BATAVIA, Ill. – To help local families struggling with diaper need, state Rep. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, recently hosted a diaper collection drive.

“Having a newborn or a toddler can be tough enough as is, but struggling with diaper need can cause many long-term negative consequences for low-income families,” said Villa. “Ensuring families have access to an adequate supply of diapers can make a huge difference in their lives, so I thank the community for coming together during Diaper Need Awareness Week and for the generous donations to my diaper collection drive.”

Villa recently hosted a diaper collection drive during Diaper Need Awareness Week to benefit residents of the Batavia Apartments. According to the National Diaper Bank Network, one in three families struggle to afford enough diapers to keep their baby or toddler clean, dry and healthy.

For more information, please contact Rep. Villa’s constituent service office at 630-326-9319 or at StateRepKarinaVilla@gmail.com.

GRANITE CITY, Ill. – Last Thursday, state Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, joined area legislators to connect residents with local service providers and agencies at their Senior, Veteran and Children’s Service Fair.

“As I go door-to-door and talk with residents in our communities, I often hear about the need for community services for our veterans, seniors and children,” said Bristow. “Many of those who attended our fair were able to find out about a new service or program that will be able to help them improve their lives. I am glad so many vendors were able to come and share with residents all that they have to offer our communities, like assistance to veterans, senior services, and children’s programs,” said Bristow.

Over 20 different local programs and service providers came to the Granite City High School gymnasium to share with residents what programs and assistance are available, many at no cost to those receiving the services. The fair was primarily centered on helping seniors, veterans, and young families, but residents of all ages were able to learn about programs available to them.

CHICAGO, Ill. – State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, is denouncing a measure filed by a Republican representative earlier this month, which seeks to target and strip much-needed resources from undocumented immigrant children.

“The budget impasse as it stands today is enough hardship for the people living in Illinois,” said Mah. “This measure targets the hard-working immigrant communities in our state and is unfair to those trying to provide for a better future for their families.”

House Bill 404, if passed, would take away the public aid currently given to families that include undocumented immigrants. Mah sees this as a disservice to families that are just trying to make ends meet, reminding proponents of the legislation that their targets are human beings who rely on this assistance, regardless of their citizen status. Some of the sources of the assistance include Temporary Aid for Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the Covering ALL KIDS Health Insurance Program, to name a few. These safety net programs are precisely what Mah intends to protect for all residents in her district who need them.

“We need to be focused on growing the economy, not targeting innocent children or hardworking families,” said Mah. “This plan does not move the state in the right direction and only seeks to use a budget-impasse as an excuse to punish immigrant communities.”

Mah is serving her first term in the Illinois General Assembly as State Representative of the 2nd District, which includes the Chicago neighborhoods of Pilsen, Chinatown, Bridgeport, McKinley Park, Brighton Park and Back of the Yards.