FY20 Community Relief Fund GranteesStories of Impact

Providing Support to Older AdultsSamaritasDescribe the participant or organization.Having 56 elderly residents that were unable to see their family and friends, unable to leave their apartments, unable to really interact with anyone from the “outside world” we were able to help them make it through a very difficult time while also making sure that they were safe and healthy. When we brought the gift baskets to their apartments it was almost like hertmas morning. Their eyes lit up and the excitement of someone thinking about them brought tears to our eyes. We could not have asked for a better reaction to something that people take for granted every day.

What happened?Once Samaritas received notification of the grant award, the site manager reached out to Food Gatherer’s of Washtenaw County and explained the situation. They assisted us in placing an 1800-pound order from their warehouse. This included toilet paper, paper towel, deodorant, shampoo, soap, food items including soups, noodles, rice, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, and much more. Then we went to Dollar Tree where we were able to obtain more cleaning items like hand sanitizer, bleach, all-purpose cleaners, and some entertainment items like puzzle books, and crossword puzzle books. Food Gatherer’s delivered our order directly to us and we put the items together in a laundry basket that the residents could keep for future laundry needs and delivered them right to their doors. It had a huge impact on residents. With all the uncertainty going on they knew that they did not have to worry about not having the necessities that we were able to supply them with because of the kindness and generosity of United Way Washtenaw County. Because of the relationships that have been created over the years the residents and staff do not have to worry about how they will get necessary items and food to survive during this unprecedented time.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?The community effort of coming together and forming new relationships in this time of need was extraordinary.

Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw CountyDescribe the participant or organization.We received a testimonial from an aging adult who was receiving food deliveries from JFS. But before we share the testimonial, you should know that, in addition to expanding its food delivery program during the pandemic, JFS also broadened its offerings to include volunteer phone calls for the purpose of providing comfort, offering reassurance, and checking in on seniors’ well-being—including what needs they might have. This was a way to combat social isolation, in addition to meeting the basic food

needs of seniors. After all, as we know from talking with our health partners at St. Joseph Mercy Medical Center—who administer a survey to detect the most critical social determinants of health for seniors in the area—the social determinants of health that the greatest number of seniors identify as significant for them are food insecurity and social isolation. And so, to get back to that testimonial (as promised), an aging adult told us that when the pandemic set in, “as a senior in the community, I really did not want to have to risk leaving my home.” This well-placed fear of leaving the home impacted the senior's ability to procure food and sustain social connections.

What happened?The aging adult went on: “When this whole thing started, I received a call from a JFS volunteer out of nowhere, just to check in with me. Just to be able to hear a voice and have conversation on a regular basis has been so wonderful. The other day, someone came by and dropped off kosher for Passover meals, which was so special.” This person took sustenance and comfort from even the briefest of phone calls and food delivery visits, which brought them a sense of community—while also bringing them culturally sensitive, holiday-appropriate nutrition.In the words of the aging adult: “JFS and the phone program have truly made all the difference in me being able to make it through this difficult time.”

Anything extraordinary about the situation?The aging adult who delivered this testimonial put it this way: “JFS has truly been a lifesaver for me during this time.” United Way of Washtenaw County helped JFS come through for this person and so many more just like her.

EHM FoundationDescribe the participant or organization.Evangelical Homes is a facility that cares for older adults who cannot live on their own. Many are frail and very much at high risk for COVID-19. When the virus was first confirmed to be in our state, our leadership team took swift action to lockdown our facilities. A team of seasoned professionals, they knew immediate action was required. What we could not have prepared for was the expense we would face in keeping our residents and staff safe. The additional skyrocketing costs of the elusive PPE and cleaning and disinfecting supplies to the additional staffing and technology costs.Also unexpected, the expense of redeploying a direct care worker as a Dedicated Screener. This was a big step in helping to create a first line of defense of keeping COVID out of our community. Combined with several other processes, we have been successful at keeping COVID out of our facility.

What happened?We redeployed a direct care worker to take charge of the employee screening process. The residents at our facility remain free from COVID-19.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?We are the only facility serving older adults in Washtenaw County whose residents have remained COVID free throughout the pandemic. We have had zero cases.

Packard Health, Inc.Describe the participant or organization.An older adult patient with mental health issues was facing crushing bills. He had no transportation and was unable to get to his healthcare appointments or pick-up prescriptions at a local pharmacy. COVID-19 complicated his ability to meet his own needs. A team of Packard staff, including a patient advocate, family practice physician, and behavioral health provider worked to help him to that end. Thanks to Packard Health's swift response, he earned eligibility for free transportation and is getting support for his debt issues.

What happened?Packard's team has worked swiftly to remove barriers to healthcare access, barriers that have grown exponentially with the advent of COVID-19.

Ypsilanti Senior CenterDescribe the participant or organization.There was a gentleman from out-of- town to visit his mother that was in a nursing home. He was living out west and when he heard his mother was placed in a convalescent facility after she had fallen. He knew that she also had dementia. His mother had allowed his brothers to move in to help take care of her. When he arrived he found out his brothers had moved in and were trashing the house and had full access to his mother's bank account. He was quite distraught. Because of Covid 19 he could not visit his mother. Most agencies were working from home so it was difficult for him to make the connections he needed.

What happened?The gentleman heard about the Ypsilanti Senior Center through one of our volunteers. She suggested calling us to get some resources. I was able to put him in touch with many of our normal resources, AAA1B, CSS, JFS and legal aid. He was still distraught. I also suggested he call our state representative and senator. After we talked for a long time, he was still upset and was having trouble focusing. After going over the phone numbers I had given him. I told him I would try to contact a social worker that I knew at AAA1B. He promised to make the phone calls I had suggested and was relieved that someone was willing to help even a little. I did call the social worker I knew and she was going to follow up with him.I have no idea if his and his mother's problems were resolved. We were able to step in and help at least point the gentleman in the right direction.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?

The pandemic had made everyone nervous and anxious. During a crisis everything is compounded. In normal circumstances, this person would have probably been able, with a few phone numbers, to navigate the system and get the help he needed to help his mother. These are not normal times. People are distraught with dealing with the pandemic which exacerbates everything that comes along.

Reducing barriers related to food security.Michigan Ability PartnersDescribe the participant or organization.One of our staff members delivered a box of food to one of our long term clients when she needed groceries.

What happened?From a client perspective, one of our clients at the property we just did the upkeep-- one of MAP’s oldest properties. Her case manager, Tanner, delivered food boxes. She started crying. “I didn’t want to take the bus. I was afraid to take the bus and then you showed up with the food.” She’s a long time client and part of our board of directors. She is in her 50s and has been with us since 2002.She was so appreciative of getting what she needed.

Food GatherersDescribe the participant or organization.There are dozens of examples of how Food Gatherers was able to rapidly respond to a call for help from one of our partner programs. Here, we will share a story about how we were able to help Jewish Family Services when they lost power due to a bad storm. On the Monday after a weekend power outage, the pantry staff discovered all the produce had gone bad.

What happened?Staff at Jewish Family Services reached out to our Community Food Programs team at around 11:30 am. Our CFP team is always busy handling core functions for our department, but one thing they do is watch out for time sensitive emergency communication from our partners. CFP coordinated quickly with our Operations team to see if we had the produce available to send JFS (we did), the staffing capacity to prepare the order (we did) and a truck, and driver, available to take it to JFS before they needed it that afternoon to prepare their grocery deliveries to vulnerable home bound seniors and people with disabilities. Food Gatherers was able to bring 100 fresh boxes of produce to JFS by 1 pm that same day. In this example, Jewish Family Services was able to deliver 100 orders of produce boxes to community members who cannot safely leave their home, and who would have otherwise gone without healthy fresh food. These neighbors were able to get the nutrition they needed, but they also had the comfort of knowing that Jewish Family Services (and Food Gatherers) is there for them when they need it.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?While this story is dramatic in its short timeframe and the large number of people served, it reflects how complicated our work is. Food Gatherers serves so many partners, each who have their own unique programs, and we have to have our operations systems very organized so that we have room to respond to these emergency situations, which can happen frequently. This story also illustrates the genuine collaborative partnership we have with our agencies, and how we count on them to serve our neighbors, just as they count on us to support their programs.

