CARES in Farmington Hills | caresfh.org

March-April 2024

Introducing CARES Community Connection: New name, new logo and the young man who designed it.

Malcolm Stewart hasn't had an easy life. There were some wrong turns and a troubled past. But, Malcolm doesn't want to dwell on that. He prefers to concentrate on how his life has improved since moving from his old neighborhood. He got his GED and an Associate Degree in Graphic Design from OCC - and a lot of help from OCC Security Officer Dan DiTomaso and Academic Counselor Rasheedah Wright who worked to find housing and arranged for CARES to deliver food monthly.

Officer DiTomaso helped Malcolm land a custodial job at OCC. He walks 8 miles daily to and from work, for his afternoon shift because his bike is broken. This week a generous donor who learned of Malcolm's story, donated a used bike in great condition. Malcolm was thrilled because he will gain extra personal time and mobility.

Both DiTomaso and Ms. Wright credit Malcolm for "...his grit, courage and perseverance in overcoming all the barriers in his life." Although he is no longer a student, they remain committed to supporting Malcolm in his efforts to find lasting stability.

Malcolm donated his time to create this logo for the CARES Community Connection and we love it. Everyone who knows Malcolm, including Tom and Julie Shurtleff, the CARES volunteers who deliver his food, says he is "..affable, gracious and a hard worker." Malcolm wanted to design this logo to show what he can do and to thank CARES for providing food every month. He's also available for freelance work with a quick turnaround.

A big CARES thank you to supporter Heather Murphy, employed by Arch Environmental Group, Inc, longtime CARES supporters, and Bill Heaton, a dedicated CARES volunteer for providing the name for our newsletter.

CARES Food Pantry Serving Farmington-Farmington Hills-Livonia-Northville-Novi-edford Twp-Southfield-West Bloomfield

CALL: 248-474-8231 for information.

For just $25 per month you can help feed a family for a whole year!

Food insecurity is real in the 8 communities served by CARES. Become a CARES-SUSTAINER by donating just $25 per month to help keep a neighbor's family supplied with groceries.

Together, your small monthly contributions can create a lasting impact, filling not only plates but also hearts within our communities.

To learn more:

Need a little extra help, or do you know someone who can use a hand up?

Scroll down to the green HELP section at the end of our newsletter. Watch for tips and resources in the HERE TO HELP section in every edition! And don't forget to share!

There is not just one kind of person who needs CARES Food Pantry...

Pat was at one of the lowest points in his life when he came to CARES a little over a year ago. A family suicide, loss of his job and other issues sent him from years of sobriety into an alcohol spiral. He had a tough time pulling it all together but, AA, his daughter's strong support, and CARES helped him get his life back on track. Now he has a good job and everything is looking better.

"The one thing I didn't have to worry about was food," Pat says. "But it's more than that. At CARES, there's an attitude. People really want to know how you are. That sure helps when you feel like everything has gone wrong. It gives you hope."

Pat's story is one among many who visit CARES each month. Your donations helped make it possible for CARES to be there when Pat needed help. Become a CARES-giver today. You could be making a life saving difference.

Busting Myths...

People living in poverty have to make tough choices everyday. They aren't lazy. They don't have a poor work ethic. Economic Policy Institute research shows that poor working adults spend more hours working each week than wealthier neighbors.

Contrary to popular belief, most working poor receive NO government assistance. In fact, many people who are eligible for help don't apply because they don't know how or are afraid of all the paperwork and steps required.

Over 80 billion dollars is unused each year because of how hard it is to navigate all the hurdles to get help.*

Organizations like CARES exist to supplement the food needs of people facing financial hardship. Your donations make a difference!



*America's Safety Net Series PBS Newshour

April: National Volunteer Month

We want to recognize all of our CARES volunteers during this special National Volunteer Month. Without their dedication, time, talents and energy we could not continue to serve the large number of families each month. Their kindness and compassion are the hallmark of CARES service. We see the smiles of recognition each month when our guests recognize their friendly faces.

We say it all the time and we mean it sincerely,

"We couldn't do this without your dedication and commitment! Thank you,CARES Volunteers!"

