Outreach in Action

October kicks off the 2023 Outreach busy season

by Jo Mayer and Paul Crandall

The mostly volunteer workforce at Stockbridge Community Outreach is always busy with regular commitments, including weekly distribution of grocery bags full of food to over 100 households, weekly food assistance to over 80 students, one-on-one help reaching over 70 families monthly and much more.

But at this time of year, our commitments to the community kick into high gear.

Gathering local input

Those wishing to receive holiday assistance (Thanksgiving or Christmas) can contact Outreach beginning Monday, Oct. 30. Sign-ups to receive Thanksgiving assistance end on Nov. 13. Photo credit: Maria Lin Kim at unsplash.com

October offers a unique opportunity for community members to pitch in, by responding to a call for local input on the needs people are experiencing in the greater Stockbridge area. On Monday, Oct. 16, at 5:30 p.m., Outreach is hosting a presentation and roundtable for this purpose. This event will be held at the Stockbridge Activities Center.

Kathy Walz, behavioral navigator at Chelsea Hospital/Trinity Health, will begin by delivering a short presentation highlighting the area’s needs, based on data collected by Chelsea Hospital. The public is invited to attend and contribute insights at the presentation. If you would like to participate in this discussion, RSVP by Oct. 13 by calling the Outreach office at 517-851-7285 or emailing [email protected].

Following that presentation and roundtable—which will include pizza generously provided by the Unadilla Store – the Outreach board will continue with its regular business meeting and the election of board members.  This business meeting is also open to any who wish to stay.

Gearing up for holiday needs

On the heels of the roundtable event comes the opening bell of the Outreach busy season, with a Monday, Oct. 30, start for those wishing to sign-up for holiday assistance.  Outreach clients who need a bit of help during the holidays can sign up for extra food for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas and can also sign up to be “adopted” for Christmas.

To fill out an application for holiday assistance, community members need to make an appointment.  Contact Outreach at 517-851-7285 or [email protected] to get the process started.

• The deadline to sign up for Thanksgiving assistance is Monday, Nov. 13
• The deadline for Christmas assistance sign-ups is Monday, Nov. 27.

As in previous years, this year Outreach expects to serve over 100 families at Thanksgiving, and again at Christmas, through these special seasonal services.

Outreach also offers a shopping room for those who find themselves in need closer to Christmas, past the deadlines.  The room is stocked with new toys, household goods, apparel and other donated items available to those who qualify, based on an income of 200 percent of the federally established poverty level. This shopping room is available only by appointment.

Sign-ups to receive Christmas assistance end on Nov. 27. Those wishing to adopt a family for Christmas can contact Outreach beginning Nov. 3. Gifts/items for adopted families are due at Outreach by Dec. 15. Photo provided by Jo Mayer.

For those who support Outreach through donations of money, food, clothing or time, please note some dates:

• Due to limited space, Outreach stops taking used clothing and household goods donations (except for winter outerwear) from Nov. 1, 2023, to Jan. 12, 2024.
• Organizations, businesses, families, and individuals can sign up to adopt a family by calling, emailing or stopping by Outreach during open hours beginning Nov. 3.
• Gifts/items for adopted families are due at Outreach by Dec. 15 at 3 p.m.

According to Gwen Reid, Outreach Director, the success of Outreach is built upon a foundation of community involvement. In her own words, “We couldn’t do it without the help of this generous and caring community—from food and toy drives, to special benefit parties, to cash donations—it all goes back into helping our neighbors in the Stockbridge Community School District.”

This column is sponsored by Stockbridge Community Outreach, our local food pantry, crisis, and referral center located in the Stockbridge Activity Center (old middle school) near Cherry and Elm streets in Stockbridge. Office hours are 1-3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday and by appointment. [email protected], 517-851-7285, or find us on Facebook.