Fall 2021 Newsletter Annual Dinner: Picnic

Special Points of

Interest:

Our 2021 Annual Dinner was a success! We are grateful to the committee members who worked so hard to pull the event together and to every one of the attendees.

This year, we tried a variety of new things to ignite that fundraising fire. The biggest change was having a family picnic. We weren’t going to let COVID keep us from having fun together!

When the day finally came, we were pleasantly surprised with nice weather and many smiling faces.

We couldn’t have done this without you!

… More on page 4.

Volume 38, Issue 2

FID Is Hiring!

We are looking for THREE Americorps VISTAs to join our team for the next year. What’s a VISTA, you ask? VISTA stands for Volunteers in Service to America. The program provides one-year, full-time employment opportunities with non-profit and government agencies for people (often recent college grads) who are looking for opportunities to explore career options.

FID has three positions starting in October: one person to support Circles, one person to assist with fundraising and communications, and one person to develop a new volunteer management system for us. If you know anyone who might be interested, have them give us a call at the office. 734-485-7658

Staff Updates 2

Circles and Transportation

Updates 3

Annual Dinner 4

Over The Edge 5

Appointments Only, Please

Please be aware and share with anyone you know who is considering donating furniture that FID is APPOINTMENT ONLY for furniture donations. This allows us to know what we have going in and out of the warehouse and that nothing is ruined by sitting outside over night.

We want to respect your donations and our clients time by only giving them things we ourselves would take. We would hate to see a lovely item be damaged by weather or unforeseen circumstances.

Friends In Deed Fall 2021 Newsletter Page 2

Andrew has finished serving as our VISTA after two

wonderful years of patience and laughter. Andrew was often the man behind the curtain. He helped the

transition when everything had to be online because of COVID, helped set up multiple databases to better

serve our donors and clients, and finished up his last couple of months by redesigning the website (check it

out if you haven't already!).

When he wasn’t lost in coding, he spent time as our Tech Wizard, Game Master,

and friend.

He was a volunteer before he

was a VISTA and plans on

volunteering in to the future.

Wave hello if you see him

during Over The Edge.

VISTA Andrew Green

Megan joined us last year after serving her first VISTA

year with the Mackinac Economic Alliance. After that program ended, Megan began looking for other VISTA

positions because she wanted to “help people rather than just improve a company’s

bottom line”.

She spent her time here focusing

on the Transportation Program,

events, and social media.

Megan brought a fresh

perspective to Friends In Deed along with her humor and

honesty.

She is now spending her time working and attending

classes at Washtenaw Community College.

We wish you all the best on your future endeavors!

VISTA Megan Rochlitz

Goodbye, Laurie Sternberg

The Beginning...

Laurie joined us on staff in 2013 after volunteering for several years on the Helpline. Laurie loved the Helpline and working with Friends In Deed. She especially liked being part of a supportive community that could help keep so many vulnerable neighbors afloat.

Laurie was promoted to the position of Director of Development and Communication in 2015. She

used her background in law and journalism to work on newsletters, events, and grants.

What Did She Do?

Laurie could be found at most committee meetings, every event, and in her office updating the website and many other FID communications pieces. She loved working with the VISTAs, Capstone Students, and volunteers.

What Is She Like?

If you were lucky enough to meet Laurie, and many were, then you would know that she is full of life and ready for almost anything. She would try to make everyone in the office feel included by finding games or movies to bond over.

Laurie would find any reason to bring Dom’s Donuts or Bill’s Hotdogs to the office.

What’s Next for Laurie

Laurie is figuring out her next adventure right now. But you can be sure it will include her beautiful grandson, Misha. And she will be spending time relaxing with her husband and two dogs. Good luck, Laurie! We miss you.

Sarah said:

Laurie’s passion for FID’s work and

the people we serve was amazing. She

is a big part of why we are the agency

we are now. We cannot thank her

enough for her many years of service

at FID.

What’s up with Circles?

Friends In Deed Fall 2021 Newsletter Page 3

Donate A Bicycle Today!

The Newest Portion Of The Transportation Program:

Friends In Deed knows that transportation can be a big obstacle for struggling households. With COVID still

raging on, low income individuals are struggling to get their groceries, find new and maintain jobs, and more.

In an effort to reach more people to improve their independence,

we have expanded our transportation program to include bikes!

For those who don't want or can't afford the financial burden of

vehicle ownership, please call us to see if we have an alternative

that works for you.

We have already given away two bikes and have a few ready

for distribution. If you have a bike that you would like to donate,

please call us at 734-484-4357.

Circles Launches Our THIRD Cohort!

