CRC continues to help Manchester through rain, snow … and pandemic

The neatly lined shelves at the CRC Food Pantry are ready for clients to visit. Food Pantry visits are by appointment.

Challenges abound, but the challenges often tend to bring new opportunities with them, observes Laura Seyfried, Director at the Community Resource Center (CRC) in Manchester.

The CRC’s mission is to “serve individuals and families in need by offering effective programs that improve their lives, promote volunteerism, and enhance the welfare of the Manchester community.” By coordinating its programs with local and county-wide service and civic organizations, churches, government agencies, and others, the CRC partners to provide resources that can give “a hand up, not just a hand out” to Manchester residents.

But in the early spring, when COVID-19 started to manifest itself around Washtenaw County, some of those resources became harder to access, including the services of the CRC itself. The food pantry, the CRC office, and many other offices around the community and county that partner with the CRC were forced to close their doors temporarily due to the stay at home order and subsequent restrictions.

But that’s one of those challenges that became an opportunity for Seyfried and her part-time assistant, Lesley Dearhammer.

“We actually got a couple of extra grants early in the year due to COVID,” Seyfried explains. “The majority of what we receive is through Washtenaw Coordinated Grants, and luckily for us, those grants were extended for an additional year. That was very fortunate because with people not working or working from home, some of our other funding like United Way and even some County tax revenue sort of dried up.

“We had about an 8 percent decrease in our income … there were other agencies that were hit much harder than we were.”

The CRC Board determined early on that the annual Golf Outing (a joint venture with the Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce) would not be able to happen, and that is one more source of funding that couldn’t be counted on. However, in April Seyfried says they saw a huge increase in individual contributions to the CRC. “That was significant because it’s at a time when we normally don’t get much in the way of donations,” she said. “And then some additional COVID funding covered many of our basic expenses.” They aren’t sure yet, she added, whether those funds will need to be repaid.

“Basically, some things went away … and other opportunities appeared for us,” she says.

As things slowly began to open up, the CRC developed a new normal, like so many other organizations. The food pantry is available for scheduled pickups, by appointment. Families may visit the pantry twice per month and it is not expected to be their only food source. Other food help is available through the CRC’s “Wooden Nickel” program and MIBridges.

While many of the in-person activities at the CRC are currently on hold, there are many ways that they can offer services to the community. They can still do faxing and limited copying for individuals; counselors from the Behavioral Health Navigators through St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea and Washtenaw County Community Mental Health are available by phone; Financial Empowerment coaching is available by phone through Washtenaw County; referrals can still be made for Senior Nutrition/Meals on Wheels and WIC programs; tax preparation services will be available during tax season; emergency financial assistance for rent and housing needs or utilities; and more. These services are primarily available by phoning the CRC office at 734-428-7722 during their office hours, 9 am to 3 pm Monday-Thursday.

While the Village of Manchester recently ratified an annual contract to contribute $3,000 per year to the CRC to provide its services to residents, not all of the townships participate in the same way.

“I would love to see more community involvement with the townships,” Seyfried says. “Obviously the concentration of the population is in the village, so we serve many village residents. We also have a lot of township residents who come to us for help. I know there’s a feeling of ‘taking care of each other’ among the more rural populations, but in these times, it’s been harder to take care of your neighbor … it’s hard to be there for family when you’re concerned about your health or theirs … this is one of the ways the CRC can help the community look out for each other.”

Looking at the bigger picture, Seyfried hopes to be able to partner more with other agencies around the county in the future. “We’ve really opened a lot of doors recently,” she said. “We worked with County Commissioner Shannon Beeman to get the COVID testing events and (postponed) flu shot clinic to Manchester; we have PPE and masks available to those who need them; we can also provide paper and cleaning products.”

Seyfried says the CRC doesn’t plan on opening its doors this calendar year. Of course, this means that their annual fund-raising banquet, normally planned for early November, will not happen this year. Since this is a major donation event for the CRC, Seyfried and the Board hope that the community will once again come through at this crucial time of year. “There are times when I feel we are just waiting for the other shoe to drop,” she says. “But then, something else happens and we find a new opportunity awaiting us.

“We are just going to try and make the community better with what we have.”

The Community Resource Center is located at Riverside Intermediate School, 710 E. Main Street, with a private entrance on the east side of the building. Office hours are 9 am to 3 pm Monday-Thursday. Currently, the CRC is holding a drive for facial tissue (Kleenex) to distribute to its food pantry clients. If you would like to donate, there is a cart outside the building near their door, during office hours. If you need help or have further questions, call them at 734-428-7722.

Laura Seyfried, CRC Director, presents the 2019 Claire Reck award to Ava Goff of Bethel United Church of Christ. This important volunteer recognition and fund-raiser for the CRC will not be held this fall due to COVID-19. Donations to help the CRC continue its work in the community can be made by mail to PO Box 433, Manchester, MI 48158.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.