[Note, below we are saying YES that we grant permission, but as it involves Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County, we would want their permission given before this story is shared publicly.]

We The People Opportunity FarmDescribe the participant or organization.There was one person in line because of the curbside set up. They were waiting to pick up the food at the Family Community Life Center.

I was talking to one of the consumers, an African American man, and sharing our story of why we exist and who we are. He reached in his pocket and pulled out three $20 bills and donated it. It appeared that our work was impactful. I don’t expect that from people standing in line waiting for food.NIA

Ann Arbor YMCADescribe the participant or organization.As mentioned before, the Ann Arbor Y has been involved with food distribution each week since the beginning of June. This program has expanded our reach and strengthened partnerships with organizations. The Y distributes produce boxes each Thursday and Friday at multiple sites throughout Washtenaw County. One of the recipients of the produce stopped to say thank you and tell us the produce is something she never thought she would need, but through the stay home, stay safe order her life changed.

What happened?During the stay home, stay safe executive order, her son's family moved in with her to reduce expenses for both households. At the same time, her brother was released from the hospital and needed additional care when he came home and moved into her house as well. She went from a single person household to an additional family and her brother. This increase in people also increased the need for fresh produce and she shared her gratitude for the help. This is one of the stories that was shared with us and there are several more that shows the increased need for fresh foods in Washtenaw County because of changing work and life during COVID-19.

Hope Medical Clinic, Inc.Describe the participant or organization.Long before the pandemic forced the closure of Hope Clinic’s dining room, Joe* and Tina* rarely missed a hot meal with friends at Hope. “The food’s always good, we always leave well fed,” Joe recently said. Tina added that “the volunteers are always so thoughtful, their smiles really are infectious.” *not their real names

What happened?Financially stable before the pandemic, a couple had since felt the full weight of the crisis. One person’s seasonal occupation suddenly left him with no work and her place of business was shut down for a considerable length of time. The pandemic has also had an impact on Joe’s octogenarian parents who, while living mostly independently, nevertheless prefer not to leave the house for fear of the virus. Since the shutdown in March, Hope has been providing carryout hot meals both have been able to pick up dinner for themselves and for his parents.Through Hope, this family has not only been able to weather the current storm, but also are able to enjoy the simple pleasure of sharing a hot meal together.  

SOS Community ServicesDescribe the participant or organization.We had a young man come to the Food Pantry. He said that he had never been to our food pantry before. He said he and his wife were both out of work due to COVID-19 and had not received their unemployment checks yet. He thanked me for being here and said he hoped to come volunteer for us when this is all over.

What happened?One lady had stage four cancer and was scared to stand in line to get food due to her reduced immune system because of her cancer treatment. We were able to reduce her exposure by going out to her car, finding out what she wanted from our produce list, and bringing it straight to her car for her.One man called because he needed food. When he found out that SOS’s pantry was open and he could get groceries that day, he cried. He said he had called five pantries but none were open. He was so grateful and relieved to find the food he needed at SOS.

Saline Area Social ServiceDescribe the participant or organization.Prior to COVID-19, Saline Area Social Service (SASS), managed it’s food distribution inside the first level of a historical house. We served an average of 300 individuals every week, including children and seniors. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the entire community was forced to shut down, our staff and volunteers were required to work in overdrive. Safety regulations were changing often (sometimes every day), the majority of our frequent volunteers were high-risk and unable to lend their support, and the level of need was increasing rapidly. The Saline community was relying on SASS to carry out our mission of helping those in-need during emergency

situations, and we needed to be resourceful and react quickly to the changing environment to keep our operations going.

More specifically, the Saline Area School District recognized the need to close all schools for an initial period of two weeks at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in Michigan. The closure was later extended throughout the remainder of the academic year. At the time of the closure, 650 students in the district were accustomed to receiving free or reduced-price breakfasts and lunches at school in the course of the regular school day. Qualifying to receive these breakfasts and lunches free or at reduced cost depends on family size and income level: being qualified is thus an indication of possible food insecurity. For these students, an unexpected period of school closure meant potential hunger. The school district had neither funding nor plans in place to enable them to meet these students’ needs if school buildings were not open and school was not in session.

What happened?Earlier this year, Saline Area Social Service (SASS) was challenged to support our community in a capacity much larger than that we’ve ever experienced. In March, we were notified by the Superintendent of the Saline Area School District that the area schools were to close in a matter of days, and that for three weeks, the families of the 650+ children who relied on free or reduced breakfast and lunch meals were going to be referred to SASS to meet this need. In addition to the Saline Area School District, local brick-and-mortar restaurants and businesses were quickly shutting down and concerned for their wage-earner employees, and the local churches and Senior Center reached out to all of their members directing them to reach out to SASS for help as well. Suddenly, SASS became the single emergency-aid resource in Saline, MI, that the community turned to for relief and support. Temporarily closing to get ourselves ready for the level of aid that we needed to provide to those in-need was not an option. Instead, over three days, we created a plan, recruited loads of new volunteers, worked quickly to stock our pantry and assemble pre-packaged bags of food, and transformed our pantry distribution into a contactless, outdoor, pop-up shop in our parking lot for four days every week.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?With the high level of need in our community that became apparent quickly, SASS became a means to engage our community in bringing our community together. - Restaurants who needed help early on started donating food and hosting fundraisers- Businesses offered their resources and volunteers, which allowed us to always plan ahead and ensure that food was always available.- When we needed short-term, extra storage or refrigeration space, we were able to turn to churches and community partners for the extra space.- The very brief time during which we had to set up, acquire adequate amounts of food, and create new processes for its distribution stretched both staff and volunteers’ ingenuity, creativity, and energy.

Unified-HIV Health and BeyondDescribe the participant or organization.Our organization has three offices, Detroit, Jackson, and Ypsilanti. At our Ypsilanti location, we provide a food pantry. This food pantry stayed open throughout the pandemic and with your grant funding the clients we serve from that office not only received the care they have come to expect but didn't go hungry either.

What happened?UNIFIED HIV Health and Beyond was able to provide nourishing food and drink to our clients who otherwise would have gone hungry. Diet is an important element to any healthy lifestyle. This is even more important for those people who are living with HIV/AIDS. Serving those living on the fringe that do not have access or the means to healthy food.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?Public health work is extraordinary and having partners such as UWWC makes our work more impactful and meaningful for our staff and clients.

Huron Valley Mutual AidDescribe the participant or organization.We had a client reach out to us in July with very specific food needs. Between allergies and sensitivities, they were not able to get all their nutrients through what was available at food pantries, despite multiple community food organizations working really hard to accommodate their needs. They do not have transportation nor family or friends in the area to pick up food for them.

What happened?We often heard from community members who were not able to get the food they needed from local food pantries, whether it was due to allergies, cultural preferences, or needing items that are generally in low supply in pantries such as cleaning supplies or diapers. In this case, it is our protocol to give the person a gift card to a grocery store, but this did not work for this client as they had no transportation and did not want to use public transportation or ride-sharing as they were immunocompromised. We worked with the client to create a grocery list using the online Kroger delivery service, ordered their food for them, and connected them with one of our delivery drivers to bring the food to their house.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?This was just one case of many where our low-barrier, personalized approach allowed us to come up with a reasonable, effective solution for a community member facing multiplicative obstacles in obtaining necessary resources.

