United Way Sustaining Grants 2022-24 Impact Stories
As we get ready to head into a new Sustaining Grant (2-year funding) period, let’s take a look at how United Way dollars from our last funding cycle are making a difference in the community. Over $200,000 in funding was provided to non-profit organizations across Gratiot & Isabella Counties. Funding started in September 2022 and will wrap-up at the end of June 2024.
Our non-profit partner agencies are addressing our community’s most pressing needs and together we are working to improve the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our communities. We are excited to share these stories of success with you as shining examples of the impact we can make when we #LiveUnited.
If your organization is interested in applying for a Sustaining Grant, please submit an intent to apply by April 15, 2024 at www.uwgic.org/sustaining-grant-apply.
1) Listening Ear Crisis Center: Runaway & Homeless Youth Program
Funded Amount: $11,600
Listening Ear’s Runaway & Homeless Youth Program (RHYP) focuses on positive family relationships, educational success, service learning, and recreation that build protective factors for life, while connecting youth to caring adults. Last year, 98% of youth in the program stayed in school or graduated with program support.
What is the program? Listening Ear’s Runaway & Homeless Youth Program (RHYP) provides a stabilized living environment for youth ages 12-17 who have run away from home, are homeless or at risk of being homeless, or have been removed from home by their families. RHYP provides youth with wrap-around care, offering crisis intervention, case management, counseling, positive youth development opportunities, emergency shelter, and support for educational goals along with medical care, clothing, and transportation.
Impact Story: The Runaway & Homeless Youth Program at Listening Ear Crisis Center provides trauma-informed care to homeless and runaway youth, focusing on positive family relationships, educational success, service learning, and recreation that build protective factors for life, while connecting youth to caring adults. United Way’s Community Investment grant is there to provide resources for this life-changing work. For Julie (name changed for confidentiality), working with RHYP meant getting into stable housing and staying sober when she otherwise wouldn’t have.
Living in a friend's camper, Julie was referred to Listening Ear through school, but was hesitant to participate. Slowly, RHYP staff worked to build trust and rapport with Julie, starting with making a set of goals and following up with weekly check-ins. At each meeting, Julie would open up a bit more, asking more questions about RHYP programs and continuing to show progress toward her goals (like focusing on school, staying sober, and saving money). Working with RHYP, she obtained important personal documents, completed job applications, researched apartments, and got a Bridge Card. RHYP supports helped Julie transition from living in a friend’s camper to their Independent and Transitional Living Programs to working with a case worker to find her own permanent housing. Julie is a testament to how Listening Ear’s Runaway & Homeless Youth Program is helping youth in Isabella County build a successful life.
2) Listening Ear Crisis Center: Transitional Living Program
Funded Amount: $8,400
Listening Ear’s Transitional Living Program (TLP) helps youth transition from homelessness to living independently by succeeding in school, work, and life, while becoming self-sufficient and engaged in their communities. With support from TLP, last year 100% of youth in the program continued their education, graduated or met employment goals.
What is the program? Listening Ear’s Transitional Living Program (TLP) provides youth development, mentoring, financial stability, and basic needs support to the most vulnerable youth population - our homeless youth. TLP is designed to build a trusting relationship with youth who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness from ages 16-21 who are unable to return to family homes. The program offers crisis intervention, case management, counseling, residential support, positive youth development, life skills training, job development, educational support, along with support services such as clothing, medical care, prenatal support, and transportation for up to 18 months. The primary goal is to help youth transition from homelessness to living independently by succeeding in school, work, and life, while becoming self-sufficient and engaged in their communities.
Impact Story: Homeless youth are often the most troubled youth in our schools and community, due to years of complex trauma from abuse, neglect, family conflict, and parental substance abuse. Homeless youth are at greater risk of continued abuse, suicide, and sexual exploitation. Listening Ear’s Transitional Living Program (TLP) serves our most vulnerable youth by helping them gain stable housing, employment, educational support, medical care, healthy lifestyles, and a pathway to college.
