Outreach East. Utility Shut Off Assistance At Record Level. Upcoming Events. We re on the web!

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1 W W W. O U T R E A C H E A S T. O R G Outreach East Fall Utility Shut Off Assistance At Record Level In the past 4 months requests for assistance with utility shut off notices reached an all-time high here at Outreach East. Now, more than ever, area families in need are coming to us for help. Last year s brutal winter hit our working poor hard with higher than normal utility bills and this winter is expected to be just as difficult. In October 2013, the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) ended their year-round assistance program for utility help. DHS deemed June 1 to October 31 non-critical heating months and they do not process requests for aid with shut off notices resulting in us smaller agencies being overwhelmed with people seeking help Donations In memory of Elaine M. Coats Christopher Paul Cousins Ronald Evoy William A. Genore Carl Halstrand Alice Hounam Willie Dee Houston In honor of Tom Sheroski and Jacqueline Halligan in keeping their power on. We spent $11,500 from June 1st to September 30th helping 71 families with their shut off notices. There have also been 3 cuts in the last year in the DHS and federal food stamp programs. We have more families coming in for food because of receiving less benefits and need our weeks worth of groceries to hold them over. Due to increases in medical co pays the number of seniors coming to us for help with their prescriptions has also gone up. With all these cuts, Outreach East is seeing a big increase for food, as well as utility and prescription assistance. (Outreach East supplied over 92,000 pounds of food to area families in Ginny Landry Tracy McKenna Dr. George Mohamedally Thelma Ostrander Sandy Salsgiver Brian Sheroski David C. Smith Sharon Whitman need in 2013, averaging 175 families a month) How can you help us help others? There are many ways. If you can afford it, consider making a monetary donation. Pick up a few extra canned goods at the grocery store each time you shop. Grab a toothbrush and toothpaste if you see them on sale or have a coupon. Many people doing a little helps us serve a lot. At work, consider organizing occasional drives to collect canned goods or personal items. Attend Outreach East s fundraising events, buy a raffle ticket or two, etc. Make it a priority to help Outreach East at least once a month, even if in some small way. Helping Outreach East is helping our community, and that s good for everyone. Upcoming Events Oct 25: Rock of Ages Dinner/Concert/Dance, 6:00 p.m. at St. John s Parish Hall Nov 1: Cans for Coats Drive, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at VG s Nov 10: Thanksgiving Food Drive Dec: Christmas Gift Drive Ongoing: Queen of Hearts Playing Card Progressive Raffle at Madden s Lounge. Drawing Sundays at 6:00 We re on the web!

2 Ways You Can Support Outreach East Sign up for Kroger Community Rewards Sign up today to help Outreach East when you shop at Kroger. To sign up or update your account, visit: * Click on Michigan. * Click on Enroll Complete your information; Click Save Changes * Next Screen: Find Organization, type OUTREACH EAST * Select your organization Click OUTREACH EAST, Davison, MI Org.#84837 * Save your selection, click Save changes *Next screen: Account Information to Verify Community Rewards Information: OUTREACH EAST Sign up for Meijer Community Rewards Did you know you can help Outreach East by enrolling in Meijer s Community Rewards Program? You may apply online by visiting completing an application in person at the customer service desk of your local Meijer store, or contact Outreach East for a form you can mail in. You will receive three cards for your household members only. When you receive your card, use the card when you shop at Meijer and you earn rewards for Outreach East. The Meijer Community Rewards program was developed to meet the store s customers' growing desire to support non-profit groups in ways that don't stretch their budget or their time. Enrolled members shop Meijer, simply paying with cash, a PIN-based debit card, or a linked Meijer Credit Card. Purchases made with a linked Meijer Credit Card earn 1%. Purchases made with cash or a PIN-based debit card and a swiped Meijer 1 Card SM earn 0.5%. Each year, at least 6% of Meijer net profits go toward overall community giving - one of the highest percentages in the retail industry! When you fill out the application form, please make sure to check the Organization Information box when selecting the rewards method. The code for Outreach East is Once you sign up: Receive rewards for all your Meijer shopping, including gas and convenience store purchases! No minimum or maximum spending amount. Purchases can be made with cash, PIN-debit card or a Meijer Credit Card. Receive exclusive savings periodically! Your account is accessible anytime online at Visit our website at to see all the simple ways you can help Outreach East. Outreach East thanks you for your continued support! Page 2 F A LL 201 4