EMU Foundation

Describe the participant or organization.One of the students who began using the pantry during the pandemic, shared her experience with us. She had never been in the position of needing to use a food pantry, however all of her work dried up when the pandemic hit. She was nervous to use a pantry, felt some stigma about visiting and wasn’t sure what she would do. However, in order to maintain her focus on being a student she used the pantry and reported that she felt such relief and was grateful that the team who waited on her in the pantry was friendly, welcoming and she never felt judged.

What happened?The student above continued to use the pantry throughout the summer and it helped her to not have to worry about where her food would come from so that she could focus on other important things.The impact was that this student was able to continue to go to class and eat healthy food which was one weight off her shoulders.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?Being able to provide for students like her and give them a sense of relief regarding where their next meal was coming from while they face other responsibilities and obstacles is something that we are happy we are able to provide through the pantry. By creating a welcoming environment to combat stigmas about visiting a food pantry, we are happy to make our shoppers feel comfortable about their experience.

Increasing general operating capacityMilan Seniors for Healthy LivingDescribe the participant or organization.Funding from the United Way Relief Fund was pivotal in allowing MSHL to shift and adapt to the on-going as well as emerging needs manifested by COVID-19.

What happened?When COVID-19 forced a shelter in place, MSHL program revenue saw a drastic 80% reduction across our programs. But as most of our expense line items are static, expenses only dropped by 10%. We also had a choice of shutting some support services down or creating new platforms within which to continue providing themThe continuation of Meals on Wheels has allowed over 5000 meals and wellness checks to be provided to 48 individuals since March 16,

The shifting of our Transportation Service to include grocery shopping/ delivery services and food pantry delivery services allowed our seniors who are transit dependent to access their usual quality of life destinations, 8 individuals who are exceptionally medically at risk to be totally sheltered as we shopped and delivered groceries to their homes 72 times, and 7 individuals who qualify for food pantry assistance but have no access to receive that assistance delivered to their homes 28 times.

In addition, funding from Washtenaw County United Way freed up resources for MHSL to explore virtual ways of providing some of our senior center activities such as exercise classes via Facebook and webinars, emotional and mental health programming also via Facebook and webinars, and opportunities for us to facilitate social "gatherings" via Zoom

Anything extraordinary about the situation?Truly, what isn't extraordinary about the whole situation that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to us all?The ways that the community has pulled together as private citizens, foundations and grant making entities, corporate donors, and direct service providers has been nothing short of incredible!!

Food GatherersDescribe the participant or organization.One of the 15 programs supported by these operating support grants is Community Church of God, on the Southside. They have remained open, and have done their distributions outside to help keep volunteers and clients safe. With the funds, they have purchased a canopy to help during inclement weather, thermal bags to keep food safe, and additional signage so participants know the food distribution is happening, and where to go with the new drive-thru system. They have worked hard to get the word out in the community about their program by sharing info on their website, in the newsletter, and passing out flyers in the neighborhood, and have seen new clients since the pandemic hit.

What happened?Because they are a church organization, their membership supports the volunteer activities. However, they do not have a budget for additional supplies, like the canopy, or additional outreach materials like signs. Because of the ongoing support from Food Gatherers in providing free food, and the small operating support grant, this program, along with 14 other critical programs, has been able to stay open to serve the community.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?This is the first time Food Gatherers has been able to provide direct operating support to these agencies, which is extraordinary in itself.

Synod Community ServicesDescribe the participant or organization.A Tale of Two Counties

Synod operates supported and specialized housing programs, of varying degrees of intensity, in two Counties: Oakland and Washtenaw.

During the early weeks of the pandemic when gloves, masks and sanitizing supplies were both in short supply and beyond our financial means, the United Way of Washtenaw County awarded us $10,000 for the personal protection of staff.

During the early weeks of the pandemic, we received no grant funds in Oakland County, delaying the provision of PPE to staff.

What happened?In Washtenaw County the United Way awarded grants that enabled the immediate purchase and distribution of PPE to staff. To date Washtenaw County staff and their families, have been infection free.

In Oakland County during those first few weeks without PPE, our agency received no resources. 3 staff tested positive for and 3 housing clients died of Covid 19. .The comparison between the experiences in Oakland and Washtenaw Counties gives credence to this conclusion: "Without question, our $10,000 grant saved lives." Whenever I am engaged in a conversation about our pandemic losses, I tell this story.

The speed with which the United Way of Washtenaw County made resources available, protected the staff, families and communities predominantly in Ypsilanti and predominantly people of color: Those most vulnerable to infection and death.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?In the hands-on care field, staff often work in two or more different health care environments, from the hospital to nursing homes to community visits in an individual's residence. Should staff without PPE become infected the likelihood is high that they would carry it throughout many health care institutions and in home environments. In Washtenaw County the United Way helped keep Covid 19 out of the health care workforce.

It may be odd to read in a final report, but these are not regular times:

Philanthropy is the foundation of our community's safety net but sometimes it is difficult to separate the impact of grant funding from service delivery.

Not this time. The impact of the United Way grant was profound and immediate.Thank you. You saved us and our families.

Arbor HospiceDescribe the participant or organization.In early spring, we were approached by one of our social workers about a 27 year old women who was dying of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Although she was currently wheelchair bound and had only a few months to live, she was still filled with dreams and

trying to find a way to check items off of her bucket list. Despite having lived in Michigan all her life she had never been up North along Lake Michigan.

What happened?Of course traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic made this an especially challenging dream. Upon the Governors opening of Northern regions, our staff was able to make this patient’s dream a reality. Using Quality of Life funds we were able to help the patient and he mother arrange a trip to Traverse City and helped facilitate the patient’s first trip to the beach.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?Quality of Life Funds support special, non-recurring needs of patients and their families. Typically these expenses are related to their terminal diagnosis while receiving hospice care.

Joyful Treats Community Development CorpDescribe the participant or organization.Joyful Treats CDC having opportunity to serve our most vulnerable community members in the heart of the Pandemic has better positioned us to serve as a full resource center to our community. We immediately answered the call to serve being one of the first agencies to assist with COVID beginning March 17th when many organizations doors were closed.

What happened?We have become a more rounded resource for the community. We have also been able to partner with other non-profit and create statical alliances, to deep our impacts as well as enrich our value systems.As a result of the funding JTCDC fulfilled our request by supplying the food insecurity demand by 300% more than pre-COVID, to the people of Color and low income community members.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?Joyful Treats having the opportunity to humbly serve gave us the chance to get to know our community members on a more personal level. We encouraged reason to be happy and thankful, to celebrate those graduating we gave decorations & party packages in a season of darkness. We did this also for Mother's, Father's Day, Back2School, etc... This was to help maintain a healthy mentally.

Faith in ActionDescribe the participant or organization.FIA has had locked doors since March 13and we have still been able to help people to a great extent and with few limitations by initially moving to phone ordering/curbside pickup of preferred groceries, and phone service for most other services. Until recently the best way to reach out to us was by phone during work hours. In an effort to reach out to new families who had not previously used our services, we did a few new things

such as connect with schools to print flyers to include in their weekly lunch distribution as well as creating an online google form so that people could reach out to us without having to make that initial call, which we consider a barrier to asking for help. From this form, we have reached 28 new households.