For Brian (name changed for confidentiality), a homeless youth from Isabella County, TLP provided a path to independent living. Brian entered into staff monitored apartments to build necessary skills for long-term self-sufficiency. He became employed within the first few months of being in the program, and was able to save enough money to be able to secure his own housing. Brian is now in his own apartment, able to pay his bills independently, and continues to work on increasing his activities of daily living towards long-term self-sufficiency. Like Brian, 100% of youth last year continued their education, graduated or met employment goals through support from Listening Ear’s Transitional Living Program.
3) DOLLY PARTON’S Imagination Library
Funded Amount: $30,000
Children enrolled in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library have a richer home literacy environment, no matter their family’s income. Research on the Imagination Library program shows promise in promoting changes in home literacy environments, children’s attitudes toward reading, and early literacy skills. Through a partnership with the Gratiot-Isabella RESD, in 2023, over 2,400 children ages birth to 5 years and their families are benefitting from this early literacy initiative in Gratiot & Isabella Counties!
What is the program? Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income. Books are selected by parents, educators, child development specialists, librarians, publishers, and others specializing in early childhood literacy and sent out by Imagination Library.
Impact Story: For families in Gratiot & Isabella Counties, the Gratiot-Isabella RESD is working to give every young child a great start in school and life by providing access to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL). Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income. In fact, immersing a child in a literacy-rich environment from birth can be a stronger predictor of literacy and academic achievement than family income. In 2023, over 2,400 children ages birth to 5 years and their families are benefitting from this early literacy initiative in Gratiot & Isabella Counties!
Research shows that Imagination Library is extremely popular in communities where it’s implemented, and we agree! One local family shared this testimonial: “All three of our children have had the opportunity to participate in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Since birth, we have thoroughly enjoyed the time spent reading our monthly books with all our children. The hours spent together as a family, cuddled in a chair, introducing our children to the world of literacy, has provided countless memories that we will treasure for a lifetime. As our children have gotten older, their love of reading books has only increased. Our nightly routine always includes family time reading. My heart explodes with pure joy to watch the excitement on their faces, as they open the mailbox to discover their monthly DPIL book. Thank you Dolly Parton for providing such a wonderful experience for our family.”
The current cost for each child enrolled is about $26.00 a year, which covers the expense of all of the books as well as the postage charges. Want to make a difference in the lives of local families by supporting programs like Imagination Library? Make your gift today at www.uwgic.org.
4) Child Advocacy-Gratiot County: Protect Yourself Program
Funded Amount: $30,000
Over 820 Gratiot County youth have received prevention education to protect against child sexual abuse through Child Advocacy’s Protect Yourself Program.
What is the program? Child Advocacy of Gratiot County’s Protect Yourself Program provides all 1st and 3rd grade classrooms in Gratiot County with a series of five lessons focused on body safety, boundaries, and how to identify support and tell when needed. Educating our young community members and their families on these topics is critical to preventing child sexual abuse.
Impact Story: Through the Protect Yourself program, Child Advocacy of Gratiot County partners with Gratiout County Public Schools to provide 1st and 3rd grade students education aimed at preventing child sexual abuse. The Protect Yourself program is a series of five safety lessons that teach children how to recognize and respond to abductions and abusive situations. Topics include: Personal Safety, Recognizing Feelings, Recognizing Tricks and Lures, Protecting Our Own Bodies, and Identifying Support and Telling.
While educating children on body safety, boundaries, and identifying support is critical to preventing sexual abuse, adults also need this education to complete the full prevention circle. The Protect Yourself program provides parents and caregivers with resources to help keep their children safe and continue the conversation. Parents and caregivers are notified before Child Advocacy’s CAN Prevention Educator visits each school, and Parent Pages are sent home with children after each lesson. Parents are invited to attend Protect Yourself Parent Nights that are offered throughout the year, which go over the lessons in detail and provide ways to further discussions at home. Teachers are also provided with a resource packet on mandated reporting and responding responsibly to disclosures of abuse.
One third grade teacher from Hillcrest Elementary (Alma) sums up the impact of this program, saying, “This is a very important program with life skills that are absolutely necessary for the kids to stay safe.” To date, over 820 Gratiot County children have received Protect Yourself education.
5) Isabella Community Soup Kitchen
Funded Amount: $20,000
The Isabella Community Soup Kitchen is serving up more than just meals 5 days a week! Thanks to support from a United Way sustaining grant, staff and volunteers are building a community where guests are connected with needed resources, such as housing, health insurance, and transportation.
What is the program? The Isabella Community Soup Kitchen exists to share free meals in a warm, safe environment where all are welcome, and thanks to a sustainability grant from United Way, they’ve been able to continue serving meals 5 days a week, including serving more guests who would not have otherwise been able to join them for a meal. The Isabella Community Soup Kitchen serves about 2,500+ meals each month!
Impact Story: The Isabella Community Soup Kitchen exists to share free meals in a warm, safe environment where all are welcome, and thanks to a sustainability grant from United Way, they’ve been able to continue serving meals 5 days a week, including serving more guests who would not have otherwise been able to join them for a meal. Sara Schafer, former director of the soup kitchen, shared that the shelter was able to begin delivering meals to the Rise Advocacy Domestic Violence Shelter for the individuals and families staying there.
Sara also highlighted the COMMUNITY taking place at the soup kitchen, especially since reopening after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sara shared, “Guests have returned to dining indoors with us, gathering with friends in our safe space, and utilizing the many resources we are able to provide when we get to know individuals’ stories because they are here every day.” She added, “One example of this is an elderly gentleman everyone has grown to know and love. He was homeless and experiencing some serious medical issues when we first met him. My staff has not only provided breakfast and lunch for him over the last year, but because we have the ability to connect with our guests in person 5 days a week we have been able to get him health insurance, a primary care physician, bus passes, and an apartment that is paid for through 2 years with the help of EightCAP. These are the types of additional services the soup kitchen can provide when we have funding from grants like the sustainability grant from United Way.”
6) Mid-Michigan Big Brothers Big Sisters
Funded Amount: $10,000
Mid-Michigan Big Brothers Big Sisters is unlocking the potential of Gratiot County youth by building strategic community partnerships to create intentional mentorship opportunities for children ages 5-18.
What is the program? Big Brothers Big Sisters believes that in every child is incredible potential. As the nation’s largest donor- and volunteer-supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers ("Bigs") and children ("Littles"), ages 5 through young adulthood in communities across the country. In our backyard, Mid-Michigan Big Brothers Big Sisters serves seven rural counties, including Gratiot County.
Impact Story: Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) seeks to change the lives of children facing adversity through their mission to “create and support one to one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth." Though, as many non-profit organizations know, recruiting, training, and retaining volunteers can be challenging.
In Gratiot County, Mid-Michigan Big Brothers Big Sisters is maximizing community partnerships to connect “Littles” with “Bigs.” By partnering with Alma College, Alma Public Schools, and His Place Family Enrichment Center for site-based mentoring programs. Dan Manly, former executive director of Mid-Michigan BBBS highlights how site-based mentorship relationships often continue on outside of the program (becoming “community-based”), “One of the site based matches that was created through the collaboration with His Kids Afterschool Program has already decided to convert to a Community Based match. The volunteer is a student at Alma College and has really gotten attached to her little. They have been meeting at His Kids, but also outside that program. The little is excited to see her big and has had [the] opportunity to experience some things that she more than likely would never have experienced. The big has taken her little to different events at Alma College and it has had a huge impact on the little. The big has also been impacted by this match. She has said that she never had a younger sibling and that having been matched with her little has really helped her appreciate and understand the influence she has on someone.”
Mid-Michigan Big Brothers Big Sisters’ biggest challenge is the need for more volunteers. If you would like to learn more about supporting youth by being a Big, visit: www.bbbsmitten.org.
7) Gratiot County Hope House: Peer Support Case Management
Funded Amount: $8,000
“Every guest who comes into shelter is positively impacted, in some manner, by this grant funding.” From October 2022 to present, Gratiot County Hope House has served 74 individuals in need. Support from United Way helps make sure Hope House has the resources to lighten the heavy load their guests carry.
