"The best way to find yourself is
to lose yourself in the service of others."
- Gandhi
"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones"
John Cage
"Helping individuals and families reach economic stability..."
Poverty in our Community
As hunger and poverty issues prevail nationwide, it is nearly impossible to ignore the effects here in our local community. As of 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Champaign, IL has an unemployment rate of 11 percent, and 18 percent of individuals are trying to survive on incomes that fall below the federal poverty level. This equates to over 32,000 individuals in Champaign alone who are without sufficient resources to provide basic material needs for themselves or their families. Research has shown that poverty in America often stems from individuals and families who have underlying social issues such as insufficient access to health care, lack of education, unemployment, and unaffordable housing, to name a few.
The initial program for MODC, a fully functional food panty is part of an all-inclusive resource center, which will be positioned to offer not only charitable goods and services, but also specialized case management.
Our Mission
The Midwest Outreach & Distribution Center (MODC) has taken a responsible stance to facilitate programming that will educate, empower, and provide tangible resources to impact poverty in Champaign County.
Our goal is to establish programs that address a symptom of poverty but offer alongside those programs specialized case management services. These specialized case management services will identify and help to resolve the issues that contribute to poverty cycles within families.
Food Pantry
Case Management Services
The primary purpose of the Midwest Outreach and Distribution Center food pantry will be to provide reoccurring food distribution to individuals and families which will not only meet an immediate need but also relieve financial pressure. It is the belief of the M.O.D.C. that all families deserve access to adequate food resources and should not have to make the tough decision between nutrition and the other necessities of life, regardless of circumstance. Facilitating weekly food distribution will be the initial project; that program will be supplemented by nutritional information seminars, emergency and disaster food relief, senior citizen food programs and youth lunches, to name a few.
Research has proven that several prevalent issues such as hunger, lack of health care, and joblessness are often only symptoms of the underlying issues that propel individuals into impoverished cycles. Case Management Services at the M.O.D.C. will look to identify prevailing issues that contribute to these cycles and offer solutions to eliminate those contributing factors. The professional case management staff of the M.O.D.C. will seek to help individuals understand their current status, provide evidence-based tools and resources, and foster and develop healthy attitudes and behaviors that will contribute to holistic recovery.
Volunteer Opportunities....
The M.O.D.C. staff is always looking for dedicated individuals to volunteer their time and expertise on various projects. If you would like to lend your time and services to the M.O.D.C., please send us an email at admin_midwestodc.org. We would love to speak with you about how you can be involved.
We want to hear your questions, comments and feedback on our events and ongoing programming. We also appreciate new and innovative ideas and opportunities that will empower and service our community. Please feel free to contact us with any of your input. We will respond to you within 48 hours.
Meet The Need: Hunger Awareness Fair
and Walk-a-Thon