Shown at right - Original Card Design by Volunteer, Nancy Gretch

Behind the scenes..."a dynamic duo!"

Katherine Matson and Nancy Gretch didn't expect to find a great friendship when they each decided to volunteer at CARES after retiring. They wanted to do a little good work - quietly. The women took on heavy duty in the warehouse, receiving products, organizing and keeping the shelves stocked and having fun getting to know each other. According to Marcia Rodeheffer, Business Development Coordinator"...they are just the best, most motivated, compassionate, and hard-working volunteers you could ask for!"

In addition to CARES, Katherine is a decorator for "For Goodness Cakes" an organization that provides birthday cakes for children in foster care. Nancy creates one-of-a-kind greeting cards often surprising friends and co-volunteers with her unique creations. (see photo above)

They echo each other's sentiments when asked why they volunteer..."We just want to give back. We have a good life. Now we can help others in our community. And we have a great time doing it together."

Another extraordinary

volunteer!

Joanne Taylor says she "lives to volunteer." And her resume would support that. In addition to working full time in IT for DTE, Joanne volunteers two nights per week in the CARES Market.

Volunteering is what makes her feel useful. She has volunteered for Gleaners; the Farmington Community Service Center; for Detroit Public Schools; as a tutor and as a tax preparer for the Accounting Aid Society. "You have to have a purpose in your life, something that is bigger than you. For me that is volunteering. It's a way to make things better."



Joanne first heard about CARES about a year ago from the news. She decided to call right away. That's how easy it is to become a CARES volunteer.

Here to Help: Resources for Everyone

Owen Ballow in the Food Pantry with a CARES guest. For a private appointment with Owen call:

734-368-0613

What to do if you lose Medicaid coverage:

Have you lost your Medicaid Benefits or been told you are a Spend Down?

We can help with information on how to appeal.

We can help evaluate your situation and take steps to protect your benefits.

Is your insurance plan working for you or do you keep finding something isn't covered?

We can assist you in applying for Medicare Extra Help and the Michigan Medical Savings Program.

We will also determine if your current health coverage has changed, will expire, or has been cancelled.

If you are Medicare eligible, you may qualify for Medicare Advantage plans that include transportation and food subsidies.

Owen Ballow can help!



Owen Ballow is at Cares weekly and can be reached by phone at 734-368-0613

This service is available to anyone. Call today.

Services for Seniors...

Over half of elderly Americans who qualify for food stamps do not apply for them. If you know of someone who could use a little help refer them to:

www.mibridges.michigan.gov/access/ to apply for State Emergency Relief (SER), Bridge Card, TANF, Expanded Medicaid.

To find a list of services available to elderly residents of Oakland County go to:

Older Adults | Oakland County, MI (oakgov.com) There are a variety of health, education and recreation services available, including free cell phones for emergency use.

To find a list of services available to elderly residents of Wayne County go to:

https://thesenioralliance.org/programs/ Again, there are many programs available to assist elderly residents.

Tax assistance for older persons:

A variety of free and low cost tax assistance for senior citizens is available at the following sites:

Costick Center in Farmington Hills: Call 248-473-1851. Must be resident of Farmington or Farmington Hills

Livonia Senior Center: Hours Mon-Fri 8:30 AM-9:00 PM; Sat 9:00 AM-4:00 PM

Phone: 734-421-6050

Southfield Senior Center will begin taking appointments on January 16. Call 248-796-4650 for details.

Redford Senior Center: Call 313-387-2784 Mon-Fri 8:30AM-4:30 PM

Find free or reduced-cost resources like food, housing, financial assistance, health care, and more.

Help starts here: findhelp.org



If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, chat with them online via their website, or text HOME to 741741 (multiple languages available). If this is an emergency, call 911.

How are we doing?

Are you a CARES supporter? A regular reader of the CARES Newsletter? Tell us how we can improve. What do you want to know?

Respond at: 

CARES...IT'S WHAT WE DO!

CARES in Farmington Hills | WWW.caresfh.org

Newsletter Volunteer Staff:

Cheryl Willette