a tour of House #7.

Some fun surprises yesterday as well...Paul Weber, pastor of the Atlanta Assembly Church, brought snacks, a case of Mountain Dew and lent his helping hands for a couple of hours!! Joe, Spud and Tom were very grateful!

07/25/2024

Come join us at the Oasis on Saturday, August 3rd!!

07/24/2024

We're moving right along...started siding and it's looking great! Huge shoutout to Karla Haning for the amazing lunch...the guys said it was soooo delicious!

07/20/2024

Really starting to feel and look like a home! We got the house wrapped, windows and back door installed and finished the foundation for house #7. Shout out to Linda McVey for a delicious and healthy lunch!

07/20/2024

Signature boards are ready to go for and . 🇺🇸✈️🖊️🗒️

LLHF 71 - Tuesday, August 27
LLHF 72 - Tuesday, October 15

🛫 FlySPI | Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
💻 https://bit.ly/LandofLincolnHF

07/18/2024

Even more progress made this week despite the storms! Foundation on house #7 poured and roof on house #6. Thankful for Shelly Brooks for donating a delicious lunch and praying over our volunteers today!

07/16/2024

Hope on 5th

It was a year ago the end of June that the building on fifth street that has been a hospital, nursing home, and student housing for Lincoln College once again changed purpose as it was purchased by the Regional Housing and Supportive Services organization. The intent is to do a massive interior remodel so as to offer an abundance of public services for at risk individuals and families, including temporary housing when needed.

A lot has been done to accomplish that goal, but there is yet more to do. Recently RHSS board members (left to right) Patti Schonauer, Kim Turner, and Tom Funk sat down with LDN’s Matt Boutcher and talked about what is done, what is yet to do, and how the building is already serving the community in some special ways.

Read more:
http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2024/Jul/08/NEWS/today_HOPE.shtml
Photo by Matt Boutcher

07/15/2024

FYI...really important and necessary change for our disabled veterans in Illinois...

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Senate Bill 2751

Legislation that aims to alleviate some of the financial burdens placed on disabled veterans in Illinois was signed into law on July 1. This new law waives permit fees for disabled veterans who need to modify their homes for accessibility.

Previously, disabled veterans returning from service who needed to adapt their homes were required to pay permit fees to their local government in addition to covering the cost of their renovation. This added financial strain often made essential home modifications even more challenging.

Senate Bill 2751 specifically addresses the issue by waiving permit fees for disabled veterans making necessary home modifications.

The bill passed both chambers unanimously and was signed into law on July 1, 2024, and will take effect January 1, 2025.

07/15/2024

We've been asked a lot recently how the community can contribute financially to our mission...here are a few options.

If you would like to give via credit card, please go to our website, click on the 3 lines in the top right corner, go to ways to give and hit the yellow donate button.

https://www.civeteran.org/ways-to-give

If you're downtown and want to donate cash or check, please drop in to say hi...our friendly administrative director, Julie, would be happy to help you!

If you would rather give a gift card, Menards is where we get most of the items for our homes.

Finally, please always keep our organization, board, veterans and volunteers in your prayers!

Thank you for always being such a supportive and giving community...we are so blessed by you all!

07/14/2024

What a day we had building home #6 yesterday! So many great volunteers came out and we got all of the walls and trusses up and are set up really well to get this house finished! And we were fed another delicious lunch thanks to gracious volunteers!

07/13/2024

Lots of progress was made this week on veteran homes #6 and #7 in Atlanta! Nourishment to keep the men going was provided by Sarah Shaffer, Sue Chinowth, and Robbie and Danielle Bell.

If you would like to sign up to feed and hydrate these volunteer builders, please message LindaLee Hancock McVey.

07/12/2024

Another day in and we're really starting to see it coming together! Huge thanks to our amazing volunteers and to Robbie and Danielle Bell for the delicious lunch...you're so appreciated!!! ❤️