Dear Friends,

Our neighbors know that when they’re struggling, they can turn to our team. We’re there when they need us, ready to walk alongside them to set goals, access resources, and sharpen skills. We respond to individual needs and goals, and work one-on-one to partner with each guest on a way forward, letting them know that they don’t have to face challenges alone.

We know that so many families are struggling right now - we hear stories of parents working multiple jobs who still can’t make ends meet; seniors on fixed incomes who have never asked for help before, but need to for the first time; families with medical bills that drain their accounts and leave little left to put food on the table.

While we respond to individuals, we see trends, needs, and opportunities that affect our community as a whole - and align our services to make sure we can connect our neighbors to resources that will be of benefit. We prepare and promote services so we can help as soon as our neighbors need it, and so that when they ask for help, we’re there with a quick and reassuring answer.

For instance, on May 20, in response to the national baby formula shortage, we decided to expand our service to provide formula to any family unable to find it elsewhere. I’m proud to share that parents, visiting us for the first time during a moment of crisis, were greeted with the same welcoming and stigma-free service that we’re known for. Since extending our reach:

• Our community rallied to support local parents - within days of alerting our service partners that formula was available, hundreds of community members and the local news helped us spread the word by sharing online and with their networks.

• 535+ families accessed baby formula when they couldn’t find it anywhere else. Prior to this challenge, our team was sharing 20 cans of formula every week to Food Club members. Since May 20th, over 1,430 cans of formula have been distributed to parents in our community 800 of those cans were distributed in one day!

• One mother shared with us, "They didn't make their resources feel [shaming] at all. It made the entire experience amazing, and I'll continue to recommend them to other mamas in need for other things as well. It's been very hard...I couldn't be more thankful for their resources!"

Since opening in October, we’ve served over 1,900 low income families, with an average of 9 new families signing up every single day. Our neighbors are facing critical, immediate needs that we can help meet - but we’re glad that our service extends beyond emergency relief to build up long term stability and growth. The Food Club & Opportunity Hub is working as intended. Members are shopping for the food they need, while also receiving streamlined access to other services that build autonomy and pathways out of poverty - from budget counseling, to cooking demonstrations, to homeownership classes and connection to other community resources.

• When many of our neighbors struggled to maintain mortgage payments due to hardships caused by COVID-19, our team quickly began sharing information and helping guests complete applications for MIHAF (Michigan Homeowner Assistance Fund), a program launched by the state this year.

• In May, our team learned about ACP - the Affordable Connectivity Program (a U.S. government program that helps many low income households pay for broadband service and internet connected devices). We knew that many Food Club members could benefit from it, but might not be aware, or may need help enrolling. We dug in, learned about the new program, and then promoted it to ensure guests were aware of this new opportunity. Learn more here.

• Our team sent texts about ACP to 1,546 families - 129 responded with excitement and worked to enroll, and 13 Food Club members received direct support completing their applications at the Food Club’s onsite computer terminals.

Responsive services like these are a key part of our efforts to build stability alongside our guests. We meet guests in crisis, then help them move to stability. Our team’s ability to quickly find resources, identify needs, and connect with the people who need them most, is making a real difference for our neighbors - and it’s because of your support.

If you’re in a position to consider giving a financial gift to help us maintain our flexible, impactful services, know how much we appreciate it! Or if you’re able to consider becoming a monthly donor, know how much your consistent support means as we work to meet the needs of our guests during their moments of crisis.

As our neighbors continue to turn to us, we turn to you. Your trust and support give us the flexibility to be there for our neighbors, no matter the crisis, to provide the hope and community they need to move forward. We are what our community chooses to do together, and we’re so grateful that you choose to stand with us.

Sincerely,

Olivia Campbell
Program Director