One of these households is a single dad who works for a "big 3" car company but has lost his job late in the covid impact period. He has come up short on rent for several months. He was not sure where to turn for housing support for his family. He was searching the internet one night and found our website and Google form and reached out for help. We commit to replying to this form within one business day, and when staff connected with him, we concluded that we were able to help.

What happened?Once we talked, we assessed that we could help him with food and rent, but that our usual amount cap was not going to be enough for his rent deficit. FIA considered the planned budget and considered the UW funds and realized that we were in a position to cover about twice our usual cap for them and many other families with the goal of keeping this family housed for the long-term. This grant allowed us to provide the needed resources to this family who was temporarily impacted by Covid. We further helped him understand that he could redirect his grocery money by shopping for free at our food pantry. We have allowed people to shop by appointment with our volunteers by providing a temperature check at arrival using our newly purchased no-contact forehead thermometers, having everyone complete a questionnaire about potential exposure, and by requiring masks for all who enter. In addition, we purchased Plexiglas walls to protect volunteers and shoppers from each other during check-in. These safety measures were made possible with these funds. We have been able to keep this family housed by communicating with the landlord and providing supplemental rental assistance for some part of 4 months. We strongly feel that our ability to offer curbside grocery pickup and now in-person shopping allows us to reduce waste and help people maintain as much dignity as possible when asking for help, which was our experience with this family.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?Not necessarily, but without these funds we may not have been able to support them for this timeframe due to our own covid-related concerns for funding for all families who reach out to us. We expect a surge to be coming in the upcoming weeks, so are working to help as many people we can in meaningful ways, not simply band aid-type situations where they end up ousted from homes in another couple months anyway.

EMU FoundationDescribe the participant or organization.A man comes into my office and he’s talking on the phone. I can hear him and he’s smoking a cigarette.

What happened?He gives me a funny look and he continues on. He ends up being the person I am to do an assessment for. I do an assessment for him. I ask, “Are you interested in getting wifi?” He says, “Yes, of course! I come over here to tap into your wifi to talk on the phone”. There’s a story behind it. My first impression was that he was coming over here to annoy me and then I learned that he was here to get help.

SafeHouse CenterShe was going to be seeking a court appearance. She felt very isolated with and did not know what to do because of everything going on with COVID and everything being closed. She reached out to SafeHouse and to her advocate. We did some safety planning and let her know different options and how that might look different with everything being virtual. We gave her the level of support and let her know she was not alone. She continues to seek counseling that we provide. It's the supportive around something like that. When you're feeling isolated, it's about being able to reach to someone for support and knowing they are there.

Corner Health CenterDescribe the participant or organization.The participant was a 20 year-old woman in the Mood Lifters group program, focused on mental wellness. She is a front-lines healthcare worker in a local emergency department, and she was able to continue with the program when it switched to remote meetings over Zoom in March.

What happened?This participant came to as many meetings as possible, missing only when she was called into work. She was managing the stress of being a healthcare worker during the pandemic, and she started the program with clinically significant scores for depression and anxiety. The Mood Lifters group helped her with managing negative emotions, problem solving, behavioral activation, and other tools for self-managing mental health.Through program evaluation, she showed improvement in depression, anxiety, negative emotions, perceived stress, and even social functioning.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?The fact that we had a front-line healthcare worker during an unprecedented pandemic and a quarantine actually see a reduction in perceived stress and increased social functioning during the course of the program was truly extraordinary, and it speaks to the strength of the model. The Mood Lifters motto is "Our Strategy, Your Strength" and the work that this participant was able to do truly highlighted that.

Shelter Association of Washtenaw CountyDescribe the participant or organization.A married couple presented for shelter at the Delonis Center after losing housing due to loss of income in April 2020. Both They lost their income due to their place of

employment reducing hours due to the pandemic. Never experiencing homelessness, He and She were unfamiliar with the housing case management and shelter provisions that the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County has to offer. She presented with unique health needs and was scheduled for a medical procedure, making her high risk for COVID-19. Therefore, She and He were offer a hotel room for non-congregate shelter to better protect them from the virus.

What happened?While staying at the hotel, the couple received SAWC case management to overcome barriers to housing and also connection to benefits and resources to obtain housing. She was also connected to the Packard Health practitioner for routine health screenings at the hotel site, allowing her to get her primary care without having to leave the hotel. Packard Health also encouraged her to maintain her scheduled appointment for the medical procedure to help with her pain management. SAWC housing case management created a housing plan with the couple. He planned to find a new job to increase access to income. She was connected with unemployment benefits and was able to save money for housing. After resume building and seeking out suitable jobs with SAWC case management, He secured a job after 5 weeks. With the combined income of unemployment and He's new job, the couple was able to start a housing search with SAWC case management. By mid July, He and She located affordable housing! By having immediate shelter for the couple, SAWC was able to ensure that She was protected from exposure by staying in the hotel during her episode of homelessness. Along with providing the immediate shelter, SAWC was able to connect the clients with resources to increase income and locate affordable housing. If shelter was not provided for He and She, She could have been exposed to the virus, without any place to live, which would also further delay her medical procedure and potentially cause lifelong health complications.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?SAWC was proud to overcome barriers, connect to resources, and locate housing for He and She within 90 days of them experiencing homelessness. Due to many vulnerable persons, presenting with several barriers to housing, it usually takes 120 or more days on average to house a person. SAWC is proud that case management was able to beat this 120 average for He and She and also find housing in the midst of a pandemic for the couple.

Growing HopeDescribe the participant or organization.A man who was connected to Growing Hope through Ypsi Meals of Wheels. He called and said "I live alone, I live in an apartment, and I’m home bound. Can I garden?"

What happened?

He got in the program and set him up with containers and a table he could use. I went up there and I was nervous because it was right in April. I was nervous to go into his apartment. He was extremely safe. I got all the stuff up and he was telling me that he used to farm, had a huge garden. He got into a bad accident. He was telling me his story and connected over gardening and the peace it brings to ones days. I left and he said “thank you so much!I called him back and he said “the garden was giving him a reason to get up every morning and giving him purpose”

Friends In DeedDescribe the participant or organization.Our organization was able to assist an individual avoid further penalties and fees with the township by paying for her large, past due balance on water. A delinquent water bill may have caused this individual to lose their home. Working part time and living on SSI, the client was struggling to keep herself afloat prior to the pandemic. When the Stay at Home Order was put in place our client was furloughed and suffered a loss of income. While she anticipated returning to work, eventually, that did not work out as planned. Due to her disruption in income, the client fell behind. The township sent a statement stating that would turn over her past due water bill to the Township tax toll and add a 25% fee to the bill for the transfer. This individual was already not able to pay her monthly bills and now faced a devastating increasing to her tax bill if the balance was not paid This also had the potential of happening more than once since the township decided that any homeowner who had a past due balance of four months would be transferred and penalized.

