Community Resource Center Inc

THE MISSION OF THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER (CRC) IS TO SERVE ALL INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES BY CONNECTING THEM TO RESOURCES THAT IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER (CRC) WAS FORMED IN 1987 WHEN A LARGE MANUFACTURING COMPANY IN MANCHESTER CLOSED, LEAVING MANY FAMILIES IN NEED. CRC WAS FOUNDED TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY SUDDEN UNEMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING FOOD, EMERGENCY FUNDING AND ASSISTANCE WITH JOB SEEKING. CRC CONTINUES TO ADDRESS THOSE BASIC NEEDS AND HAS EVOLVED TO ADD ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS THAT ENHANCE THE LIVES OF MANCHESTER AREA RESIDENTS. THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER PROVIDES SAFETY NET SERVICES TO RESIDENTS OF SOUTHWESTERN WASHTENAW COUNTY WHO ARE FACING FOOD AND FINANCIAL INSECURITY. CRC IS BEST KNOWN FOR ITS FOOD PANTRY, WHICH IS AN OPEN CHOICE MARKET WHERE INDIVIDUALS MAY SHOP FOR FREE IN PERSON OR PLACE AN ORDER FOR CURBSIDE PICKUP. WE ARE ALSO ABLE TO DELIVER FREE GROCERIES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNABLE TO GET TO THE FOOD PANTRY DUE TO MOBILITY

IN 2023, CRC'S FOOD PROGRAMS MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT BY SERVING 227 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS. THE FOOD PANTRY, A CORNERSTONE OF THESE INITIATIVES, WITNESSED 577 VISITS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SUPPORT TO 939 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS 427 HOUSEHOLDS. THERE WAS A 44% INCREASE IN FOOD PANTRY VISITS COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR. WOODEN NICKELS ASSISTED 39 HOUSEHOLDS BY GRANTING UP TO 40 PER MONTH FOR FIVE MONTHS TO SPEND AT THE MANCHESTER FARMERS MARKET, RESULTING IN 2440 BEING SPENT ON FRESH PRODUCE. THE GROCERY DELIVERY SERVICE FACILITATED 80 HOME DELIVERIES OF GROCERIES TO HOUSEHOLDS FACING MOBILITY OR TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES. 614 WEEKEND MEAL KITS WERE DISTRIBUTED, WITH 22 CHILDREN RECEIVING WEEKLY MEAL KITS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. EMERGENCY BAGS OF FOOD ARE STORED AT THE MANCHESTER DISTRICT LIBRARY.

IN 2023, CRC'S NON-FOOD PROGRAMS SERVED 106 UNIQUE HOUSEHOLDS. THE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) PROGRAM OFFERED THE "SCAN AND GO" PROGRAM TO INDIVIDUALS EARNING LESS THAN 60,000 ANNUALLY, ENABLING THEM TO HAVE THEIR TAXES COMPLETED LOCALLY FOR FREE. A TOTAL OF 57 PEOPLE UTILIZED THIS SERVICE AT CRC, RESULTING IN RETURNS TOTALING 95,500 IN REFUNDS. THROUGH EMERGENCY FUNDING CRC EXTENDED SUPPORT TO 17 HOUSEHOLDS, ADDRESSING CRITICAL NEEDS SUCH AS RENT, UTILITIES, AND TRANSPORTATION, WITH A TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF 6,177.38 IN EMERGENCY FUNDING FOR THE YEAR. THE MI BRIDGES NAVIGATION SERVICE DEMONSTRATED CRC'S COMMITMENT TO HOLISTIC SUPPORT, ASSISTING 32 CLIENTS IN APPLYING FOR OR RENEWING ESSENTIAL BENEFITS SUCH AS HEALTHCARE, FOOD ASSISTANCE, CHILDCARE, AND STATE EMERGENCY RELIEF.

IN 2023, CRC COORDINATED WITH MICHIGAN MEDICINE TO ORGANIZE ESSENTIAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY, HOSTING ONE FLU VACCINE CLINIC AND ONE COVID-19 VACCINE CLINIC. CRC DISTRIBUTED FREE FACE MASKS, COVID-19 TEST KITS, AND HAND SANITIZER TO INDIVIDUALS SEEKING THEM. OVER 100 PEOPLE BENEFITED FROM AT LEAST ONE OF THE VACCINATIONS. FURTHERMORE, CRC PARTNERED WITH CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES TO CONTRIBUTE TO COMMUNITY EDUCATION BY BRINGING A PRESENTATION ON ELDER ABUSE TO THE MANCHESTER AREA SENIOR CENTER. THIS OUTREACH NOT ONLY RAISED AWARENESS AND LED TO POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR SENIORS THROUGH REFERRALS TO VITAL OLDER ADULT SERVICES SUCH AS MMAP AND MEALS ON WHEELS.