Background and Need Served:

Children in need, hunger, homelessness, literacy and social justice are key areas of focus for FUMC’s Outreach Ministries – both locally and globally.  In 2003, 10% percent of children under 18 in Ann Arbor lived below the poverty level.  Nearly 50 of these children live about half a mile from our Green Wood Church, at Green Baxter Court, a public housing site for low-income families.  

The Community Action Network (CAN), a non-profit community organization, serves families living in low income Ann Arbor neighborhoods Hikone and Green Baxter Court. Some of these families have been homeless, and many are at high risk of homelessness.  CAN advocates for low income families with schools, community service providers, and government agencies.  They provide educational and life skills programs for children and teens, and supportive housing services for families living in the complex. A full description of the programs offered can be found on the CAN website (http://www.canannarbor.org).

However, like many small nonprofits, CAN could not exist without collaborating with other community organizations and the support of its volunteers. In these challenging economic times, volunteer support is more critical than ever. Additional help is needed, especially in the program serving children and youth.

Food, education and life skills training programs for children and youth are a primary focus. CAN offers pre-school, after school and summer camp programs that include:

Academic support and enrichment, including homework help, personalized tutoring and a hot evening meal M-Th throughout the school year.

• Personal growth and life skills classes, including: cooking/nutrition classes, teen talk groups, Kids Council, substance abuse prevention. and a teen employment preparation program
• Making certain that every child eligible for Head Start is registered and enrolled.
• Developing toy libraries for children 0 – 5 years old.

Outreach Project Purpose:

FUMC CAN make a difference in serving the needs of the extremely poor, especially children and youth, in the Ann Arbor community.  The ministry focus of this project is to join with the Community Action Network (CAN) in service to local families with children living in the Green Baxter Court low income housing, by providing educational assistance, food, clothing, household goods and other necessities. 

Drawing on the passion, energy and generosity of the FUMC congregation, the initial focus of this project will be to work with CAN to serve the families in Green Baxter Court in three areas:

• Providing homework assistance to 1^st – 6^th graders as part of the after school program at the Green Baxter Court Community Center.  No teaching experience needed, just a willingness to help a child do their homework.
• As part of FUMC’s Holiday Giving Program, “sponsor” the 23 families of Green Baxter Court, to provide holiday gifts for the children, and food for a holiday meal for the entire family.Set up and maintain an emergency ‘pantry’ of basic household necessities, which are not typically covered by food stamps or other assistance programs, to be drawn on by Green Baxter Court residents in times of need.  Items may include: toilet paper, personal hygiene products, laundry detergent, household cleaning products, etc.
• Evaluate opportunities for Families in Service to address additional educational and recreational needs of the children in Green Baxter Court.

Project Goals:                                  

• Provide 3-5 tutors to assist with CAN’s after school program at least once a week
• As part of FUMC’s Holiday Giving Program, work with CAN to ‘sponsor’ the 23 families of Green Baxter Court, providing holiday gifts of food, toys and necessities.Work with the Families in Service Here (FISH) project to serve the needs of the children at Green Baxter Court and Hikone low income housing complexes.
• Assess the need and capability to establish an emergency ‘pantry’ of basic household necessities, household cleaning products, etc.

Current Team Members:

• Mary Danforth – Overall Project leader
• Karla Paterson – Lead for Homework Assistance/Tutoring
• Pat & Bob Simmons – Lead for Holiday Giving involvement
• Cynthia Lee – Lead for Household Essentials Pantry
• Chris Nelson  - Link to Families in Service project

Estimated Project Costs/Resources Required

(Activity,  Funds Required)

• Tutoring & educational material & supplies, $500
• Gifts for children (see Holiday Giving Program), FUMC Holiday Giving Program
• Gift cards for food for holiday meals ($50/family), FUMC Holiday Giving Program
• Supplies for household necessities emergency ‘pantry’, $500 plus donations   

Proposed Source of Resources/Funds

(Activity, Goal, Source)

• Educational materials & supplies, $500, Outreach budget and donations of supplies
• Initial creation & stocking of ‘pantry’, $500 plus, Outreach budget plus appeal for donations 
• Ongoing supplies for pantry, $100/mo, Fundraiser & donation of goods

Volunteer Needs:

(Task, # Volunteers, When, How Long)

• Homework assistance and tutoring, 2-3/week (1-2 adults,1-2 youth), Wednesdays, 3:45 – 5:30PM
• Help gather supplies & stock pantry on periodic basis, 3+, monthly, 2 hrs/mo

 

Date Completed: January 27, 2008 
By: Pat Simmons ( pbsimmons@comcast.net, 734-761-5282)