Community Resource Center’s food pantry is located next to their office in the Nellie Ackerson building at 410 City Road.

submitted by Laura Seyfried, director

For nearly 29 years the Community Resource Center (CRC) has been serving individuals and families in need by offering effective programs that improve their lives, promote volunteerism, and enhance the welfare of the Manchester community. Ultimately, the goal of the CRC is to offer a hand up, not just a hand out. Along the way it is sometimes necessary to assist families and individuals by helping them get back on track through direct financial help, referrals to appropriate agencies, as well as access to food and technology. We strive to empower families and individuals by offering information and resources to help them help themselves. This ongoing work is funded by outside grants and contracts in combination with monetary and in-kind donations from individuals, churches and businesses.

The CRC is located in the Ackerson Building at 410 City Road, renting rooms from Manchester Community Schools. Our office is open select hours Monday – Friday and can be reached by calling 428- 7722. In late 2016, we welcomed two part-time staff to our organization; Carol Kahn, benefits enrollment and referral specialist, and Lesley Dearhammer, administrative assistant and volunteer coordinator. The addition of these roles has brought more opportunity to offer that “hand up” to those in need.

Our most notable direct service in the community is our food pantry. Staple goods are ordered and delivered twice monthly from Food Gatherers. Eligible shoppers may visit 2 times per month but it is not meant to be their only food source. A variety of fresh produce and frozen meat are usually available. Low salt, low sugar items are the norm. Baby food and nutritional supplements are also on hand. We also stock non-food items such as toilet paper, toothpaste, diapers and laundry detergent. Income and residency guidelines do apply for food pantry shopping and our administrative assistant, Lesley, is ready to help interested households with the CRC’s simple application process.

Another direct service is benefits enrollment application assistance. Our enrollment specialist, Carol, is onsite Tuesdays and Wednesdays to help navigate the online MIBridges application process for SNAP, Medicaid, and other state and federally-based public assistance programs. Appointments are not necessary but are recommended. Emergency financial assistance to avoid utility shut-off and eviction prevention may be available in specific circumstances, as well as direct application assistance for other county and state heating fund programs.

One of our seasonal services is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. Since early February our dedicated volunteers have helped over 20 income-qualified households get their 2016 income taxes filed for free through our partnership with the United Way of Washtenaw County. A few appointments are still available before the filing deadline. Call the CRC office for more information.

The CRC also hosts staff from county-wide agencies who bring their “office” to Manchester each month to meet with clients by appointment. Mike from Michigan Works! South East is onsite the second Wednesday; the WIC (Women, Infants & Children) nutrition program is here the third Thursday; and Meredith from Washtenaw Health Plan is here to troubleshoot Medicaid issues on the second Tuesday.

Other agencies will also meet clients here at the CRC by appointment too. CRC staff can help you schedule appointments with any of the agencies we host at our site.

One of our more recent partnerships is with St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea’s behavioral health navigator, Kathy. She is in Manchester on Tuesdays each week and is available for individual conversations as well as group talks. Her role here is to better understand the behavioral health needs in our community and to help find appropriate counseling services for those requesting it.

Another seasonal partnership is the Winter Mobile Farmers Market. The market manager brings pre-ordered baskets of farmers market goodies to our food pantry location for easy Manchester area pick up.

Of course, our services are not limited to just those mentioned above. The CRC can connect people with resources for financial education, literacy, baby baskets for new families, older adult concerns, vision and hearing needs, technology use, job postings and more. It is only a phone call away.

Currently, the CRC engages nearly twenty-five regular volunteers in addition to staff. This includes nine food pantry volunteers, three office volunteers, twelve volunteer board members, as well as a number of special event and substitute food pantry volunteers throughout the year. These dedicated volunteers help us fulfill our mission every single day.

If you need assistance, or if you want to learn more about how you can join us in offering our neighbors a hand up, please contact the Community Resource Center. We are waiting for your call.

CRC director Laura Seyfried (center, holding award) accepting the Michigan Harvest Gathering Beacon of Light Award from the Food Bank Council of Michigan in November of 2015. On hand with her to receive the award were CRC Board President Anita Herman (center, holding certificate), longtime volunteer Louise Harrington (on right), and Food Gatherers Manager of Community Food Programs Markell Miller (on left). Photo courtesy of Food Gatherers.