What is the program? Gratiot County Hope House’s mission is to meet the temporary housing needs of Gratiot County with compassion, grace, and hope. They strive to be a safe place where those who find themselves in need of housing can find refuge and solace as they work to navigate their situation. Through peer support case management, Hope House prepares guests for the process of securing housing.
Impact Story: Gratiot County Hope House provides more than just a safe bed for those experiencing homelessness. They desire to ensure that each guest will experience true compassion, deep grace, and profound hope. Through peer support case management, Hope House is making that vision a reality by meeting the unique needs of each guest. Staff at Hope House work to remove barriers as guests navigate the path to suitable housing, a process that can often take several months. United Way’s sustaining grant helps remove some of these barriers by providing the resources needed to cover the costs and fees related to transportation, obtaining vital documents, and submitting applications.
From October 2022 to present, Gratiot County Hope House served 74 individuals. For two guests, support from Hope House meant securing housing after years of instability, homelessness, and hopelessness. Jake Gregory, shelter co-director, shared that they were able to successfully house the couple through the EightCAP rapid rehousing program with a long-term voucher on the horizon for them. “We used our United Way grant to obtain copies of vital documents and pay for housing applications for this couple. Our United Way grant helped us to successfully house this couple.” Through community collaboration, compassionate care, and hard work, Gratiot County Hope House demonstrates how great things happen when we Live United.
8) Gratiot Emergency Housing Corporation: Preventing Homelessness
Funded Amount: $20,000
Gratiot Emergency Housing Corporation remains focused as an agency providing nimble aid for Gratiot residents. Case workers stay very connected to local agencies with personal relationships that can often band together for immediate aid.
What is the program? Gratiot Emergency Housing Corporation (GEHC) exists to help residents of Gratiot County meet a sudden or unexpected home expense after other sources of funding have been exhausted. As the agency of “last resort”, their clients are referred to GEHC, or have exhausted their options at agencies such as DHHS, Eight CAP, Inc. and The Salvation Army.
Impact Story: Founded in 1969 to assist several families displaced by a fire, Gratiot Emergency Housing Corporation (GEHC) has continued to provide emergency housing assistance to Gratiot County families for over 50 years. As an agency of “last resort”, clients are referred to GEHC, or have exhausted their options at agencies such as DHHS, EightCAP, and The Salvation Army. GEHC volunteers invest their time and energy into building relationships with the clients they serve.
In 2023, the agency reestablished a volunteer “call back” committee, to check in with clients 3-6 months after aid was initially provided, in order to offer continued guidance and attention. Through this call back program, volunteers have maintained positive connections with assisted households, sharing that “approximately 65% of clients receiving funds were still in their homes and at their listed phone number!” Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, that number had been below 35%. The agency attributes this improvement to the screening and involvement volunteers have throughout the GEHC funding process.
In just the first half of 2023, Gratiot Emergency Housing Corporation helped 22 families remain secure in their housing, distributing $9,459.35 for a 6 month period! Executive Director, Mona Hirson, hopes that the aid her agency provides does than pay the bills for a short time, but that it provides a foundation for self-sustainability and stability. GEHC volunteers are committed to making connections to keep Gratiot County families in their homes. Mona shared, “GEHC has been very integral in coordinating funds from multiple agencies to assist immediate housing needs. One example is a single Mom with four children who was abandoned by her husband and left with bills to pay and no income as expected. With The Salvation Army and 8 Cap we were able to keep her in her home and arrange desperately needed assistance for her and the children!”
9) The Care Store
Funded Amount: $15,000
“With the grant funding provided by UWGIC, we are able to make sure we never have a bare shelf.” Funding from United Way helps The Care Store serve over 600 families, by making sure families have access to the most needed items, amidst rising costs and increasing community need.
What is the program? The Care Store provides essential personal and household items to people in need with care and kindness, reducing the impact of poverty by helping people and helping homes.
Impact Story: The Care Store (TCS) is working to reduce the impact of poverty by providing personal and household care items not eligible for retail purchase with a Bridge Card to individuals in need. These individuals are referred to The Care Store by local human service agencies, who provide households with “Care Bucks,” the currency at TCS. The number of Care Bucks each individual receives is determined by need and the number of members of their household.