What happened?The client was previously working as an assistance at a local college. The individual had worked for the college for 10 years and due to Covid- 19 lost her job. Her position was originally temporarily furloughed, but when the college decided to not allow in-person classes, she no longer had a job to return to. Falling behind on expenses and trying to pay for everything with a fixed income, the client had limited options. The client had received a notice from Ypsilanti Township stating that her past due water balance would be added to the Township tax roll and would be charged a minimum of a 25% penalty for the transfer. It was confirmed with the utilities authority that homeowners who had a past due water bill older than four months, would have their balance transferred to the township tax roll with a fee. Due to the Covid funding we were able to provide full payment for her back balance of $558.Due to the additional funds, our client was able to avoid further penalties and fees with the township since we were able to cover the entire back balance. The township’s choice to turn over four-month-old balances would create a devastating debt cycle that someone on a fixed income would never be able to overcome on their own. This in turn could cause a magnitude of hardships and potential homelessness if families can’t get their water turned on in their name due to a previous back balance.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?The truth is, sadly, there is nothing extraordinary about this situation. Financial hardships such as these are now the norm for community members. Balances continue to grow; payment plans still require income; and everyone is between a rock and a hard place. People are not returning to work as they had planned and are no longer able to afford a basic lifestyle. The domino effect has started, and we will start to see financially fragile individuals and families getting overwhelmed with past due balances as they adjust to less income and fewer available resources, since most social service agencies have financial limits on assistance. We have watched our community suffer more than we have ever thought possible. Extra income side gigs are a thing of the past. Food service members who have been able to return to work are not returning to their normal tips; but they are returning to their normal low wages, causing them further financial hardship. Temp job employees are lying in wait for assignments that may not come. With the world in limbo, it’s difficult for individuals and families who are struggling to even plan their next move since our current state is unpredictable. Most of the community is not able to afford the unpredictable.

Connecting people to resources.Power of Predestiny Ministries (P.O.P.)Describe the participant or organization.Partnering with THE CREAM INCORPORATED, another grantee funded by UNITED WAY was especially important for P.O.P. Ministries being one of the partners of the twenty because it created a feeling of we are all in this together. It really warmed my heart to see how willing the organizations were to work together to help the communities. They gave so many needs to the community such as Home goods, appliances, school supplies, shoes, everything along with our contributions of PPE equipment and info on low cost internet from Internet Essentials through Comcast for $9.99 a month. It was Awesome! The first event was held at 1003 W. Michigan Ave. Great turn out from the community and everything was taken that all org. brought to distribute. What was most enjoyable was that for the second event at 333 South Prospect there was a line wrapped around the corner before we even began. It was extremely exciting to see and feel the anticipation of the people, being a part of it and being able to give something to them that can very well help to save their lives was an experience all of my volunteers and I won't forget and they thanked me for allowing them to be a part of the situation. Whether we were with other organizations or distributing alone in 48197\98 zip codes when we were done it never failed for the volunteers to be grateful to be a part of the events.

What happened?For the 2nd date of the COVID-19 RELIEF COMMUNITY DONATION TOUR people were in line around the corner for the event to begin.The impact was outstanding to be of assistance to help save lives is so rewarding. and for the community to acquire

important needs that households need to get through this time of low to no income for households. It was a blessing to us here At P.O.P. to be able to give items that give longevity and more length of life.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?Non profits being able to directly give to low income areas who are most needed of our help.

Mentor2YouthDescribe the participant or organization.We directly impacted 60 members of the community with some form of financial relief. But when a person tells you that they did not know how they were going to pay their mortgage this month and you help them, not with a handout, but a way to work that out, it provides financial relief and keeps dignity intact. Being a father that has had to face these types of challenges and hardships, I know what that means. Yet, my greatest take away from the campaign will be the look on a couple of teenager’s faces when they received their stipends. One young man opened his first bank account with that check. To hear the pride in his voice when he shared that with me. To know that we were part of that story will live with me forever.

What happened?Because of the COVID 19 Relieve Fund, we were able to hire both of these individuals with stipends to help us do the work of The Good Neighbor Campaign. This allowed the mother to pay her mortgage, giving her some space to get the rest of the summer budget intact.It allowed this young man to have a level of self-sufficiency within his family. First, if you could have been there to see the look on his face when he received the stipend check. Then, when he reported to me that he opened a bank account and still had money left on the day of that conversation.

Journey of Faith hertian ChurchDescribe the participant or organization.There is a gentleman who found Peace House on Facebook was coming to another county and moved out here. In doing so, he lost pretty much everything.

What happened?He asked if we had a tent or something for temporary shelter. We sent him up with a tent and sleeping mats and tarps for him and his older children. We let him know what the resources were in Washtenaw County. His tent was then stolen and/or vandalized. We were able to connect him with Journey of Faith who provided him a safe temporary space. We were able to wraparound him and his partner and support him in making sure they had enough food when he was living in a hotel. Just last week he got keys to his new apartment. Since then, he has been giving one Homelessness Ministries

Coordinator Rose a ride to work every da and has offered similar rides to anyone who needs them at Peace House as well.

Anything extraordinary about the situation? 

Habitat for Humanity of Huron ValleyDescribe the participant or organization.We have been asking the homeowners we have helped with mortgage relief to submit some testimonials that we can share with our funding partners.

What happened?Here are the expressions of gratitude I have received so far from the MRF homeowners.

"Thank you so very kindly. You are God sent and a life saver in these trying times. Your gift is much appreciated and not taken for granted. God bless."

"I just want to say thanks for helping us in this time of this pandemic. My wife has been off work for almost 6 months, and I had to be laid off for a month. Thanks be to God for all the help. We definitely appreciate everything you’ve done for us over the years."

"From the bottom of my heart and from deep within my soul, I would like to express my humble appreciation for your sincere generosity! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"Being able to continue fulfilling our mission by helping these homeowners stay in their current homes, has been very impactful for our staff but also to the community we serve. We were able to use the funding immediately to help people who needed help right now. We were able to see an immediate impact.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?The whole thing is extraordinary. We are so grateful that we can help to eliminate some uncertainty, reduce stress and anxiety, and ultimately improve the overall health of our homeowners.

Community Action NetworkDescribe the participant or organization.Not everyone could stay open during this time. Back Door Pantry, whose volunteers are mostly elderly couldn’t stay open.

What happened?They started financially giving to us and recognized that they wanted to help even though they couldn’t stay open themselves. They sent $1500, then another $1500, and another $3000 recently.For food programs, almost all are running on pretty thin budgets and a pretty substantial amount they gave. They are pretty close to our Bryant location and started referring their clients to us.

Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw CountyDescribe the participant or organization.Both husband and wife were under immigration supervision. They are not allowed drive. They rely on other people for rides, they have one child and don't qualify for any assistance or unemployment.

What happened?We helped them with rent and Barrier Busters said “they are maxed out with us. We’ve helped them enough”. That’s one family. Some private donors gave us money. The mom needed glasses and her sight is really limited. She asked me if I could get her glasses. We gave her $200 towards glasses. Part of the help she was asking for paid rent, telephone, and cable. She was renting a fridge and also a bed from rental place. I was thinking “ this can’t be happening”. I asked how much rent was left to pay on the bed. We paid the rest of the bed rental. Habitat put forth a refrigerator replacement program, It would be perfect for this family to get a fridge instead of renting one, I called the rental place to see if there would be any penalty and if they could come pick up their fridge, no problem they said. I helped her apply for the new fridge. She got her rent, glasses, fridge all taken care of. She is also using her front yard for food drop off for the mobile home park. She is utilizing the WhatsApp group to communicate about the food drop off. She’s very grateful and wanting the help.She got her rent, electric bill, phone bill, glasses, and fridge all taken care of.UMRC FoundationDescribe the participant or organization.A participant was struggling to log on to a call. We had a staff person go out to help her.

What happened?The look of excitement on her face when her tablet was working and being able to see her face when the tablet work was amazing. Her response of “I haven’t seen your face in so long!” It was gratifying to know how seeing our faces made her feel better. She had been doing it only over the phone and being able to see her faces and provide that therapeutically.  Providing for school-aged youth.Girls GroupDescribe the participant or organization.NB, she was transitioning into 8th grade. Had some summer plans but unsure, struggling with mental health and anxiety. Even though she participants in ballet and piano virtually, she felt disengaged.

