Backpack Distribution Coming up August 27

Names of golfers and a check to the golf course are due this week. If you plan to golf and have not yet registered, contact us immediately. Send your checks asap to Friendship House, 9540 Conant Street, Hamtramck, MI 48212.

Backpack Distribution Coming Up August 27

We will barely recover from the Golf Outing before facing hundreds of kids looking for backpacks containing school supplies. We typically have a line going out the door and halfway down the block, and to keep the chaos to a manageable level, five families at a time enter our lobby. We encourage the parents to let their children pick out their own backpacks.

Thanks to generous members of Genesis the Church in Royal Oak, Friendship House has 57 backpacks. United Healthcare plans to donate 150 backpacks filled with supplies. The Protestant Women’s Guild at Henry Ford Village created 99 school supply kits for youngsters entering K through 3rd grade. American Baptist Women’s groups across the country have sent us school supplies all year in fulfillment of the denomination’s White Cross program. A number of generous donors contributed funds to purchase additional backpacks at a discount price. It looks like 2012 will be Friendship House’s best year ever for helping kids get ready for school. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this project!

1,062 clients were served in the Harvest Food Pantry during July

Instant Birthday Kits Needed

Our supply of Instant Birthday Kits has reached a critical level: we’re almost out! Creating them could be a great project for your youth group, scout troop, women’s circle, school club, sorority or co-workers. When a family comes to the Harvest Food Pantry and says that their child is turning any age between one and twelve, we hand them one of the Kits. Each Kit is unique but all contain a cake mix, canned frosting, birthday plates/napkins/cups. Most include some of the following, but you can use your imagination: birthday candles, book, party favors, game, puzzle, sprinkles, decorations and toys.

4th Sunday Supper Club Schedule:

August 26, 2012: First Baptist Church, Dearborn

September 23______

October 28______

November 25______

December 23______

January 27, 2013______

If you can bring and serve a light supper for about 35-40 people between 4 and 6 p.m., call Kim at 313-871-7443. We have a grill, FYI.

Spring Arbor University BSW Student Intern’s Farewell Reflections

Friendship House has a long tradition of partnering with local colleges and universities in order to offer “real life experience” to social work and psychology students. Sarita Witherspoon just finished her internship and will graduate from Spring Arbor in November. She shared her thoughts about what interning at Friendship House has meant to her:

I feel so fortunate and blessed to have been given the opportunity to complete my internship hours at Friendship House. When I first entered the doors of this establishment, I was confronted by the gritty truth. The gritty truth was and still is that today’s economy has played a large part in the financial hardship of individuals, families and certain communities.

As an intern, I would hear clients’ stories of despair, embarrassment and fear and yet they would express appreciation and gratitude for Friendship House. I also hold the same appreciation and gratitude in my heart for Friendship House. Along with my University, Friendship House has blessed and allowed me to continue to uphold the core values of dignity, respect and compassion for others regardless of their race, ethnicity or religion. It was God’s divine will and plan for me to have been placed with wonderful and caring staff members at Friendship House.

May every intern have a blessed journey like I had, and may the Lord continue to bless the staff members and clients at Friendship House. Sarita

Friendship House will truly miss Sarita, her warmth, her people skills and her heart for God.