Metro East Every Survivor Counts

09/02/2026

🎃👻 ALTON, GET READY FOR TRUNK OR TREAT! 🍬🚗

Metro East ESC is excited to partner with Alton Parks & Recreation to bring a fun, family-friendly Community Trunk or Treat to Alton! 🧡

We’re bringing together local businesses, nonprofits, community organizations and other community partners for an afternoon of Halloween fun, decorated trunks, costumes, candy, and community!

🍬 FOR FAMILIES & COMMUNITY MEMBERS:
Grab your costumes, bring the kids, and come trick-or-treat your way through a lineup of creatively decorated trunks from organizations throughout our community! This event is all about providing a fun and welcoming opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate Halloween.

🏆 VOTE FOR THE BEST TRUNK!
Everyone attending will have the chance to vote for their favorite decorated trunk! The winning organization will receive a Best Trunk Certificate, community prize bag, and Halloween bragging rights! 👻🏆

🚗 LOCAL BUSINESSES & ORGANIZATIONS — WE WANT YOU!
Want to join the fun by decorating a trunk and handing out candy? We’re looking for organizations from all across the Alton community to participate!

To help us include as many different community partners as possible, we want participation to one trunk per agency, organization, or business—but you’re welcome to have multiple staff members or volunteers participate at your trunk!

✨ Get creative.
🎃 Pick a theme.
🍬 Bring the treats.
👻 Dress up.
🏆 And compete for Best Trunk!

REGISTER YOUR ORGANIZATION’S TRUNK HERE:
https://tools.signupgenius.com/c/trunk-or-treat-registration-58589

📣 Help us spread the word! Tag a local business, organization, nonprofit, community group, or agency that you would LOVE to see decorate a trunk!

We can’t wait to see Alton come together for an afternoon of Halloween fun and community connection! 🎃🧡👻

08/25/2026

Can’t wait to see everyone there! Such an amazing event each and every year ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🩷🩵

08/22/2026

🩵🩵🩵

08/21/2026

Check this out! It’s such an impactful event each year and we definitely plan to attend again this year. 🩵

📣SAVE THE DATE 📣

2026 Impact Su***de Conference-stay tuned for more details!

📆 Friday, September 11, 2026
⏰ 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
💻 Online (A zoom link to attend the conference will be sent)
💰 Registration is FREE
➡️ Registration can be completed by clicking here:
https://www.impactsuicide.net/

08/17/2026

Always honored to partner with State Rep. Katie Stuart 🩵

Recognized on August 17, National Nonprofit Day commemorates the enduring and transformational work of nonprofits lifting up people across the country. Here in Illinois, we partner with many nonprofits to inform policymakers about critical issues and the best ways to address them. Here at home, nonprofits such as The Good Samaritan House, Metro East Every Survivor Counts, and the Glen-Ed Pantry do incredible work to support our
neighbors, and I am proud to work with groups like these every day.

07/22/2026

Sharing a little with our followers today: “Healing is not linear.”

Healing from trauma takes time, effort, and patience. It is complex and unpredictable. Survivors may find themselves experiencing setbacks in their healing journey from time to time, such as having a bad day/week, discovering a new trigger, etc., but setbacks are not failures and are simply just part of the process. Remember to be gentle with yourself during these times, practice your self-care and coping mechanisms, and use your support system, whatever that may look like for you.

You are doing your best, and that’s what counts.

07/21/2026

Announcement: July 19, 2026

In Loving Memory of Fefe

Our Beloved OG Program Pup

Today we honor the life of our beloved Fefe, the very first Program Pup and a cherished member of Metro East ESC family. While our hearts are heavy with her passing, they are also full of gratitude for the years we were blessed to share with her.

Fefe was approximately nine years old when she came into our program after being rescued from an abusive home. She was also a survivor of distemper, which left her with some neurological challenges. We never truly knew what her life had been like before she found us, but we did know one thing: from the moment she became our Fefe, she taught us what resilience, trust, and unconditional love looked like.

Fefe had the sweetest, gentlest soul. She was quiet, kind, and incredibly loyal. More than anything, she wanted to love and to be loved. If you gave her attention, she would happily make sure she stayed right in the middle of it. Being included meant everything to her.