On August 17, Circles held a “Launch”

ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments

of our THIRD group of Circle

Leaders. Seven amazing women completed

their economic empowerment program,

finishing up a nearly two-year commitment.

At The Beginning…

They started their journey in September of

2019, then worked through a 14-week

training program, and, finally, were

“Matched” with their Allies in February of

2020—just two weeks before COVID

shelter-in-place orders kept us all at home.

We shifted to zoom, and even though

many of our Leaders were parents who

had to home-school their kids, they stuck it

out and prospered!

Leader Updates

Melissa got several job promotions; Maya

completed college courses and is almost

finished with her bachelors from EMU;

Ylonda got full-time work AND was

accepted into graduate school at EMU;

Dera purchased a home; Tantinekka

purchased a manufactured home just a few

days after launch; Tanya started her

dream of creating her own podcast and

launched “Tanya’s Bazaar;” and Kiesha

earned her Certified Nursing Assistant

credential. All of this during a pandemic!

We have to hand it to them and their Allies

for all the care, commitment, and creativity

they found to help them not just survive, but

thrive.

Welcome… back!

We will be scheduling Alumni group

meetings soon and are in the midst of

recruiting for our fifth cohort, which will

start in January, 2022.

To find out more information, please email

Suzanne@Friendsindeedmi.org or call the

Circles line at (734) 340-9042.

Continued … Annual Dinner Picnic

Friends In Deed Fall 2021 Newsletter Page 4

This year’s Annual Dinner was a blast!

Not only did we get to spend an

evening at The Valley, but we got to

spend the day with friends and family.

The Valley allowed us

to keep that feeling of

having a nice night out,

but gave us a more

welcoming space for

children.

What Was New?

We wanted to find a balance that

allowed us to be in person while still

following COVID guidelines to ensure

the safety of staff and attendees. After

some back and forth, the committee

landed on a picnic!

Everyone could be outside, bring their

own blankets and chairs, and people

could choose how close they wanted to

be to others.

We also thought a picnic might be good

for the families who had to spend the

last year stuck inside the house.

We kept the silent

auction small this year

with a few picnic basket

ideas and a 5-course

gourmet meal donated

to us by Chef

Emmanuel Saintin and

Wine-Industry Veteran Elisa Weber-

Saintin. We dedicated our Fund the

Mission fundraiser to agency general

operations.

Day Of…

To fully lean in to the picnic experience,

the time was treated as more of a

guideline. People could

come and go much like an

open house between the

hours of 5pm-8pm. To our

surprise, many people

came for the entire time!

The adults could be found

trying their luck at the Wine Pull or

enjoying the catered food from Angel

Food Catering. The children were

preoccupied with running around the

large field and games in the children’s

tent.

Friends In Deed would like to give a big

thanks to the R.F.D. Boys for making

the night special. Their music filled the

barn and the field with tunes the whole

family could enjoy.

What You Accomplished!

The Annual Dinner raised a total of

$30,658!

We hope you were able

to join us, but if not this

year then hopefully the

next!

Did you want to give your

opinion on the event but

hadn’t had the chance? Email

Amtheyst@friendsindeedmi.org.

RAPPEL FOR A CAUSE! MANY FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE LIVING TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE!

Over The Edge

On Saturday, October 2nd, supporters of

Friends In Deed will go “over the edge” to

raise funds for the nonprofit. The “edgers”

will rappel 14 stories down the Graduate

Ann Arbor.

There’s still time…

If you are interested in rappelling, you can still

sign up! Register at

https://www.friendsindeedmi.org/

overtheedge/

In Partnership with

1196 Ecorse Rd.

Ypsilanti, MI 48198

DONATE ONLINE:

www.FriendsInDeedMI.org

Return service requested

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 365 Ann Arbor, MI.

Friends In Deed - Contact Information

1196 Ecorse Rd. Ypsilanti, MI 48198

www.FriendsInDeedMI.org

Administration Line

(734) 485-7658

Help Line (734) 484-4357

Monday-Friday 9:30-2:00

Furniture Line (734) 484-7607

Tuesday-Friday 9:30-12:30

Circles Line (734) 340-9042

Printing: Greater Michigan Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors Association, Inc.

Mailings: Claudia Larson

Content: Amtheyst Floyd

Newsletter Contributors

Did You Know … We are currently looking for someone to become the new Furniture Coordinator? Could it be you?

Do you have previous experience or an interested in helping people in need? Are you interested in or good at organization? Are you thinking about going back to work after getting the kids back to school? If so, the Furniture Coordinator position may be right for you. The position is 25-30 hours/week.

Contact Joye at 734-484-4357 or joye@friendsindeedmi.org

Think About It ...