Margaret Croke - State Representative

This month’s newsletter is out! From upcoming community events to government updates, see what Team Croke has been up to this summer. Thank you to our amazing summer interns, everyone who donated to our office back-to-school supply drive, and to everyone who welcomed Team Croke at events across the district.

Want to make sure you always see the latest updates from district 12? Subscribe to the newsletter at repcroke.com.

On Tuesday, I visited the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation alongside State Representative Olickal. Since 1949, the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation has been helping people with addiction through compassionate, holistic, and forward-thinking approaches.

As science continues to reveal more about addiction, ways to individualize care, and allows us to incorporate ways to make care more accessible, it is critical that our communities have organizations like the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.

Thank you to the Foundation for the opportunity to visit your treatment center. If you or a loved one is struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or substance use, call their 24/7 support number at 855-756-2628.

Today is Women’s Equality Day, marking 106 years since the Nineteenth Amendment was formally adopted into the United States Constitution. On this day in 1920, the struggle for voting that began a century earlier was fully realized and became the law of the land.

Whether you are attending a women’s march, participating in a guided running tour of the West Loop, or supporting a Women’s Equality Day Fundraiser, your energy and passion prove that Illinois succeeds when our communities lead the way.

Illinois launched the Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger (FRESH) program to help eligible Illinoisans who lost SNAP benefits due to recent federal work requirement changes. The FRESH program began August 1st and is estimated to have assisted approximately 100,000 Illinoisans already.

To learn more about the program, eligibility, and benefit timing visit https://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/get-help/benefits-outreach/fresh/.

Yesterday, Team Croke attended Alderman Hopkins’ annual Bike the 2nd Ward Event. With such great weather, it was the perfect day to be outside and explore the 2nd Ward alongside other cyclists. Thank you to Alderman Hopkins and the community sponsors for putting on this great event.

Thank you to everyone who donated to our Back-To-School Supplies Drive in partnership with DCFS, Senator Feigenholtz, and Alderman Lawson. We collected five full boxes of supplies which included backpacks, notebooks, folders, markers, crayons, pencils and more. Thanks to your generous donations, we have ensured that youth in DCFS care have the tools they need for a successful school year.

With schools across the district starting back up, I’d like to wish all of the students in the 12th District and beyond a fun and educational academic year. Happy back-to-school!

In 2025, consumers reported losing $2.1 billion dollars to scams with nearly 30% of those people saying the scam began somewhere on social media. Online scams have become super-charged by technology and often contain realistic voices and images. Scammers often utilize targeted advertising to put scams in front of consumers at times when they are most vulnerable.

The above graphics contain helpful information detailing what these scams can look like online, common red flags, and ways to stay safe online. If you have been scammed, take immediate action by securing your accounts and reporting the scam.

No matter where you are on the internet, remember to stay alert and stay safe.

Illinois has resources available for every Illinoisan. Whether you need financial assistance, want to look up local road conditions, or want to get a library card, Illinois’ online resources can help you.

The Illinois Department of Human Services offers The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) which provides nutritious, free, American-grown food via local food pantries, homeless shelters, and soup kitchens across the state. As prices at the grocery store continue to rise, this program helps low-income residents supplement their household food supplies. The program also offers resources and training to frontline staff and those who supervise frontline staff.

Learn more by visiting dhs.state.il.us or by calling IDHS TEFAP phone number (217-558-0030).

Team Croke was out in the community this past weekend supporting our office-wide Summer Shred Event in partnership with Senator Feigenholtz, Commissioner Degnen, Sheriff Dart, and Alderman Knudsen. Thank you to everyone who came out to our Summer Shred event this past weekend. It was great to see so many members of the community taking advantage of this opportunity to shred some documents, e-cycle some electronics, and return some prescription medication.

Together, we securely destroyed and recycled 3,000 pounds of paper, dozens of electronics, and a variety of prescription medications. It was awesome to see so many people take part in the Summer Shred event!

I am proud to announce that I received a 100% environmental scorecard rating from the Illinois Environmental Council. My voting record reflects where I stand on tackling climate change by fighting for clean air and water, and protecting the green spaces we all enjoy. When it comes to the environment, you can count on me to fight environmental injustice. I stand with IEC in making it a priority to safeguard our environment for generations to come.

Learn more by clicking here: https://ilenviro.org/2026-environmental-scorecard/