View THE LINE—a New Documentary About Poverty

“Poverty in America—It’s not what you think” describes The Line by Emmy award winning writer and producer, Linda Midgett. The documentary shares the stories of people across the US living at or below the poverty line including a former banker dependent on food pantries like Friendship House, a former blue-collar worker busing tables, and a former shrimp fisherman impacted by Katrina and the BP oil spill. The 40 minute documentary will be followed by a guided discussion.

Friendship House will host a screening of The Line at First Baptist Church of Birmingham, 300 Willits, Birmingham (parking available behind the church) on Sunday, November 11 at 4:00 p.m. There is no admission charge but a free-will offering will be taken to benefit Friendship House. The Line is appropriate for middle and high schoolers so feel free to bring youth with you.

Date:Sunday, November 11, 2012

Time:4:00 p.m.

Place:First Baptist Church, 300 Willits N. Main St., Birmingham

We Need Your Help for Holiday Dinners

Only $30underwrites a complete turkey dinner for a needy Friendship House family for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Donations are tax-deductible, and Friendship House shops around for the best bargains available to stretch your dollars.

Mark “turkey” in the memo line on your check and mail it to Friendship House, 9540 Conant St., Hamtramck, MI 48212. While multiples of $30 would be appreciate, any amount you can give will help.

A FOOD DRIVE could help Friendship House give needy families all of the ingredients for traditional holiday side dishes. If your church, company, family, fraternal organization, Scout troop...wants to do a food drive for the holidays, please gather:

Cranberry sauceBoxed potato/rice side dishes

Stuffing/dressingGravy

Canned fruits and vegetablesCanned yams

1,322 clients were served in the Harvest Food Pantry during October

October 26 Community Baby Showers Successful Despite Rainy Day

Although ninety families registered for the Fall Community Baby Shower, a total of 46 showed up on a cold and windy day. Two back-to-back showers took place from 10-12 and 1-3 to keep the setting more intimate and encourage interaction with the speakers. Participants learned about breastfeeding, dealing with stress appropriately, interacting with their child and safe baby sleep.

Not only did Corinthian Baptist Church once again let us use their spacious fellowship hall, but the kitchen crew prepared a fabulous lunch for the morning shower, and a scrumptious ice cream and cake social for the afternoon shower. We simply could not offer the showers without fantastic partners like Corinthian Baptist.

Each family either received a diaper bag with a layette or a “stork bundle” containing a layette. Every participant was able to take home a raffle prize because of the unexpectedly low attendance. All of the give-aways from layettes to cribs were donated. Many baby items were handmade. Special thanks to Forester’s Insurance Company, Karen Sayles and her network, FH board member Katie Ninivaggi, Bethel Baptist Church of Southgate that collected 110 onesies and members of Wellspring Church who purchased last minute diaper bags. Recognition is well deserved for Veronica Johnson, Friendship House’s social work student intern, who planned and executed a very successful shower. Thanks to all of the people who have donated baby items over the last six months for the shower, especially American Baptist Women’s groups.

Volunteer Sends Sweet Resignation Letter

Valerie Hillery, a member of Renaissance Baptist Church, volunteered at Friendship House for four months. Among her tasks were enrolling clients for the food pantry, checking in food pantry clients during food distribution, and inputting data in the database. Because of heavy family demands and other obligations, Ms. Hillery resigned and sent a letter with the following words:

“Please tell the Friendship House group that I learned so much thanks to their experience, dedication, compassion towards those in need, and willingness to share their knowledge….Each Tuesday since July has been a joy to serve the needs of my dear neighbors.” Needless to say, we miss Valerie’s quiet steadiness and diligence.

Interested in volunteering a day or half day a week? Call 313-871-7443.

4th Sunday Supper Club Schedule:

November 18 University Prep Middle School

December 16______

January 27, 2013______

February 24, 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.

Please note that we have moved up the November and December dates by a week to accommodate Thanksgiving and Christmas.

We’re Getting Warmer, Warmer, Warmer (on a New Building)

Friendship House is making significant progress on a new building. An announcement with some exciting news is not far off. Please continue to pray for discernment during this process and that God’s will be done.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

New Executive Director About to be Named

The Friendship House Board conducted a search for a new Executive Director and has made their choice. The goal is to have some overlap with the current Executive Director for a smooth transition. Watch for details in next month’s enewsletter and pray for the new Executive Director’s success.

Next month we will also profile our new VISTA Worker, Angenette Van Lieu-Munos. Angenette is taking over for Sam Young in developing the MONEY POWER Financial Literacy program, as well as FH CONNECT, the new Pre-microloan program encouraging new local business development.