National Multiple Sclerosis Society Central Illinois Community Council

🎖️ COMMUNITY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT 🎖️

We are proud to support one of our incredible community partners, Veterans Helping Veterans Helping The Community!

All proceeds from this effort will help fund much-needed batteries and repairs for power chairs and mobility scooters, ensuring local veterans and community members can maintain their independence, mobility, and quality of life.

These repairs can be life-changing, and every dollar raised makes a direct impact right here in our community.

We hope many of you can come out and support this wonderful cause and the people who have given so much for others.

Please SHARE this post to help spread the word and increase awareness!

Thank you in advance for your support. Together, we can help keep our community moving forward.♥️🤍💙
Main Street Tap

It is very hot in Illinois right now. Extreme heat can make you very sick, especially if you have a disability or a health condition. Please read this message to help keep yourself, your family, and your service animal or pet safe.

How to Stay Cool

Drink lots of water and natural juices. Do not wait until you feel thirsty. Avoid alcoholic beverages, coffee and colas.

Put a cool, wet cloth on your neck or arms. You can also take a cool shower or bath. Avoid or minimize physical exertion.

Keep rooms well-ventilated with air conditioners and fans. Keep shades drawn and blinds closed but keep windows slightly open if you don't have air conditioning or a fan.

Note: Fans will not prevent heat-related illness when the temperature is in the high 90s. (https://ready.illinois.gov/hazards/extremetempshot.html)

Rest often. Stay in the coolest room in your home. Wear loose, light cotton clothing.

Seek a cooling center or other public air-conditioned space (library, mall, etc.), if possible.

Further guidance can be found here: https://keepcool.illinois.gov/keeping-cool.html

Keeping Service Animals and Pets Safe

Your trained service animal can go with you into any public cooling center. They cannot be turned away.

If you have a pet, call 211 to find cooling centers that allow pets.

Do not walk animals on hot pavement. It can burn their paws. Walk them early in the morning or later in the evening.

Give your animal cool, fresh water and shelter from the sun all day.

Never leave an animal in a car. It can become deadly within minutes. Police in Illinois can break a car window to save an animal in danger.


Free Help in Illinois

Call 211: Dial 2‑1‑1 anytime. They can help you find cooling centers, food, emergency help, and more.

Free rides: Call 211 or your local transit district to ask about free rides to cooling centers.

Cooling centers: The State of Illinois opens free cooling centers during extreme heat. Cooling centers can be found here: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/325f18499d2347e3919b68fbb883bc04

Help with electric bills: If you cannot afford to run your air conditioner, call 211. Some local agencies have emergency help, fans, or other resources.

Additional resources can be found at Keep Cool Illinois: https://keepcool.illinois.gov/

Signs of Dangerous Heat Illness – Call 911

Call 911 right away if you or someone else has:

Very heavy sweating or very hot, dry skin

Feeling confused, dizzy, or faint

Vomiting or feeling very sick

A fast heartbeat or a strong headache

Stay Safe!

Extreme Heat During the summer months, the temperature in Illinois can reach dangerous levels. Extreme heat can be particularly hazardous for children, seniors, those with special needs, and pets. In addition to discomfort and fatigue, high temperatures can cause

Hey y'all!! We are only a week and a half out! Our friends at Tri 2 Beat MS are in need of more than 25 volunteers for their event! If you are willing to give a few hours of your time, you can enjoy the event and get free donuts, coffee, and a t-shirt! That's a real deal if I do say so myself!

Link to sign up to Volunteer in the comments!!

Save the Date!
The Greater Peoria Mass Transit District CityLink Peoria will be hosting the 5th Annual ADA WOW! Celebration & Resource Fair on Thursday, July 23 from 4:30-6:30 PM at EPIC . This is a FREE event in celebration of the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) & offering valuable resources to the local ADA community! For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/40UGXuB

A research team at the University of Illinois Chicago is looking for individuals (50-69 years old, with and without relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis) to participate in a research study that aims to develop improved tests of aerobic capacity. You would come to the lab twice, with no more than 7 days in between. You would perform all-out exercise at the first visit and less intense exercise at the second. You would also wear an activity monitor between the visits. Compensation is available. If interested, please contact Dr. Paul Hibbing ([email protected]) or Dr. Brooks Hibner ([email protected]). You may also share this post.

Mark your calendars!

Saturday, September 26, 2026!

Prairieland Adaptive 2nd Annual Adapt & Conquer Expo returns to Bradley University.

Mark you calendars and spread the word! We are excited to announce that the 2nd Annual Adapt & Conquer Expo returns to Bradley University hosted by on Saturday, September 26, 2026! We hope to see you there! Updated information will be posted on our website and social media as more details are confirmed.

Only a few tickets left!

Last call to enter our first Win Big & Give Back Raffle!

Only 200 tickets will be sold & the lucky winner will receive:

✈️ 4 Round Trip Southwest Flights
🎵 $400 Ticketmaster Gift Card

🎟️ Enter now - https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/music-movement-raffle-win-big-and-give-back?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio