Manchester CRC

Building a Stronger Community

Melissa Licavoli

CRC’s Partnership with Food Gatherers: Nourishing Our Community

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    We are proud to share the incredible impact of our partnership with Food Gatherers during fiscal year 2025. This collaboration has been instrumental in helping us serve families and individuals in our community.

    Through our partnership, CRC received 36,790 pounds of food valued at $62,595 – equivalent to over 36,000 meals for families in need. Nearly 30% of this food consisted of fresh and frozen produce, ensuring our neighbors have access to nutritious options. We served an average of 68 households each month, demonstrating the consistent demand for food assistance in our area.

Food Gatherers provided us with a diverse mix of products at no cost, including donated items, USDA food through the Emergency Food Assistance Program, and food purchased specifically for distribution. Additionally, we received 23 free deliveries valued at $2,736, making it easier to maintain our food pantry operations.

A highlight of our partnership is Food Gatherers’ Carrot Credit grant program, which provided CRC with $8,300 in purchasing grants. This funding allowed us to acquire an additional 7,582 pounds of food specifically tailored to our community’s needs. The Carrot Credit program gives us the flexibility to purchase items that complement the donated and USDA foods we receive, ensuring a well-rounded selection for our pantry clients.

CRC paid only $2,287 for food purchases from Food Gatherers – just 3.5% of the total $65,332 value of support we received. This makes our partnership an incredibly cost-effective way to serve our community.

This partnership enables CRC to focus our resources on other critical services while ensuring no one in our community goes hungry. We’re grateful for Food Gatherers’ commitment to fighting hunger where we live.

Sharing Hope with Tomorrow’s Leaders at Klager Elementary

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    On June 5th our team had the opportunity to participate in Community Leadership Day at Luther C. Klager Elementary School. The school invited community leaders to share how they contribute to making Manchester a stronger community.

    We set up our booth with other local leaders, such as the Manchester Mirror, Manchester Historical Society, Farmer’s Market committee, and first responders. Kindergarten through second-grade students rotated through the booths to learn about our work. Using colorful pictures and examples of relatable story books that are part of the school’s curriculum, like “Maddies Fridge”, we shared how our organization helps neighbors in need access essential resources.

The students were incredibly engaged, asking thoughtful questions like “What happens when someone doesn’t have enough food?” We were able to explain, in age-appropriate ways, how small acts of kindness—like donating food or helping someone find a resource—can make a big difference in our community.

What struck us most was how naturally these young learners understood the concept of helping others. Many shared their own ideas about how they could be leaders and help their neighbors.

Events like Community Leadership Day remind us why we do this work. By planting seeds of compassion and community service in young minds, we’re nurturing tomorrow’s leaders who will continue building a stronger, more connected Manchester.

We’re grateful to Klager Elementary for the invitation and look forward to seeing these bright young leaders grow in their commitment to serving others.

Free Caregiver Lunch & Learn: Building Foundations of Caregiving. *At the NEW Manchester Senior Center*

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Presented by Silver Club Memory Programs & the Alzheimer’s Association – Michigan Chapter

  •  Date: Thursday, October 30, 2025
  •  Time: 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
  •  Location: Manchester Senior Center, 912 City Road (Lower Level).

Are you a family caregiver looking for support and a well-deserved break? Are you a neighbor taking care of a neighbor or a friend taking care of a friend? Join us for an afternoon of connection, learning, and care.

What to Expect:

  •  Connect with other caregivers
  •  Learn about building strong caregiver techniques
  •  Gain valuable tools and resources
  • Onsite respite care available for your loved one
  • This lunch and learn event is free of charge, but space is limited!

RSVP by October 28 by calling 734-217-4557 or online at http://bit.ly/caregiver-pop-up

CRC Becomes a Dementia-Friendly Food Pantry

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We’re excited to announce that CRC is taking an important step forward by becoming a dementia-friendly food pantry. This initiative will help us better serve community members who may be living with dementia while creating a more welcoming environment for everyone.

What Does This Mean?

CRC volunteers will receive specialized training based on the Dementia Friends program, learning how to recognize and support individuals with memory challenges. Dementia affects more than just memory—it can impact communication, decision-making, and completing everyday tasks. By understanding these challenges, we can provide more compassionate and effective assistance.

How We’re Preparing

CRC volunteers will learn simple but powerful techniques, including:

  • Using clear, simple communication and speaking slowly
  • Being patient when someone asks the same question repeatedly
  • Offering choices rather than open-ended questions (“Would you like the red apples or green apples?” instead of “What kind of apples do you want?”)
  • Maintaining eye contact and treating everyone with dignity and respect
  • Understanding that confusion or frustration is part of the condition, not intentional behavior

Why This Matters

People with dementia and their caregivers are valuable members of our community who deserve support and understanding. By becoming dementia-friendly, we’re ensuring that everyone who visits our food pantry feels welcomed, respected, and able to access the resources they need with dignity.

Five Key Messages We’ll Remember:

  • Dementia is not a normal part of aging
  • It’s caused by brain diseases, most commonly Alzheimer’s
  • It affects more than just memory
  • People can have good quality of life with dementia
  • There’s more to the person than their condition

This training represents our commitment to serving all community members with compassion and understanding. Together, we’re building a more inclusive and supportive community for everyone.