A single mom shopping at The Care Store shared that with two teenage daughters, the cost of feminine hygiene products were one of the most costly items needed for their household. Being able to get these products, as well as the other hygiene products they need, from The Care Store helps her make it through the stress of paycheck to paycheck.
Store executive director, Julia Eigenbrood highlights the store's biggest challenge – inflation. “Our biggest challenge at this point is the inflated cost of the products we need to purchase. In years past, we have been able to stretch our dollars, but they do not stretch as far right now. We continue to buy quality items in bulk and seek out the best prices.” United Way funding has been used to directly purchase household and cleaning products to put on the shelves of TCS and into the hands of our community members in need. The Care Store reported that items purchased with United Way funding have served over 600 families!
10) West Midland Family Center: Born to Thrive
Funded Amount: $15,000
Helping each community member TODAY to reach their full potential TOMORROW.
What is the program? Born to Thrive is the umbrella program name over a network of services West Midland Family Center (WMFC/the Center) has applied at The Shepherd Community Preschool - located at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Shepherd. This preschool is a Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) which is Michigan's state-funded preschool program for four-year-old children with factors which may place them at risk of educational failure.
Impact Story: The Mission of the West Midland Family Center is to enhance the quality of life for each generation by providing growth and achievement opportunities within a caring environment. At The Shepherd Community Preschool, a Great Start Readiness Program, Family Services staff from the West Midland Family Center (WMFC) are helping students thrive by providing families with wrap-around care.
With help from United Way of Gratiot & Isabella Counties, parents have access to assistance they otherwise would not receive. Born to Thrive serves the at-risk families of children enrolled in the Shepherd GSRP. Through Born to Thrive, enrolled students and their families receive assistance with tangible items, such as family nutritional assistance, housing or rental assistance, payments toward electric or other utility bills, eviction notices as well as emotional need fulfillment.
By scaffolding family support services, this program prepares parents to positively nurture their child’s upbringing, thereby setting children on a steady course toward age-appropriate, physical, emotional and educational development. Over the past school year, 36 children and their families (around 115 people total), have been impacted.
11) Habitat for Humanity of Isabella County: “A Brush with Kindness” Ramp Program
Funded Amount: $13,000
Funding from United Way of Gratiot & Isabella Counties helps Habitat for Humanity ensure families have accessible homes to live a healthy lifestyle.
What is the program? The “A Brush with Kindness (ABWK)” Program is an exterior Home Preservation program that provides painting, landscaping, and minor repair. ABWK helps low -income homeowners impacted by age, disability, and family circumstances, who struggle to maintain the exterior of their home with pride and dignity. Eligible homeowners receive this help so that they can continue to live in their homes for years to come. Part of the ABWK program is providing ramps to families in need to improve accessibility. Through this program, homes that were once not accessible for families will now be accessible.
Impact Story: At United Way of Gratiot & Isabella Counties, we envision a strong community where everyone achieves their potential through quality education, financial stability, and healthy lifestyles. That’s why we are proud to partner with Habitat for Humanity of Isabella County to support their A Brush With Kindness ramp program, which provides ramps to families in need to improve accessibility. A home that is maintained and accessible is crucial to the health of a family.
Through a community investment grant, Habitat for Humanity of Isabella County was able to provide funding to install metal ADA accessible ramps for two homes in Isabella County. Low income families in need of a ramp can apply for free to the program. After a completed application is submitted and eligibility is determined, a home visit is conducted to go over the program and take pictures of the area where the requested ramp would be placed. Then, Habitat works with Amramp for installation.
For one Isabella County family, getting a ramp didn’t just make their home more accessible, it meant gaining access to needed medical equipment. Kim Friedrich, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Isabella County, shared, “One of the families was in need of a motorized wheelchair, although the wheelchair company would not deliver it to her home without a ramp. She contacted Habitat and we were able to provide a ramp and now her motorized wheelchair can be delivered.”
12) Isabella County Child Advocacy Center: Prevention Education Programs
Funded Amount: $20,000
There are approximately 7,300 students in Isabella County Schools. If these lessons were taught in first, third, seventh, and ninth grades, we would reach approximately 2,400 students each year!
