Newsletter | November 2023

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The Season of Giving

In the spirit of giving, Disability Network Mid-Michigan will be an official collection point for Toys For Tots, whose objective is to help less fortunate children experience the joy of Christmas and unite all members of local communities in a common cause. We are collecting new, unwrapped toys at our Midland location until Wednesday, December 6. Our office is located at 1705 S. Saginaw Road, and we are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm.

As we enter the holiday season, we encourage our staff and supports to think of others who may be struggling. Donating your time to local non-profits like soup kitchens or food banks can make a huge difference in someone’s life.

Veteran’s Day is Saturday, November 11th

On this day we pause to thank those who have protected this nation by serving in the armed forces. 

As we honor our veterans and their families, we must continue to advocate for the crucial services needed to help veterans live independently and to reacclimate to civilian life. 

We know that after serving many veterans face a new battle with post-traumatic stress disorder. If you or someone you know may be in crisis, please have them contact the Veterans Crisis Line by calling 988 and pressing 1.

As a small token of appreciation for the selfless sacrifices paid by our veterans, restaurants and stores across the country are offering discounts or free services to veterans on Veterans Day. Please click here for a list of some of those offerings.

Support the Community During Giving Tuesday by Supporting DNMM 

Giving Tuesday is November 28th – a global movement that encourages people to do good. It's a simple idea: whether it's making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people you care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to contribute toward building the better world we all want to live in.

Join the movement and give – whether it's some of your time, a donation, or the power of your voice in the community.

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Peer support & mentoring
• Teach a class or make a craft
• Yard clean up
• Phone or penpal friend
• Mock interviews

Wish List Items:

• Supplies to assist with personal and home maintenance:
• Laundry detergent
• Cleaning supplies
• Hygiene supplies
• Pet food
• kitty litter
• Gift cards or tickets to connect with the community:
• Gas card
• Movie tickets
• Sporting event tickets
• Public Transportation tickets
• Items for our transition program participants, where individuals can move out of nursing facilities back into the community
• New, unwrapped toys for the Toys For Tots program

For more information and to donate visit dnmm.org

Catch the Spirit!

Disability Network Mid-Michigan is proud to be a sponsor of accessible seating at the Dow Event Center for the Saginaw Spirit season! We look forward to working together to make hockey games and other events fully accessible.

Come on out and enjoy a game with us and Catch the Spirit!

Accessible Restroom Grants Available!

The Midland Area Community Foundation (MACF) has awarded a $20,000 grant to Disability Network Mid-Michigan (DNMM) from the Access to Recreation Endowment Fund. 

“Disability Network of Mid-Michigan is committed to increasing accessibility and inclusion throughout Midland County,” said Kelly Pelong, Executive Director of DNMM. “Many venues cannot be accessed or enjoyed by individuals and/or families if truly accessible restrooms are not available. This grant is a start to increasing the number of restrooms that are available to any user.” 

This grant addresses a primary focus area of the Midland Area Community Foundation: enriching our community. DNMM will serve as fiduciary for processing payments for the purchase, acquisition and/or installation of equipment that provides access to restroom usage by a wide variety of users at prominent recreation venues.

Midland County’s Vision Statement is “Together-Forward-Bold: An exceptional place where everyone thrives.” Access to Community aligns with this vision statement while focusing on the inclusion of people with disabilities in the planning and building of an accessible and welcoming community. 

PeLong added, “One in three families is directly impacted by disability. The availability of a restroom is an essential part of life and shouldn’t pose a barrier to accessing the wonderful amenities in this community, or any other. We hope this initiative serves as a benchmark for other communities to model and plan for in the future.”.

If you know of a recreation venue that needs an accessibility upgrade please let us know by calling DNMM at 989-835-4041!

November is National Family Caregivers Month

Celebrated every November, National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM) is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country. It offers an opportunity to raise awareness of caregiving issues, educate communities, and increase support for caregivers. 

Families are the primary source of support for older adults and people with disabilities in the U.S. Many family caregivers work and provide care, experiencing conflicts between competing responsibilities. Research indicates caregiving takes a significant emotional, physical, and financial toll. 

• Every year at least 53 million people provide informal – and usually unpaid – care and support to aging family members and people of all ages with disabilities.*
• While family caregiving is rewarding, it can also be challenging. When caregivers do not have the support they need, their health, well-being, and quality of life can suffer. Lost income due to family caregiving is estimated at $522 billion each year.*
• Millions of older adults and people with disabilities would not be able to live in their communities without essential family caregiving support, and replacing it with paid services would cost an estimated $470 billion per year.*

* ACL.gov/CaregiverStrategy

Disability Network Mid-Michigan would like to thank all the family caregivers who help support the people in our communities!

If you want to share your caregiving story, leave a comment here.

If you’re immunocompromised or a person with a disability, get vaccinated to get ahead of flu season. We make getting your flu & COVID-19 shots easy!

Gift Card Give-Away

Multiple $25 Gift Card Give-Aways Each Month! If you are a person with a disability or an older adult and get an influenza vaccine or a COVID-19 vaccine, you can enter to win. Contact us to learn how to enter at info@dnmm.org or (989) 835-4041, or to learn about our vaccine support services:

• Help scheduling a vaccine
• Transportation to a vaccine appointment
• Access to an in-home vaccine or booster
• Companion support during your vaccine appointment

Support Disability Network

As we attend community events, people often ask how they can help. The best way to help is to be an advocate – talk to your friends and family about person-first language; talk with government officials about ways to make our communities accessible; talk with employers about hiring people with disabilities and the values of an inclusive workforce.

You can also help Disability Network Mid-Michigan (DNMM) by donating money directly or you can text "advocate" to 56651. But did you know you can support DNMM while shopping for groceries or when buying holiday presents?

This program makes it easy to support DNMM based on the shopping you do every day. Once you link your Kroger Card to our organization, all you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Shopper’s Card – a portion of your purchase at the checkout counter will be donated to DNMM at no additional cost to you!

Here’s how it works:

1. Create a digital account at Kroger.com (a digital account is needed to participate in Kroger Community Rewards; if you already have a digital account, simply link your Shopper’s Card to your account so that all transactions apply toward the organization you choose)
2. Link your Card to Disability Network Mid-Michigan. Selecting the organization that you wish to support is as simple as updating the Kroger Community Rewards selection on your digital account: 

•   Sign in to your digital account.
•   Enter "Disability Network Mid-Michigan" or our NPO number – PR812
•   Click “Save”

As you shop for the holidays, consider signing up for iGive to support Disability Network Mid-Michigan (DNMM)! It's a free service with 350,000+ members that has raised over $10 Million! iGive members generate donations by shopping online at over 2,000 stores. There are no added costs, obligations, or any hidden fees and it's automatic – no codes to enter.

Earn a $5 bonus donation for Disability Network Mid-Michigan by joining today and shopping within 30 days.

Do you need food?

Statement of Inclusion

Inclusion is a universal human right for all people, regardless of race, age, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other discernible quality. To be inclusive is to promote a sense of belonging, respect, and value for who you are as a person. It is about equal access and opportunities for everyone. Inclusion is an integral part of our Independent Living philosophy and of our agency's vision of accessible and inclusive communities.

DNMM offices have been, and continue to be, places of solace, understanding, and information for all. We are committed to promoting and protecting diversity and inclusion, within our offices, among our community partners, and throughout the 15 Centers for Independent Living in Michigan.

Disability Network Mid-Michigan

989-835-4041 | dnmm.org