What happened?We set up one-on-one mentoring with her. Weekly used a meeting with a mentor to talk about anxiety and talk about how she manages that. She likes to make lists and that helps her with emotional management. She was engaging weekly in activities and her

one-on-one session. In group, they played games “would you rather” “fear in a hat” and then debriefed. Over time, she felt empowered to manage her anxiety.

She worked on mindfulness tips and her parents commented on her relationship with her brothers. She was in a better spot than she was at the beginning of the summer.The client said, “Fear is like a cold pool, once you jump in you realize how great it is.”

NB learned self empowerment and confidence in reducing her anxiety and improving her mental health during the pandemic and transition to online learning and engagement. 

Children's Leukemia Foundation of MichiganDescribe the participant or organization.I shared a story during our call, about our first patient who passed away from Covid, and the decision he made to forego the intervention of a ventilator, as he felt that someone with a stronger immune system would more likely benefit from the use of this scarce resource. His family continues to receive support from us, as they make their way through the grieving process.

We will send additional video stories (I believe we sent one already) as they become available from patients as well.

Educate YouthDescribe the participant or organization.A student completed his class requirements during the COVID 19 lock down. He was a regular participant in the Educate Youth Virtual Clubhouse.

What happened?Today, I asked him, a 2020 WSC graduate, to write a poem about his challenges to get into WCC, then to get enrolled in classes, and Financial Aid. In all honesty, Quincy has had the hardest time getting into college that I have ever experienced. He has met EVERY road block, persons having a bad day, and all other obstacles one could imagine. He has called and recalled offices and departments. Often more than one time within an hour. He has sat for hours, which turned into days, sitting across from me, calling and emailing people at WCC and FAFSA. Today, 8/26, after a week he is enrolled, has his classes, and his financial aid is in motion.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washtenaw CountyDescribe the participant or organization.BBBS-WC serves school-aged youth (52% girls and 48% boys) between 7 to 18 years of age whose parents/guardians have reached out for help to support their child’s learning and growth to reach their limitless potential. In our Community-Based

Mentoring program, 67% of Littles are African American, 16% are white, 13% define themselves as other or mixed race, and 4% are Hispanic. From a geographical perspective, 64% of BBBS-WC participants reside in Ypsilanti Charter Township and Superior Charter Township (Washtenaw County, Michigan), which is an under-served population. 80% of our participants receive free/reduced lunch, with 87% of our Littles' families’ incomes being slightly over or below the federal poverty limit (for example, a single mother with two kids the national poverty level is $21,720 for 2020). She and her son's Gerlyron and Zaire represent the population BBBS-WC serve.

What happened?She is a single mother of two and connected with BBBS-WC a few years ago about our program (2018). She was looking for a positive adult role model for her son Gerlyron, her oldest son. Many young boys have to wait for up to a year for us to find them a match. Thankfully, we were able to find a Big to match with Gerlyron that contributed to a positive self-image. The relationship between the Big and Little was exactly what She was looking for, that she enrolled her younger son, Zaire, into the program late last year. Unfortunately, Zaire has been on the waitlist while we attempt to match him with a Big during the pandemic. In March, we reached out to all our Littles matched with a Big and those on the waitlist to understand their family's needs and how we can help. She indicated that she could not fully provide food for her family, and her boys didn't have access to technology to maintain their education.BBBS-WC understood She's family's needs and put a plan in place. Firstly, we reached out to our volunteers (Bigs, board members, and donors) to obtain any old computers that we could clean up for Littles to maintain their education and stay connected to their Big. Secondly, we connected with community service organizations providing food to those in need, like the Bryant Community Center. The plan began to unfold with staff and volunteers delivering over 650 weeks worth of groceries to 20 to 40 families (varied weekly). We also received almost 20 laptops that were cleaned up with software and delivered to those in need. She was very happy for the support that lasted about 20 weeks.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?The food delivered to She and her boys was a "blessing," as she described. However, the real blessing was the laptop. During the day, the computer was used by Gerlyron and Zaire to stay connected to their teachers. Into the evening, the computer was used to connect Gerlyron to his Big and She to her education. She was finishing nursing school before the pandemic and used the school's technology for all her work. She was able to use the donated laptop given to her family to finish nursing school. We are very proud of her accomplishment.

Ypsilanti Community SchoolsDescribe the participant or organization.This Summer, YCS was the recipient of a United Way Relief Grant. We received $30,000 to purchase Learning Toolkits for each our students. The joy in the faces our students when they came to pick up their Learning Toolkit was priceless. Families sent

us pictures of their children learning. The task of distribution was massive but our staff led the cause forward. Thanks to United way of Washtenaw, we were able to provide all of our students with a Learning Toolkit fill of all of the materials and resources they needed to work online with their teachers live.

What happened?As a result of the United Way Relief Grant, All of our students were able to receive a Learning Toolkit that had all of the supplies and materials they needed to work offline with their teachers.The impact of this United Way Relief Grant was successful. These Learning Toolkits allowed our students to be stress free as they were able to use these supplies and materials in coordination with their remote learning online classes.

St. Louis Center for Exceptional Children and AdultsDescribe the participant or organization.SLC residents were unable to attend school or work and remained onsite 24/7 during the early months of the pandemic. This led to extraordinarily high staffing costs and created a need for SLC staff to develop new and creative ways to help residents, particularly the children who suffer from autism and rely on a regular schedule, to continue to learn and maintain their cognitive development. UWWC grant funding helped provide the additional support needed to cover the cost of round the clock care. It also provided caregivers with the opportunity engage residents by allowing them to purchase craft kits which were important in helping children and some of our adults who do not learn in traditional ways engaged. For example, they were able to put together toy cars and paint them, which helped keep them focused, thinking, learning patience and helping with color recognition.

What happened?Some of our social work staff were especially amazing and I also have to say the community and United Way. I just have to give you such kudos for the speed with which you reached out with funding. I’ve never seen a grant cycle happen so quickly. I would imagine your understanding and working and living crazy hours. The fact that you offered the COVID funding and the funds dispersed. I’ve never seen anything like that. It spoke to your ability to respond and support.

In the end our staff. It’s been real coming together. It’s like everyone has done their part. There was an email sent out and sent to our small list that the children were really struggling with anxiety. Something that helps them is the weighted blankets. The pressure is soothing. We had a bunch of donations of weighted blankets. So many pouring in. It was helpful for children and those suffering anxiety. I said to Robin, “this is really amazing”, as we looked at stacks of blankets. She worked with children and our challenges because these children are wards of the state. We can’t use their photos. She worked with the children. Some signed thank you cards. We did a big picture that digitized that the children all said thank you and sent out to the email list. We said thank you to the people who stepped up. There were a lot of components. It was the public, it

was Robin working with the kids, it was the cards. I think in a time like this people step up and do their part. 

Ozone HouseDescribe the participant or organization.We have one young person on executive order. He has a lot of needs and we weren’t sure if we were the right placement, we’re still not sure.

What happened? A lot of that has to do with the trauma and lots of things we didn’t know. Being locked down with that person. The shift has been incredible and COVID has accelerated his success in relationships. He had the opportunity to work through this and work through the failures because there was nowhere else to go. And get through this stuck place to get to a place for opportunity for resilience. Something about being locked in that he probably would have left before or been asked to leave. Things looked different and we worked a little harder. They asked him to help teach part of the handwashing too.

Supporting children and families.New West Willow Neighborhood AssociationDescribe the participant or organization.My voicemail was full when someone called me the Monday morning after being awarded the grant. Her household is comprised of 3 adults and 2 children. Her family had 2 Covid deaths in the previous 2 weeks and was going to a funeral that day. She was laid off from her auto parts job due to Covid, hadn't received unemployment she was due, had medical issues, and was behind on utilities. It was a powerful call. We are continuing to support her and attempting to stabilize many like her. This resident is excited to share her story publicly and with anyone interested.

