Manchester CRC

Building a Stronger Community

Carol Wotring

2023 Annual Appeal Message from the Executive Director

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“Food prices are crazy. I don’t know how I would have made it without CRC”.

This was a recent comment to me by a CRC client, who began shopping in the CRC food pantry in April. She went on to say “the relief of shopping at CRC to supplement my food budget has been extremely beneficial to me. We don’t have money for extras, but at least we have enough food”.

The summer of 2023 was difficult for many of our neighbors in the Manchester Community.  CRC saw a dramatic increase in food pantry visits and in requests for emergency funding for basic needs.

To highlight:

  • Overall food pantry visits were up, a 58% increase over the same period in 2022.
  • Food pantry visits by township residents were up 70%.
  • More direct financial assistance was provided in the summer of 2023 than in all of 2022 ($2181 in May– Aug. 2023; $1525 in 2022)

And thanks to the generosity of the Manchester Community, CRC has been able to meet all these needs.

Needs like:

The Manchester family with an unexpected car repair bill. Their choice was to fix the car
used for work or to pay the rent. CRC was able to provide emergency funding for the rent
and the family was able to fix their car. “This really helped us during a difficult situation. It
is very good to know that we have the CRC, if the need arises”.

And:

The large Manchester Village family who had been relying on free food from the State
during the pandemic. When this ended, they struggled to buy food. They learned about
CRC from a school social worker, and began receiving Weekend Kids Meals and shopping
in the food pantry. The client said that receiving these services “gave us the ability to not
go further into debt”. She also noted, “the staff and volunteers at CRC are so welcoming. I
don’t feel judged. They have big hearts and are willing to listen”.

CRC is the safety net for many families in the Manchester Community.

Would you be willing to make a special year-end contribution to maintain this safety net?

To donate, just click the “DONATE” button on the home page.

Checks can be made payable to “Manchester Community Resource Center” and can be mailed to:

Community Resource Center
710 E Main St
P.O. Box 433
Manchester, MI 48158

With your support, we can continue to impact our community in a lasting way.

Sincerely,

Carol

Executive Director

Horning Farms Food Pantry Face Off

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Horning Farm

During the month of December 2023, Horning Farms is sponsoring a fun, friendly competition that will donate their ground beef to local food pantries.  The Community Resource Center is one of 5 local organizations chosen to participate.  To support CRC, use this link .https://www.horning-family-farms.com/…/ground-beef…
Each $5 will donate 1 lb. of ground beef to CRC. At the end of the competition (12/31/20).  Horning’s Farm Shop will do a one to one donation match for the organization with the highest amount of ground beef donations.  Let the games begin!!

2023 Wooden Nickels Program Is Coming To An End

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Summer is ending and so is the 2023 Manchester Farmers Market.  The last day for the Market will be Thursday September 28.  CRC clients may still receive Wooden Nickels through September 28, but they must be used by the close of Market on September 28.  If you have Wooden Nickels after September 28, we kindly ask that you turn these in to CRC so that they can be used for next year’s Wooden Nickel program.

A new school year – it must time for Weekend Kids Meals!

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Once again, CRC is offering weekend meal kits for Manchester Community School students who are facing food insecurity when not in school.  These healthy meal kits contain 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 snacks, that students consume on the weekend.  The MCS social worker identifies the child in need and distributes the kits.  CRC volunteers pack the meal kits.  Please contact CRC for details.

100 Manchester Chicken Broil Meals Provided to the Community

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Thanks to a generous private donation, as well as, to a 2-year transition grant provided by the Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development, the Community Resource Center was able to offer a Meal Voucher Program for the 70th annual Chicken Broil.  100 tickets were distributed to 38 households in the Manchester area. This new program was met with much exuberance and gratitude by those who may not have been otherwise able to participate in this community event.  The Chicken Broil is one of the largest community events in Manchester and it is important that all our neighbors have access to an evening of social gathering and a hot, full meal.
The CRC would also like to thank the Chicken Broil Board and its volunteers for their dedication to this event and to the community that we all serve.

CRC Has Funds to Help with Basic Needs

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The United Way of Washtenaw County has awarded the Community Resource Center with a Consumers Energy Foundation Grant to help with the basic needs of Manchester Area residents who meet the ALICE profile.  ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed.  Grant funds must be used for basic needs, like rent/mortgage to prevent eviction, childcare, high speed internet connection, medical or transportation costs.  Due to IRS regulations, these funds may not be used for utility bill assistance, though if you are facing utility shut off, contact CRC as there may be other resources available.

To qualify for the Consumers Energy funds, you must live in Manchester or one of the four surrounding townships, you must have income 200% of the federal poverty level ($60,000 annually for a family of 4) and someone in your household must be employed.

Contact the Community Resource Center at 517-428-7722 or at info@manchestercrc.org for more information.  CRC hours are Monday – Thursday, 9:00am – 2:30pm.