Homer Food Distribution Grant From Albion-Homer United Way
Homer area residents will continue to receive extra food thanks to a grant from the Albion-Homer United Way.
The $1,200 grant is to support two food deliveries in January and two in February to those needing assistance in the Homer area. Twice-a-month food distributions to 175 households has been ongoing since June. Previously these deliveries received financial support from other agencies including CareWell Services Southwest and the Homer Area Community Foundation. Food is obtained at very low cost from the South Michigan Food Bank for local packaging and distribution.
The recent AHUW money will continue to provide food to residents without regard to age or financial status according to Homer Village Manager Art Kale. He said that the demand for supplemental food is greater due to the pandemic. Kale and other community volunteers including Gary Tompkins, 7th District County Commissioner have been delivering the food since June. Kale and Tompkins are both on the AHUW board.
The grant money came from the Emergency Relief Fund at the Albion-Homer United Way. This money was raised to provide grants for immediate needs during the COVID-19 ongoing outbreak. The communities were very generous in donating toward emergency relief earlier this year, AHUW Executive Director Marcia Starkey said, but funding for other grants is also vital to help sustain AHUW’s mission.
The mission of the AHUW is to provide “long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening” to help community members “live more whole lives-a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support family through retirement, and good health.”
AHUW has been able to financially support many programs to enhance the quality of life for community residents, Starkey stated. “In previous years during our annual fund drive Albion-Homer United Way has always been able to raise money for grants for these community services,” Starkey continued.
To support the AHUW goals individual donors and donations through business and industry are solicited during this on-going fundraising effort. Payroll deductions and one-time donations are sought as part of the annual campaign.
Starkey said the pandemic has affected fund raising for the annual campaign because many businesses and organizations are not functioning in-person to promote annual giving among employees.
Starkey also said there are four good reasons to donate to the Albion-Homer United Way including that donations fund Albion and Homer specific programs and that funding decisions are made locally. Donor lists are never shared with other agencies and payroll deductions make donating easier.
Donation forms have been sent to past and potential donors. Donations can be mailed to AHUW PO Box 55, Albion, MI 49224, made on-line at www.albionhomeruw.org/ or by contacting Starkey at 517-499-2563.
AHUW board members are Carolyn Amos, Donisha Brewer, Chris Burdette, David Diemert, Ryan Hopson, Art Kale, Patrick McLean, Isabell Nazar, Scott Salow, Pam Schuler, Gary Tompkins, Eddie Williams and Shane Williamson.
Homer Village Manager Art Kale pauses during his volunteer efforts to deliver food to Homer area residents. The twice-monthly food distributions will be funded in January and February by a recent grant from the Albion-Homer United Way.