News & Updates

Chelsea Update: Chelsea, Michigan, Newschelseaupdate.comDia Vale got involved in Chelsea/Dexter CROP Hunger Walk through her brother, who has participated in all 25 years that the local event has taken place.

Stop by and see the amazing quilt! Better yet, plan on walking this fall. CROP Walk is always the first Sunday in October. See you there!Chelsea Update: Chelsea, Michigan, Newschelseaupdate.comDia Vale got involved in Chelsea/Dexter CROP Hunger Walk through her brother, who has participated in all 25 years that the local event has taken place.

DEXTER: ONE YEAR STRONG! In honor of the resilience of the Dexter community following the tornado of last March, the Dexter Relief Fund committee, with the help of many organizations across the community, is hosting an Open House on Friday, March 15, from 3-7pm at LaFontaine Automotive. This event will serve many purposes: Applications are being accepted for the tree replanting effort in late April. Tree samples and site evaluation consultation will be available. Applications are being accepted for lawn/glass remediation problems. Volunteer sign up for individuals or teams for the replanting. Help is needed and teams are being sought. Food provided by LaFontaine Automotive. Games led by Dexter High School students. Video booth for storytelling. So many people were affected, both directly and indirectly, by the storm, that we know it will go down in the collective memory of Dexter. In spite of the hardship of the people whose homes and lives were so impacted, the lesson so many have learned is that we benefit from and survive because of the support of our friends, family and neighbors, and so it is in this spirit of celebration that everyone is invited to stop by LaFontaine on Friday, March 15, between 3pm and 7pm.

Department of Human Services worker now on site at Faith in Action every Wednesday to take care of SNAP/food benefits, Medicaid, and SER applications. Chelsea one week, Dexter the next. Call to see which site Liz will be at next week and save the trip to Ypsilanti to apply for state benefits.

Thanks to the Cub Scout Troops of Chelsea for collecting food for the FIA food pantry, helping hundreds of people each month have enough food to eat.

Our pantry inventory gurus tell me that what we are low of or out of in the pantry are: Oil, Pancake Syrup, cleaning products, toilet paper, saltines, muffin mixes, chowders, baked beans, stew or hash, pancake or baking mix, sugar, cake mix, frosting mix.

Just a quick update on the "valuables in the pocket"---thanks to the networking power of Facebook, we were able to figure out who the jacket had belonged to and the mother's rings are back where they belong, with the family. Thanks to everyone who helped circulate the message. We love happy endings.

Timeline PhotosHere is the jacket previously mentioned. We are looking for the person who donated this jacket in the past few weeks; we discovered it while restocking the FIA store for the new year. Family valuables in the pocket are likely of significance to the family.

Here is the jacket previously mentioned. We are looking for the person who donated this jacket in the past few weeks; we discovered it while restocking the FIA store for the new year. Family valuables in the pocket are likely of significance to the family.

Did you (or someone you know) donate a men's tan corduroy sport/suit jacket to FIA that may have had family valuables in the pocket? It appears that maybe it had been in this jacket pocket for some time. It came to us in a clear "Schwan's Home Delivery" bag.

Spread the word! Chelsea Grace Clinic and FIA are sponsoring two totally free flu shot clinics: one in Chelsea this Wednesday, Nov. 7th, from 12 noon-7pm, and then next Wednesday, Nov. 14th, from 12 noon-7pm, (at 7931 Grand Ave.--our new space.) Anyone is welcome to come get a shot, so spread the word!!

Many thanks to our friends at Chrysler Proving Grounds, for the large collection they did at work! And thanks also to the Thrivent group at Zion Lutheran, and at St. Mary Chelsea and St. Joe Dexter for the recent food collecting. There's not enough room to mention everyone, but remember, Saturday is Scouting for Food!!! It's all just in time for holiday needs.

Here's what we need most in the pantry, as in: WE HAVE NONE!!! Cooking Oil Beans--Chili, Soup, Pork and-- Pineapple Canned Tomatoes Sugar Ramen Chunky Soups Juice Shaving Cream Feminine Hygiene Products

Three days till CROP Walk!!! Walk in solidarity with the hungry of the world: "We walk because they walk". It's a great relationship building time for family and friends old and new. Sunday at 1:30 pm at St. Paul's United Church of Christ.

Our food pantry has been hard hit this summer, with record numbers of people asking for food assistance. In August alone, 150 food requests were met. We are 50% ahead of demand last year, NOT counting the high demand we had for food in the weeks following the Dexter tornado. Please consider making a donation to the FIA pantry: Beans Cereal Spaghetti Sauce Flour/Sugar/Cooking Oil Canned chowders and chunky soups Boxed side dishes---pasta and rice Canned tomatoes Canned stew, manwich, and hash Condiments Coffee and tea

Join us for a gourmet dinner to help the Community Farm of Ann Arbor help the greater local community! The proceeds of this dinner and silent auction will be used to provide Avalon Housing, Faith In Action, and The Women's Center of Southeast Michigan with delicious and nutritious Community Farm produce. This lovely event will feature delectable entree dishes provided by Zingerman's Road House, a cash bar and live entertainment! Tickets prices are on a sliding scale for: $75, $100, $200 and can be purchased at communityfarm2012benefit.eventbrite.com

FOOD for FAITH in ACTION You're Invited to the Community Farm of Ann Arbor Benefit Dinner September 13, 6:00-9:00 pm Cobblestone Farm, Ann Arbor Food provided by Zingerman's Roadhouse and the Community Farm Community Farm of Ann Arbor (CFAA) will be sharing produce from the Grand Finale Day with Faith in Action and two other local groups based on support raised at this Benefit Dinner. For every $1000 raised on Sept 13, shares will be given to Faith in Action (a Chelsea/Dexter food bank and resource center serving over 100 families each month), the Women’s Center of Southeastern Michigan (a counseling and resource center serving over 600 people a year from 6 counties), or Avalon Housing (Ann Arbor supportive housing serving over 400 tenants at any given time). Each will receive shares of fall produce for use with their clients. This 25th anniversary celebration will include music, a four course dinner, and an auction. Purchase your tickets NOW at http://communityfarm2012benefit.eventbrite.com/Community Farm of Ann Arbor - Benefit Dinnerwww.eventbrite.com

If you are willing to sponsor a backpack, please respond to Sarah @ sarahshugart@faithinaction1.org and she will assign a student to you and send a list of items needed.