A service for our congregation
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
—Galatians 6:2
First Free Rockford
COVID-19 Online Help Center
During this global health emergency, First Free Rockford has established three primary ways to care for those in need from our church family.
If you need assistance with any of the online form submissions below, call the main office at 815-877-7046. We will do our best to have someone from the church contact you within 24 hours, but please be patient as we are working with this new system during a statewide stay-at-home order.
Social Connection & Spiritual Companionship
Those who are sheltering in place or self-quarantining can sign up for a 20-minute phone conversation.
This effort is being handled by our Stephen Ministers and other volunteers. But we also encourage everyone to stay in close touch with people you know who need this kind of interaction.
Important instructions
When you click the below button to set up an appointment, you will be asked to select a time range that works best for you. The options are 9–11 a.m. or 2–4 p.m. Monday–Friday. After you complete the appointment form, a volunteer will contact you by phone or email to confirm the time.
Grocery Delivery
We are offering delivery of groceries and other goods available from Woodman’s and Schnuck’s (Rockford locations) for those who are who are sick, self-quarantining or sheltering in place. People can sign up for specific delivery times.
These deliveries are being handled by people from our church family who are physically able and at lower risk of serious illness from COVID-19.
Woodman’s ordering instructions
Our volunteers can pick up and deliver goods available from Woodman’s, located at 3155 McFarland Road in Rockford, to homes within an 8-mile radius of the store. You must place your grocery order online with Woodman’s prior to submitting this form, and choose a pickup time with Woodman’s at least 48 hours from when you submit a Help Center delivery request. Follow these steps and requirements to complete your order and make your delivery request:
- Go to shopwoodmans.com
- Under Pickup, click “Choose.” There is a $4.95 fee for pickup. Pickup fee is waived for orders of $100 or more.
- When asked to pick a location, scroll down to Rockford and click “choose.”
- You will be prompted to choose a date and time for pickup, but you need to choose your shopping items first. Skip choosing a time and click “Start Shopping.”
- Browse and choose your shopping items. Woodman’s requires a $50 minimum purchase for pickups.
- After you have selected all of your items, go to your cart and click “Checkout.”
- You will be prompted to login or create an account with Woodman’s to complete your order.
- After you are logged in, you can choose a pickup time. Our volunteers are available from 4-6 p.m. or 6-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Choose a time that matches one of those options.
- Complete the rest of the purchase form and click “Submit Order.”
- After your Woodman’s order is complete, go to our delivery request form (see button below) to submit your request. After that, a Help Center volunteer will call you within 24 hours to confirm.
Schnuck’s online ordering
Our volunteers can pick up and deliver goods available from Rockford Schnuck’s locations (610 E. State St. / 2206 Barnes Blvd. / 2642 Charles St.) to homes within an 8-mile radius of the selected store. You must place your grocery order online with Schnuck’s prior to submitting this form, and choose a pickup time with Schnuck’s at least 48 hours from when you submit a Help Center delivery request. Follow these steps and requirements to complete your order and make your delivery request:
- Go to link: www.instacart.com/rockford-il/schnucks
- Type in zip code. There is a small fee for pickup. Pickup fee is waived for orders of $35 or more.
- Login or create an account with your email.
- When you come to the shop screen, click the ‘Pickup’ button and choose the location. At this time our delivery team is only able to pickup from Rockford locations.
- After your pickup location is selected, click on the times and choose a shift between 4–8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
- Once your pickup location and time is selected, proceed to shop for your items.
- After you are finished shopping, click the ‘Cart’ button and proceed to payment by clicking the ‘Go to Checkout’ button.
- Complete the rest of the purchase form and click ‘Place Pickup Order’.
- After your Schnuck’s order is complete, go to our delivery request form (see button below) to submit your request. After that, a Help Center volunteer will call you within 24 hours to confirm.
Financial Assistance
People with lost or reduced income can request help with groceries and essentials. Our Benevolence team will oversee request and disbursement of funds.
Important instructions
Before applying, you will need the following information available (some fields may not apply):
- Hours of work lost per week
- Projected wages lost
- Additional monthly income:
- Social security
- Disability
- Government aid
- Food stamps
- Child Support
- Current monthly needs:
- Mortgage and/or rent
- Groceries
- Automotive and gasoline
- Utilities
Other Resources
Reference the lists below for other community resources offering services during this time of crisis.
Rockford ministries offering COVID-19 help
ROCK HOUSE KIDS – 1325 Seventh St. 815-962-5067. Delivering food to families currently being served if they know the address. Children are not going to Rock House at this time. Staff will reassess on March 31.
ROCKFORD RESCUE MISSION – 715 W. State St. 825-965-5332 – Offering “to go” meals at 7 a.m., noon and 5:30 p.m. Only Life Recovery residents and overnight Crisis guests are dining inside (with social distancing). Donations of cash, food and emergency supplies gladly accepted. Thrift Store, 2710 20th St., closed until further notice.
CARPENTER’S PLACE – 1149 Railroad Ave. 815-964-4105 – Currently focusing exclusively on serving our homeless population. Only one person can go to the counter for lunch at a time because of social distancing.
YOUTH FOR CHRIST – 1288 S. Alpine Road, 815-399-7203 – Working online with their students as much as possible, though there is still some one-to-one contact. Collecting food for those in need who are in their program.
SALVATION ARMY – Social Services Office, 416 S. Madison St. Food pantry by appointment only. Call 815-972-1135. Prayer counseling: 815-977-4530.
Other Community Resources
NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK is the epicenter for the food banks in our area. On the webpage, insert a zip code and it will list all the food banks in the area.
UNITED WAY OF ROCK RIVER VALLEY – dial 211 to get the latest information. A live person answers the phone 24/7 to advise residents of Winnebago and Ogle counties about food, rent, utilities, child care and more. Emerging Needs Fund addresses local hardship. Info: 815-968-5400.
LIFESCAPE – Serving seniors with meals and other services.
COVID-19 Testing Sites
Info provided by City of Rockford; no appointments are needed for both sites.
UIC HEALTH SCIENCES CAMPUS
1601 Parkview Avenue | Website
- Open 8 a.m.–4 p.m. seven days a week
- This site is designed for patients experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
- Testing involves a self-nasal swab.
- The site is a collaborative effort with federal, state, and local partners, including the National Guard, Illinois Department of Public Health, Winnebago County Emergency Operations Center and the UIC Health Sciences Campus – Rockford.
AUBURN HIGH SCHOOL
5110 Auburn Street
- Open 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday
- This site is designed for patients experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, as well as individuals who have been in contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19 and individuals with a compromised immune system or serious chronic medical condition.
- Test is a nasopharyngeal swab administered by medical staff from Crusader Community Health.
- The site is run by Crusader Community Health with support from the Illinois Department of Public Health.