One of the most beautiful things about Fefe was the way she played. She didn't play like other dogs. Because of her past and the effects of distemper, she sometimes seemed like the awkward pup on the playground, wanting so badly to join in, never quite sure how, but trying every single time with pure joy in her heart. There was something incredibly beautiful about watching her. She reminded us that courage isn't about being perfect, it's about showing up anyway.

Fefe had her own special way of communicating. When she wanted something, she would shake her head from side to side and bark, almost like a horse tossing its mane. It was uniquely Fefe, and it always made us smile. She didn't need words to tell us what was on her mind.

She loved the simple things in life. Warm sunshine. A safe yard surrounded by a fence where she felt protected. She wasn't interested in wandering far or exploring the unknown. She found comfort in security, content to lay outside for hours, soaking up the sun while quietly watching the world and nature move around her.

She absolutely loved car rides. The excitement in her eyes whenever she realized she was coming along was unforgettable. She didn't care where we were going, she simply wanted to be with the people she loved. Being included was enough.
And if there was one thing that could instantly turn Fefe back into a playful puppy, it was a treat. She was proudly motivated by food. The sight of a snack would bring out her playful spirit and remind us that no matter her age, there was always a little puppy still living inside her.

As she grew older, Fefe embraced her senior years with grace. She found peace, comfort, and love, which is what every dog deserves. Watching her finally experience safety and happiness after everything she had endured was one of life's greatest gifts.

To us, Fefe was more than our Program Pup. She was a companion, sometimes-spunky best friend, and a gentle reminder that healing takes time. She built something precious with everyone she came in contact with. We trusted her, and over time, she trusted us. That trust was a gift we will treasure forever.

Fefe’s story reminds us that love has the power to heal even the deepest wounds. She showed us that life's greatest joy isn't found in perfection, but in simply being accepted exactly as we are.

Run free now, sweet girl. Chase the butterflies, bask in endless sunshine, and enjoy every treat heaven has to offer. Thank you for showing us courage, teaching us compassion, and reminding us that even the quietest souls can leave the loudest imprint on our hearts.

You will always be the OG, the original Program Pup. You will always be loved. You will never be forgotten.

Rest peacefully, sweet Fefe…Until we meet again. ❤️🐾

06/19/2026

**🌻 Summer Group Counseling Update 🌻**

As summer schedules fill up with family activities, vacations, camps, and other commitments, our **Group Counseling Sessions at the Alton Office will be on pause through the summer months.**

We understand that this time of year can be especially busy for survivors and their families, and we want to ensure that when group resumes, participants are able to attend and receive the full benefit of connection, support, and healing that groups can provide.

We are excited to welcome both returning and new attendees when group counseling resumes on the **first Tuesday in September 2026 at 5:00 PM** at our Alton Office.

Whether you have attended before or are considering joining for the first time, we look forward to creating a safe, supportive space where survivors can connect, heal, and grow together.

To reserve your spot in advance, please contact our hotline and request to speak with our Madison County Counselor. Walk-ins will continue to be welcome when sessions resume!

Thank you for allowing **Metro East Every Survivor Counts** to be part of your healing journey. We wish everyone a safe and restorative summer and look forward to seeing you in September! 🩵

06/03/2026

Each year, Take Back the Night brings our community together to stand against sexual violence, honor survivors, and raise awareness about an issue that impacts far too many lives. This event represents hope, healing, advocacy, and our collective commitment to creating safer communities for everyone.

We are grateful for the community partners who joined us this year and helped make this event possible. As a certified sexual assault crisis center, we are proud to provide free, confidential services to survivors of sexual assault and other impacted individuals, ensuring that support, advocacy, counseling and resources are available when they are needed most.

Thank you to everyone who participated, shared their voices, and stood with survivors this year and last year. We look forward to partnering with our community again next year and hope even more organizations and individuals will join us in this important work.

April’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month may be over but that doesn’t mean our support and efforts to promote awareness of sexual assault within our community and our services ends after that month.

Together, we can continue raising awareness, supporting survivors, and creating meaningful change!!

everysurvivorcounts

05/27/2026

Metro East Every Survivor Counts has a dedicated team of advocates ready to assist sexual assault survivors with a variety of needs. We aim to ensure that survivors understand their rights and options and that they receive the support they need to overcome any obstacles they may face while navigating the aftermath of sexual assault.

Please note that advocates are not attorneys and will not give legal advice. To learn more about Metro East ESC’s free and confidential advocacy services, please call our hotline at 618-397-0975.