3 Cans for Coats The 11th annual Cans for Coats drive will take place: November 1 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bring your returnable cans and bottles to VG s in Davison and we ll cash them in and use the money to buy coats, snow pants, and boots for our area children in need. Donations may also be dropped off the week prior to the event (Oct ) at Outreach East and Trinity Lutheran Church located at 706 W. Flint St., Davison and Thursday through Sunday (Oct. 30-Nov. 2) at St. John the Evangelist s Family Center parking lot located at 505 N. Dayton St. in Davison. For more information, call Brenda Hughes at (810) or (810) Thank you so much for your support and for your help in keeping our kids warm this winter! Please note: We also accept can and bottle donations for this fund throughout the year. Queen of Hearts Playing Card Progressive Raffle Drawings held every Sunday, 6:00 p.m. Madden s Lounge Tickets only $1 Outreach East is holding a Playing Card Progressive Raffle every Sunday at 6:00 p.m. at Madden s Lounge. Raffle began September 14, Tickets are $1 each and available at Madden s Lounge and Outreach East. If your ticket is drawn, you automatically win a cash prize. If the envelope number you choose holds the Queen of Hearts, you win the progressive jackpot! We update our website every Monday with the new jackpot amount from Sunday night but it continues to grow throughout the week. You do not have to be present to win! Page 3 F A LL 201 4

4 Davison Outreach East Thanksgiving Food Drive Donations of the following items are needed: Boxed Stuffing Boxed Potatoes Macaroni & Cheese Tomato Soup/Chicken Noodle Soup Tuna Tuna Helper Spaghetti Sauce Peanut Butter & Jelly Cereal Canned Fruit Spaghettio s Cake Mix & Frosting Shampoo Toothpaste Deodorant Please bring items to Outreach East by November 10. If you have any questions, please don t hesitate to call (810) Thank you for helping support area families in need through Outreach East! Page 4 F A LL 201 4

5 Sponsor a Family for the Holidays! We are currently looking for folks who would like to sponsor a family for a holiday meal or a child for Christmas gifts (or both). If you d like to help, please call us at (810) as soon as possible. For Christmas gifts, please let us know the sex & age of the child(ren) you d like to sponsor so we can match you up with a child right away. Thank you! Join Outreach East on Facebook! Outreach East s Annual Statistics In the last 12 months, Outreach East: Join hundreds of other folks who 'Like' us on Facebook and get real-time updates about current Outreach East news & fundraising events. Already like us? Then please help spread the word! Because we rely solely on donations from local business, churches, clubs, and individuals, it s so important to spread the word about Outreach East. Without continued community support, we cannot continue to service the ever-growing number of clients we do. Thank you! Assisted 5,973 clients (2,076 families consisting of 3,227 adults and 2,746 children). Provided 91,949 pounds of food to clients. Clients Residence: Davison 95.0% Otisville 3.7% Goodrich 1.3% Clients Ages: % % % w w w. f a c e b o o k. c o m / O u t r e a c h E a s t We are 100% funded by fundraisers and donations from local businesses, churches, clubs, and individuals. F A LL Page 5

6 OUTREA CH EAST 425 GENESEE ST. PO BOX 61 D AVI SON MI Phone: (810) Fax: (810) w w w. O u t r e a c h E a s t. o r g outreacheast@hotmail.com CURRENT RESIDENT OR: Non-Profit Organization US Postage PAID Davison, MI Permit No. 12 Hours for clients and donation drop-offs: Mondays & Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:00-6:00 p.m. For information about upcoming events, frequently asked questions, or to donate online, visit us at w w w. O u t r e a c h E a s t. o r g Can you help with? Toothpaste Deodorant Shampoo Diapers, Size 6 Baby Wipes Donations of these high-demand items are much needed and would be greatly appreciated, so we don t run out. Thank you! Outreach East is a non-denominational, walk-in, year-round 501(3)(c) emergency resource center dedicated to assisting area individuals and families with help with food, rent, utilities, clothing, medical, and other essentials in Davison, Goodrich, and Otisville. We are 100% funded by fundraisers and donations from local businesses, churches, clubs, and individuals. We accept monetary donations as well as food, clothing, personal & household items, and furniture. Inside this edition: Ways You Can Help Page 2 Cans for Coats Page 3 Queen of Hearts Raffle Page 3 Thanksgiving Food Drive Page 4 Holiday Sponsorship Page 5 Outreach East on Facebook Page Annual Stats Page 5