What happened?I immediately paid her DTE and phone bill. She is so incredibly grateful for that assistance. She has high blood pressure and anxiety (panic attacks). It was 98 degrees the day she tried to return to work and could not go back. She called me and said it was so difficult and "I thought of you and it helped". You read all these things but hearing the voice and knowing how we are impacting them is amazing. She has 2 children in her household and is still not working. Carol is going to do a social work intake to be able to connect her with resources and do as much as we can to help her. She’s willing to share her story.

Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic DevelopmentDescribe the participant or organization.The Abboud family (name changed for client confidentiality) is a multi-generational immigrant household (3 adults, 3 children) who came to the United States as refugees.

What happened?Being in the country for only a short time before the pandemic hit, they hadn’t been in country long enough to build up savings or to qualify for unemployment benefits when they were laid off due to the COVID-19 crisis. The family was unable to meet rental or academic expenses, jeopardizing their housing and risking derailing increased income from a higher degree. The family worked with their refugee resettlement agency to request Barrier Busters assistance. Barrier Busters was able to pay for the family’s rent, ensuring they had basic household stability while the adult members qualified for unemployment or were able to secure new jobs. 

Destiny and Purpose Community Outreach (DAPCO)Describe the participant or organization.One client was in a crisis, because she had (2) of her own children and recently had taken on her sisters 2 children, who had very little provision. We were able to go out and purchase some of the items needed for this situation. Bedding, blankets for twin beds along with formula, diapers for (3) of the children and wipes, plus provide a few change of new clothing items. We have asked her, if she would be so kind to write a brief summary of how this blessing impacted her life at that moment. We are still waiting on the letter. Perhaps it will come one day and we will be able to share in our newsletter.

What happened?We made a emergency porch delivery. I can only speak for those that do say "Thank you", I know for a surety we made a impact and took stress and worry from the parents to provide these items for their children when resources in the household were challenged.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?It's always extraordinary, when you step out of your comfort zone and come down to the understanding level of someone less fortunate than yourself. Considering your own situation and put yourself in their shoes, you are able to relate and be less judgmental.

Variis InstituteDescribe the participant or organization.Shortly after we had begun manufacturing face shields, we were getting calls and emails with requests. We were fulfilling these as fast as we could print. One day we were contacted by a colleague who works at Eastern Michigan University. She called because she had read a Facebook post about our combined efforts. She went on to tell us about her daughter and husband (doctor and nurse) who had been working with the same PPE for over a month due to the shortage. They, and their team, had resorted to various methods to attempt to clean and sanitize their heavily used PPE. She asked if she could be put on the list for PPE, even though they didn't live in Washtenaw County. They worked in a small rural hospital in upstate New York, and were desperately short on all supplies.

What happened?As a result of the conversation, we started working on how to speed up production. As this was within the first couple weeks of manufacturing, we were still perfecting prints and processes and were only able to print around 32 per day. We knew this was not going to be sufficient to meet the need. I called a mentor of mine who is a VP at Link Engineering and discussed the manufacturing problem and capacity issue. Over the course of our conversation, he helped me devise a course of action to increase production, reduce material waste, and increase quality of prints, which would reduce cleaning and preparation time after printing. As a result, we were able to increase print capacity to over 100 per day, with significantly less waste. As each roll of filament costs around $36, quality and consistency is paramount. With increased production, we went from printing one at a time, to printing stacks of 4 and 8 (depending on printer). This was immensely beneficial, and enabled us to provide more face shields at a quicker pace. With increased production, we were able to print, box, and ship 24 face shields to New York. This project would lead to the idea of lesson plans around community engagement, and national and global citizenry projects that we are working on for the school year. Through these projects, and reinforced by our own experience, we hope to show kids that you can have a positive effect on your community, and beyond.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?I struggle with the idea of extraordinary. The COVID-19 Pandemic has brought to the surface a number of examples of exemplary human collaboration and community engagement. It has also brought to light levels of disparity and inequity that are staggering. I find the entire situation and events surrounding our current situation as extraordinary, and take comfort in the knowledge and experience of the positive effects community partnerships, such as United Way, can have for our families and communities.

Peace Neighborhood CenterDescribe the participant or organization.A single mom working hard to support her four young children, faced an unexpected challenge when schools closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. An essential worker in the healthcare industry, Alisha was forced to take time off work to determine how she was going to provide childcare to her four young children. Her youngest was already enrolled in a childcare program, but Alisha needed to find a childcare alternative for her three elementary-aged children. While she was ultimately able to secure childcare for all four children, the added cost of this service put her behind on her rent and utilities. She came to Peace, desperate for a solution.

What happened?Peace case managers recognized her urgent need and provided financial assistance to help her pay her rent and utilities, as well as food to ensure that her children wouldn’t go hungry. In addition, her three school-aged children were immediately enrolled in Peace programs, receiving full-day academic support three days a week throughout the

summer. In addition, we took responsibility for transporting her children to and from Peace Neighborhood Center. Filling these critical needs enabled Alisha to adjust her work schedule so that she could return to work and rest assured that her children were provided with the structure and support they needed to thrive at Peace.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?Over 90% of Peace families have income below the federal poverty line (US Census Bureau), so financial hardship is nothing new for our clients, but COVID-19 has exacerbated their financial challenges. Increased childcare and food costs at home, as well as lost wages from layoffs or reduced schedules, pose a tremendous challenge for our families. Unfortunately, Alisha’s situation is not extraordinary at this moment, which explains why all funding is critical at this time. We need all hands on deck to serve as many members of our community in need as possible.

Dawn FarmDescribe the participant or organization.Our clients and staff at Spera have given us lots of feedback since Covid. Not only are our clients detoxing, they are in quarantine and tested for Covid. This could easily be an overwhelming time for those we serve and we have been so grateful for overwhelmingly positive feedback from those who have come into treatment in the last four months.

What happened?All of the feedback from our clients who have gone through the Spera Quarantine project and were admitted to longer-term treatment has been incredibly positive. Here are some comments on the Spera Quarantine Project from clients:

"Amazing staff" "Staff made me feel safe and comfortable" "Staff always willing to listen to me" "Thank you for not giving up on me""I felt hopeful for the first time" "That the staff genuinely cared about me""The follow through and congruence with staff" "They made the best out of a crappy situation (COVID)""How compassionate the staff is""Authentic and positive people" "The welcoming environment" "Staff treated me with respect""The love."

Our staff had this to say:

"I am so impressed/inspired/delighted with how well our clients are taking this whole quarantine thing. Every day there are new art pieces, funny new games being invented, etc." "I'm SO incredibly grateful for our clients and staff who just keep on keeping on - whether from home or in our very much disinfected little space." The impact is that we are able to continue to bring people out of unsafe situations and into recovery at an incredibly stressful and dangerous time for people with addictions.

Anything extraordinary about the situation?To go from addiction to sobriety, homelessness to a supportive living community, and brokenness to wholeness is always extraordinary. To do so in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic is a miracle. One of our housing residents had this to say about her sobriety in the pandemic:"Even though I’m high risk, I would much rather be here than not. I should have been dead 3 years ago. I feel really safe in housing."

Despite the fact that a couple of our clients have tested positive for Covid during the Spera Quarantine Project, we have not had a single case of other clients or staff testing positive as a result. The effectiveness of our little quarantine project, monitored largely by a group of non-medically trained staff, is truly extraordinary. We are grateful every day.

