Bridgeway, which has services and offices in Macomb, Galesburg, Loves Park/Rockford, Monmouth, Pekin/Peoria, Bloomington-Normal and Kewanee, originated in McDonough County in October 1993 by the merger of McDonough County Rehabilitation Center (MCRC), founded in 1972, and Spoon River Incorporated (SRI) founded in 1971 and its affiliate corporations, Harrington Family Services and Spoon River Center. While Bridgeway in Macomb goes back to 1993, the organization’s history dates as far back as 1890 with the formation of the “Galesburg Free Kindergarten,” which was founded by a local teacher who educated impoverished children in her own home.
Today, Bridgeway serves approximately 75 consumers in Macomb each day, including 40 through the Community Day Services (CDS) Program, which provides vocational training, education and social opportunities both on-site and off-site from the center, which is located at the corner of Grant Street and Deere Road, from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Bridgeway also offers community integrated living arrangements (CILAs). There are currently three homes in Macomb residential neighborhoods, which provide accommodations for four to eight people in each home. Bridgeway has both supervised and supported apartment settings for people with mental illness or developmental disabilities. Residential services are also provided in Galesburg and Kewanee for people with mental illness and in Pekin for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Macomb’s Bridgeway organization currently employs 128 staff.
