Supporting our less fortunate friends and neighbors- Manchester Family Service
Food Gatherers is a major contributor of the food Manchester Family Service is able to distribute in our community.
The good news is the local Michigan economy seems to be improving. The not-so-good news is there is still a significant segment of Washtenaw County citizens who have not yet seen the benefits of this economic growth. The Manchester area is very lucky to have organizations that make it their mission to provide assistance to those in need. One of those organization is Manchester Family Service (MFS).
Although often conflated with the Manchester Community Resource Center, MFS has been assisting Manchester for almost two decades longer. It began in 1965 when a group of four business women established the organization to support local people who required assistance. MFS has continued to provide Manchester area citizens help for some 51 years. Today, Manchester Family Service is a 501(C)(3) non-profit group with a nine person board, an annual operating budget of about $30,000.
Mary Sue Moore, the MFS Chairperson, explained how it works, “We provide a variety of support to help those in need in and around Manchester. We have a monthly food distribution to more than 50 families. In addition, MFS also provides special benefits like backpacks for school age children with school needs as well as a major Christmas adopt-a-family program. Also, we have helped out with other assistance for families with special needs.”
On the third Wednesday of every month, local volunteers as well as high school National Honor Society students and sometimes Boy Scouts unpack, sort and create food bags, using donated food, food bought with monetary donations, as well as donated and delivered by Food Gathers of Washtenaw County. These bags, which can also contain personal care items and other goods, are then distributed to those who qualify and have signed up for support. During 2015, the MFS delivered 65,000 pounds of food to more than 160 people in the Manchester area.
More than just the monthly food distribution, MFS also help clients with other needs. In some cases MFS helps with clothing, medical needs, and more. MFS, through a generous donation from AMCOR, provides backpacks filled with supplies for the school age children of clients in the summer before the start of the school year. A major focus of the MFS is the collection of food, toys as well as focused gifts targeted for the needs of specific clients as Christmas support. The Christmas adopt-a-family program requires the most effort of all MFS programs, but is highly popular with contributors, providers and local families.
One client commented on the support the organization provides. “The monthly bags of food you provide lasts us more than a week and allows us to eat toward the end of the month when funds are low.” Another client commented,”The caring staff provides bags of food, meat, excellent fresh produce and even dog food–it is a blessing you are here!” Some clients find the support around the holiday’s most noteworthy, one stating, “When I come to MFS I get a sense of community as I live alone.” And another, “your holiday support is wonderful, without this help there would be no holiday for my family.”
Funding comes from many sources, including Washtenaw County United Way, the Manchester CROP Walk, Worth Repeating, and generous contributions by local businesses, churches, schools, and citizens. But more than money, it is a hardworking volunteer staff, good management of limited resources by the board, and cooperation that makes MFS a success.
MFS values the contributions of Manchester volunteers and support from the High School, Boy Scouts and church groups to assist in year round operations as well as help the significant Christmas Shop effort. Right now, it is specifically looking for volunteers to help with monthly and Christmastime food sorting and donations of toys, coats, boots, warm clothes, household good, blankets, sheets, kitchen items, etc. For information on how to support Manchester Family Service operations contact Board President Mary Sue Moore at 734 428-8687, or John Sahakian at 734 428-7183, or by mail at PO Box 471 Manchester, MI 48158, or by email at manchesterfamilyservice@gmail.com.
A previous year’s Manchester Family Service Christmas Shop preparing for clients.
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