What is the program? The Isabella County Child Advocacy Center (ICCAC) is working to create a community free of childhood sexual and physical abuse and neglect. Under their umbrella of services, ICCAC provides several prevention education programs that teach children and adults how to recognize and respond to harmful situations. Programs include Protect Yourself, Safer Smarter Teens, Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children, and more!
Impact Story: United Way knows that effective prevention strategies reduce risk factors and build protective factors vital to helping families thrive by preventing child abuse and neglect and family separation. That’s why we are proud to invest in Isabella County Child Advocacy Center (ICCAC) prevention education programs to increase the number of students and families receiving quality education to prevent child abuse.
Under their umbrella of services, ICCAC provides several prevention education programs that teach children and adults how to recognize and respond to harmful situations. Seeking to ensure children are equipped with the tools and knowledge to protect themselves at all ages, ICCAC sought funding to implement Safer Smarter Teens curriculum - a school-based program designed for 7th & 9th grade students, in addition to their Protect Yourself Program, which is designed for 1st and 3rd grade students. With funding from United Way of Gratiot & Isabella Counties, the ICCAC team was able to purchase program materials and certify staff. Now, Safer Smarter Teens lessons, teaching children how to recognize and respond to abduction and abusive situations, are implemented in middle and high schools throughout Isabella County.
View all of ICCAC’s prevention education programs on their website at: www.isabellacac.org/prevention-education-programs.
13) Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay Region
Funded Amount: $11,000
“Year-to-date, we have made great progress towards [our] goal by matching 21 at-risk youth with positive adult roles models. Our mentors are hard at work planting the seeds of success in the minds of our mentees.” - Scott Litle, Executive Director.
What is the program? Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay Region provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever. For more than 60 years, the organization has been Isabella County’s premier mentoring organization, defending the potential of future leaders in the community by matching at-risk youth (Littles) with committed adult mentors (Bigs). These relationships – strategically matched based on Littles’ needs and Bigs’ backgrounds and skills, as well as common interests, aspirations, and personalities – empower Littles to achieve success in life and become productive members of the community.
Impact Story: All youth have the ability to do BIG things. That is why Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay Region ignites the potential within each and every child and advocates for them to explore the endless possibilities of what they can accomplish, just as United Way of Gratiot & Isabella Counties envisions a strong community where everyone achieves their potential.
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) is addressing community need by supporting youth development & mentoring through their community-based mentoring program. Although they, like many, are still dealing with COVID-19 and the post-pandemic hardships, BBBS mentors are passionate as ever to change the trajectory of their Little. They have been focusing on mental health, self-esteem, DEI, college/career readiness and a plan for their future. Having a supportive, positive adult role model is the force needed to change the trajectory of a child’s life for the better.
Scott Litle, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay Region, shares how intentional mentorship can change a life by sharing the story of Little Sister Leah and her Big Sister Lauren, who have been matched for over four years. “When Leah was 9 years old, and a student at Mary McGuire Elementary, she was matched with Lauren in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Teaming Up With Youth after school program. They were such a good fit that when Leah was old enough to go to Mount Pleasant Middle School, they transitioned to a community based match so they could continue their mentoring relationship. In the four years Leah and Lauren have been matched, Leah has made significant progress toward her goals in life. She struggled a lot in school, particularly when it came to bullying and relationships with classmates. Since being matched, Leah’s teachers say she’s been able to handle difficult situations with classmates a lot more maturely than she used to. Lauren says she’s noticed that Leah has become a lot more outgoing, and her grades have improved as well. Leah is now in 7th grade. Middle School is a tough time in any child’s life, but Leah is handling it well. She is proud of the progress she’s made, and looks forward to the challenges ahead in high school. She hopes to continue getting good grades, and building friendships with her classmates, knowing Lauren is there to help her tackle challenges along the way.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay Region’s biggest challenge is the need for more volunteers. If you would like to learn more about supporting youth by being a Big, visit: bbbsgreatlakesbay.org/be-a-big/.