Passenger Link – October 2024
CityLink Partnering with Peoria Friendship House for the 37th Annual Stuff-A-Bus Food Drive

The 37th Annual Stuff-A-Bus food drive to benefit the Peoria Friendship House of Christian Services officially begins on Friday, October 18, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. with a press conference at the Kroger store location at 9219 N. Lindbergh Drive in Peoria. This year, Stuff-A-Bus plans to outdo the success in 2023 and set a goal to reach a new record and collect 12 tons of food onto the newly imagined ’vintage’ CityLink bus.
For the past 37 years, CityLink has hosted the Stuff-A-Bus food drive to help eliminate hunger in Peoria. With a long partnership with Kroger to collect enough food to stuff a CityLink bus, the donations collected during the annual food drive benefits the food pantry at the Peoria Friendship House of Christian Services. In a year, the Peoria Friendship House of Christian Services food pantry provides an average of 150,000 meals to those dealing with hunger in Peoria.
All Peoria Kroger stores are participating in this year’s Stuff-A-Bus campaign, which includes the stores in Peoria located at 9219 N. Lindbergh Dr.; 801 W. Lake Ave.; and 3311 N. Sterling Ave. The Kroger store in East Peoria, located at 201 S. Main St., is also participating. The participating Kroger stores have donation displays available that include non-perishable food items that are needed at the Peoria Friendship House of Christian Services food pantry. Shoppers can simply purchase items from the displays or purchase food off the shelves and place the donations in the bins located at the front of the stores.
Cumulus Radio, WYZZ Fox 43, WMBD CBS 31 and CIPROUD.com are media partners in this food drive and will air public service announcements about the great need to collect enough groceries to keep the Peoria Friendship House of Christian Services food pantry open all year long. The Amalgamated Transit Union Local #416 is also a long-time participating sponsor of Stuff-A-Bus.
The Peoria Friendship House of Christian Services was established in 1951 as a response to the great need for assistance to individuals and families living in deep poverty. Peoria Friendship House of Christian Services provides valuable services such as food, medical assistance, youth education, adult education, employment preparation, finance and employment coaching, while encouraging lasting change for those it serves. Their advocacy, coaching, education and support approach provides wrap-around services supported by short and long-term coaching for both the Latino and English-speaking communities. The staff at the Peoria Friendship House of Christian Services are dedicated to providing hope and guidance that offers a “hand-up” rather than handout.
Peoria Friendship House of Christian Services forms collaborations with community partners to provide resources outside of their agency. For further information on Peoria Friendship House of Christian Services programs, please call 309-671-5200 or visit their website at www.friendship.house. The Peoria Friendship House of Christian Services is proud to be a Heart of Illinois United Way Community Partner.
For the most up-to-date information on this year’s food drive, please “like” the Stuff-A-Bus Facebook page at www.facebook.com/stuffabuspeoria or visit www.ridecitylink.org/about/stuff-a-bus.
CityLink Partnering with the Caterpillar Visitors Center for Free Admission the Month of October

CityLink and the Doug Oberhelman Caterpillar Visitors Center are partnering for the month of October to offer a free entry opportunity for CityLink, CityLift, CountyLink and Benefit Access passengers who present a bus pass or ticket for one of these services. Passengers simply show their bus pass/ticket at the visitors center admission desk to gain free general entry to the Caterpillar Visitors Center and its exhibits. One bus pass/ticket is required per adult, and children ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Below is the list of accepted bus passes/tickets:
- CityLink Day Pass – $3 per pass
- Offers unlimited fixed route rides for one complete service day
- CityLink 30-Day Pass – $40 per pass
- Offers unlimited fixed route rides for 30 consecutive service days
- CityLift Ticket – $2 per ticket
- Offers one ride on the paratransit service and this service requires eligibility to ride
- CountyLink/CAUSE Ticket – $6 per ticket
- Offers one ride on the rural transportation service and this service requires that a trip begin or end in the rural part of Peoria County
- CityLink Benefit Access Card – Valid and Up-to Date
- Offers transportation for those individuals who do not have the functional capability to use the fixed-route system
The Caterpillar Visitors Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the last entry at 3:30 p.m. For information on the visitors center, please call 309-675-0606 or go to www.visitcaterpillar.com.
The Caterpillar Visitors Center is located at 110 SW Washington Street, Peoria, IL 61602. It is a short five-minute walk from the CityLink Transit Center, located at 407 SW Adams. For questions regarding CityLink, CityLift or CountyLink services, please call 309-676-4040 or visit www.ridecitylink.org.
Illinois Central College Agriculture, Diesel, and Horticulture Showcase

Various members of the CityLink team spent Friday, September 13, 2024, at Illinois Central College’s Agriculture, Diesel & Horticulture Showcase, introducing high school students to the possibility of a career in transportation. This event also allowed students to get up close to diesel-powered equipment and learn more about the in-demand careers that await them after graduation. Many students loved getting the chance to board our new bus and even had the opportunity to sit behind the wheel and honk the horn!
Peoria Police Department Unveils New Bus