Washtenaw LiteracyDescribe the participant or organization.A man his family immigrated from Afghanistan 3 years ago. Here, he works as a custodian at a school but dreams of becoming a carpenter or an electrician. His wife completed 3rd grade in Afghanistan. As her children get older (8-year-old, 6-year-old, 20-month-old) her low-literacy will become a bigger barrier. In tutoring, the man focuses on grammar, writing, and financial literacy (e.g., credit cards, credit scores, saving for a house). His wife focuses on vocabulary, ABCs, and everyday conversation. We have provided a Kindle Fire for tutoring. He is especially grateful that their tutors have provided activities they can do with the children at home and helped the family communicate with the schools to ensure their children get the devices they need.

What happened? As her children get older (8 years old, 6 years old, and 20 mo old), her low literacy will become a bigger barrier. In tutoring, Rohullah focuses on grammar, writing, financial literacy (credit cards, scores, saving for a house). His wife focuses on vocabulary, ABCs, and everyday conversation. We have provided a Kindle Fire for tutoring. He is especially grateful that their tutors have provided activities they can do with the children at home and helped the family communicate with the schools to ensure their children get the devices they need.

Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels

Describe the participant or organization.An extra cookie or a bottle of household cleaner might not seem like much to some people, but for Meals on Wheels client, every surprise she finds in her regular meal deliveries is like a little birthday present. It’s a tiny celebration of another day lived.

“It just adds a special touch to my day,” she said, whose chronic illnesses led her to call Meals on Wheels for help about a year ago. Her daily delivery from Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels was never just about the food. “I look forward to that person knocking on my door. It gives me a reason to get up and get dressed every day,” the 76-year-old said.

Like so many clients of Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels, she lives alone and has little contact with others. But she knows that at least once a day, she’ll have the chance to chat and to exchange a smile with someone on the other side of her door.

What happened?She is doing well, she enjoys her friendly calls with Sandy Bosch communication & grants manager of YMOW. She now has another "daughter" to call on. Maureen was feeling depressed and measured high on the PHQ9 depression scale at the start of the pandemic and now 6 months in she is at a 0 every week she is content and enjoys her calls.The impact for Maureen was increase in happiness, reduction of worry, finding a new friend. The impact for hers family/caregivers was a reduction of stress and anxiety as they live far away and knowing they have Sandy to talk to is very reassuring.

Lastly, Maureen has taken up knitting and crocheting again. She just sent us a croucheted pig holding a pie that will be auctioned off at the YMOW Holiday Fundraiser: Holidays at Home on Saturday, December 5th.

Youth Justice FundDescribe the participant or organization.The UW of Washtenaw County grant funds in part supported us as we raised more funds for a 3 day Trauma Summer Camp to serve 20 formerly incarcerated youth to travel in Northern Michigan to enjoy some much needed recreation after the COVID-19 lockdown. Many of our YJF members have never been swimming or camping due to long periods of incarceration. We offered clinical trauma workshops during the day and evening by campfire to help ease their reentry back into society.

What happened?The 2020 Trauma Summer Camp hosted by YJF under the leadership of Executive Director Aaron Kinzel and his staff was an incredible and life changing event. Participants of this camp were all incarcerated at the age of 18 or less and experienced high levels of trauma in prison and in their communities before incarceration. The camp was full of clinical professionals who helped them navigate the demons of their past and they participated in various activities that built strong bonds amongst this group of individuals. Some slept in cabins and went swimming for the first time in their life and

they all rode jet skis after trauma sessions to unleash the sadness in their hearts while simultaneously conquering their fears and pushing themselves to new limits.

The biggest take away from the camp was a deep appreciation and empathy for peers who all experienced incarceration as youth. The YJF Executive Director cried numerous times during this event and felt safe to express emotions in public that were held deep inside his soul. He was reminded of his own dark experiences in solitary confinement as a 15 year old powerless child being subjected to the will of the Carceral State and being chained like a rabid animal. Other men and women opened up with him and he truly believes that all resolved some internal trauma and realized the interconnection between their life histories and reentry into our community. Hearing the stories of suffering was difficult but to connect with these men and women and realize their resiliency was a beautiful thing to say the least.

The Detroit Free Press gave us a front page cover story about this project below:Sent to prison young, they found healing at northern Michigan campANGIE JACKSON | DETROIT FREE PRESS | 12:31 pm EDT August 15, 2020

Anything extraordinary about the situation?This 2020 Trauma Summer Camp was a catalyst for a fundraising campaign that we will start this fall and we would love further support from UW if possible. We seek to continue more local monthly trauma-informed events and an annual 2021 Trauma Summer Camp for the following year.

A Brighter WayDescribe the participant or organization.The story I want to tell will be best told if you go to this link

The "Living on LOP: What We Learned in Prison" video series was conceived and developed by returned citizens (including our executive director) over the last six months during the height of the pandemic. In this age of Covid, when mentoring is so difficult, when building a positive community filled with role models for formerly incarcerated individuals is such a challenge, this video series meets that challenge.The stories of the returning citizens provide the kind of encouragement, advice, and motivation from individuals with direct and relevant experience that are so helpful in our mentoring programs.

As Cozine Welch says in his segment of the series, "necessity can drive invention". In this case, we have a necessity, a need for how to provide counseling and mentoring in a "virtual" world. I think you will be very impressed by the result.

The program has been developed as a joint effort by the UM Prisoners Creative Art Project (PCAP), the UM Carceral State Project, and A Brighter Way (ABW). What is really remarkable is how the series meets the unique challenge of our new "virtual" world. The series of videos provides the first-hand stories of formerly incarcerated individuals, and how they have used their experience to develop new motivations and directions. You can clearly see how much a newly returned citizen could get from the videos.

This series would not have happened without A Brighter Way and without the Covid Grant from the WCUW.Please go to the link and take a short look at an amazing example of how some returning citizens,

What happened?The video series is still being finalized but it is up on the PCAP Web site. It will soon be up on the ABW web site and social media. We will publicize it in a variety of ways. The impact of "Living on LOP" should be very positive. The video series will become a key part of our outreach to new returning citizens as well as to community supporters.As we continue to operate in a "distanced" world, the videos series provides a tool to reach current and potential clients and let them see the value of a strong community and mentoring.

Community Family Life CentersDescribe the participant or organization."My name is ... I’m a professional with a family and competing demands on my time. When COVID-19 hit I was devastated because I was left trying to juggle home, being a caretaker for my mother who fell ill, and making major decisions on behalf of a major municipality. I instantly became overwhelmed trying to figure it all out in my head. This led to insomnia and lack of appetite. I felt I needed to address everything right then and I meshed them all together in attempt to be superwoman while falling apart at the seams. "

"Meanwhile, while on Facebook I saw a post about a Zoom Virtual Care and Counseling during COVID session to be hosted by Grace Fellowship Church. I decided to listen in. Boy, that was one of the best choices I made. While, I never would admit that I needed mental health counseling that was exactly what I needed. The stigma attached with the word “mental” had made me shy away from seeking professional help but this was brought right to my home. I could get help in the privacy of my home virtually so I listened and listened."

"The presenters were relevant and answered my questions. My greatest take away was how to compartmentalize my life. My life was spiraling during COVID, especially because I couldn’t leave home. This saved my life literally and taught me how to take

time and clear my mind, how to schedule my day, to schedule work time while at home and then be done. To take time to meditate and care for myself. Tomorrow will be there but I may not if I don’t exercise self-care. It was definitely an eye-opener and the beginning to my mental freedom. I learned I must order my life and not let it order me around and that it’s ok to devote time to myself.

"I’ve started using some of the strategies for self- care and have made my mental health a priority"