 Phones For Life Program
The
McHenry Township Phones For Life Program provides senior citizens
and persons with special needs, who cannot afford cellular phone service, a vital life line to critical
care.
- Residents living in zip codes 60050, 60051, 60072, and 6009 can obtain
an application at the McHenry Township office
- or download an application here.
Fill out and
return the application; you will be contacted to receive a free emergency cell phone which dials 911-only for police,
fire or medical emergency assistance.
 To donate: drop off used cell
phones at the McHenry Township Office; digital cell phones only. Donated phones must be in working
condition and with a charger.
In the photo, Lois and John Rosko
seated after receiving their phone at a Distribution & Training
Session. Standing from left to right, volunteer instructors Marsha
Nelson, Carol Perschke and Kathy Kuchta provided one-on-one
instruction on how to use the phones. Standing at the far right,
Wilneen Petersen of the McHenry County 911 Center provided her
expertise to the training session.
Amplified Phone Program
If you have a hearing loss and cannot hear your telephone ring or have difficulty hearing people speak on the telephone, the State of Illinois has a no cost program for you.
The Illinois Telecommunications  Access Corporation (ITAC) program which is governed by the State of Illinois distributes FREE phones to qualified residents with a certified hearing loss. For information about the program call 1-800-841-6167.
Application packets are available at McHenry Township, 3703 N. Richmond Road.
Basic requirements to receive a phone:
- Legal resident of Illinois
- No age requirement
- No income limits
- Phone service in applicant's residence
- Doctor or licensed audiologist's signature is required on application
This is not an equipment loan program, and all phones become the property of the applicant. During and after the warranty period, the participant is responsible for dealing directly with the equipment vendor for all equipment repairs. Approved applicants are eligible to receive new equipment every four years.
There are four phones with different features to choose from. All the phones have large buttons for dialing and volume control for both the incoming call and the ringer. They range from a very basic phone, to a sophisticated phone ready for Caller ID that can be used as a speakerphone and even amplify the outgoing call. The owner of the phone customizes the phone for his or her particular need, so it is important that the applicant go to one of the 18 Selection Centers in
Illinois
and try all four phones before deciding which one to choose. After all the paperwork is finished, the phone is sent to the applicant.
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