IT’S A WRAP: Peoria Police Chief, Eric Echevarria, City Link officials, and District 150 staffgathered outside Peoria Police Department (PPD) Headquarters on Friday, September 27, 2024, to officially reveal a newly wrapped CityLink bus. The CityLink bus is covered with PPD recruitment information and is currently picking up and dropping off passengers in Peoria and surrounding communities.
Chief Echevarria also handed out special jerseys to Peoria High School Football players. The jerseys highlight Peoria’s skyline and PPD patch (A Recruitment and Retention Grant from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board paid for the bus wrap and the football jerseys). The PPD wrapped bus will also transport the Peoria High School football athletes to the Peoria Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on October 18, 2024, for their game against Bloomington.
CityLink is thrilled with its new partnership with the Peoria Police Department. The newly designed bus wrap for the Peoria Police Department aims to boost local employment opportunities. This collaboration reinforces a strong sense of community engagement and teamwork.
E.D. Edwards Plant Settlement

All the way back in June, CityLink had a visit from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). CityLink was among the grant recipients from the E.D. Edwards Plant settlement. The grant enabled CityLink to purchase an electric bus, ‘ElBae’, bus charger and a fully paid charger installation as part of the $1.23 million grant from a legal settlement between NRDC, Sierra Club, Respiratory Health Association, and the owners of the E.D. Edwards coal-fired plant just outside Peoria.
You can find ‘ElBae’ serving our neighborhoods on Peoria’s South Side. We are grateful for the support from NRDC, as we continue to work towards making our buses more environmentally friendly.
Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of Hispanic and Latino history and culture. Although there isn’t a specific ‘month’ dedicated to this, Hispanic Heritage Month is honored from September 14 to October 15. The timeframe of this month is significant because many Central American countries celebrate their independence days within these dates, beginning on September 15 with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. By aligning with these Independence dates, Hispanic Heritage Month honors the resilience and determination of the Hispanic community.
During this time, recognition is given to the many contributions made to the history and culture of the United States, including important advocacy work, vibrant art, popular and traditional foods, and much more. It began as a week-long celebration in 1968 under President Johnson and was expanded to a month by President Reagan 20 years later in 1988.
Hispanic Heritage Month provides an additional opportunity to explore the incredible impact Latinas and Latinos have had on the United States for generations. The Latino presence in America spans centuries, predating Spain’s colonization of what is now part of the United States, and they have been an integral part of shaping our nation since the Revolutionary War. Through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the Treaty of Paris that followed the Mexican American and Spanish American wars, the United States gained territories in the Southwest and Puerto Rico. This incorporated the people of this area into the United States and further expanded the presence of Hispanic Americans.
Today, the Latino population in the United States is over 60 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and makes up 18.9% of the total population. Latinos continue to help fuel our economy and enrich our nation as entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, entertainers, scientists, public servants, and much more.
Mental Health Awareness

Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. Mental Illness Awareness Week is observed this year from October 6—12, with World Mental Health Day being observed on October 10. Although we’ve come a long way in recent years to better prioritize our mental health, it wasn’t that long ago that these days became nationally recognized.
In 1992, the World Federation of Mental Health, led by Richard Hunter, the deputy secretary-general, created World Mental Health Day. There wasn’t a clear objective for the day other than to advocate for mental health. There was a struggle to get people on board, gather funding, and provide the proper education to the masses to start seeing an improvement. It wasn’t until 1994 that the first theme emerged, strengthening their efforts with the goal of ‘improving the quality of mental health services throughout the world’. This launched their efforts onto a global stage, giving rise to more conferences about the subject and community celebrations being held to help. From 1996 to the present, the overall awareness of mental health has continued to grow and has become more largely accepted and less stigmatized.
Surrounding World Mental Health Day is Mental Illness Awareness Week, which is always celebrated the first week of October. Mental Illness Awareness Week is run in collaboration with the National Alliance of Mental Illness (N.A.M.I). The objectives aim to combat discrimination against mental illnesses and offer support during this week’s awareness initiatives. This has become a dedicated time for mental health advocates across the country to come together as one unified voice. During this specific week, events are held to promote community outreach and public education concerning mental illnesses.
Therefore, 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year. There are many things that we can do every day to help create a better environment that supports positive mental health and breaks down any stigmatisms that we hold.
· Use respectful language to talk about mental health conditions.
· Challenge misconceptions when you see or hear them with correct information.
· See the person, not the condition.
· Offer support if you think someone is struggling with their mental health.
· Knowing the resources available to better assist someone is just as important and valuable as offering to be there.
For more mental health resources, you can contact the National Alliance of Mental Health, which is in collaboration with Tri-County Illinois, to receive the support that you or others may need.
Stay Healthy This Flu Season

The CDC recommends that the most effective way to safeguard yourself and your loved ones against
influenza (flu) is to receive a flu vaccine each flu season. The flu is a contagious respiratory disease that can lead to serious illness, hospitalization, or even death. As a result, the CDC advises that everyone six months and older get an annual flu vaccine.
Why is it important to get a flu vaccine EVERY year?
Flu viruses are constantly changing, so flu vaccines may be updated from one season to the next to protect against the viruses that research suggests will be common during the upcoming flu season. Your protection from a flu vaccine declines over time. Yearly vaccination is needed for the best protection.
Protect yourself and your family with these healthy habits to prevent cold and flu:
· Get a flu vaccine.
· Wash your hands often.
· Stay home when you are sick.
· Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
· Prioritize regular exercise, sleep and nutrition.
· Stay hydrated.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
If you do get sick, the care teams at our conveniently located health centers are here for you:
· Same and next day appointments for urgent issues.
· Low to no co-pays.
· Wait time of less than 5 minutes.
· Virtual or in-person appointments.
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