Programs and Services
Faith in Action provides the following services:
- Clothing and Household Goods: Donated from local sources and shared with area families, the clothing room is available to anyone free of charge. Whether you’re starting up a new household or simply stretching limited resources, you may shop at the FIA Clothing Room every two weeks up to 12 times each year, 3 grocery bags of items/visit. In 2007 we had 2202 visits to our clothing room, an average of 10/day.
- Furniture: Items posted to the FIA donations online forum will be considered donations to FIA for charitable donation purposes. Shoppers can access the site to look for larger items they may need.
- Emergency food pantry: Based on household income, food to last 3-5 days will be provided for people who need it. This is primarily non-perishable foods and household supplies. FIA is happy to accept frozen and perishable items as space permits. In 200 we provided 475 food orders to area families.
- Advocacy: Professional social work staff can advocate and help people connect with resources needed to stabilize their family situations. FIA provides information and appropriate referrals to clients for services provided by other agencies, and to congregations seeking help with requests that are coming into their church offices.
- Financial help with heat, electric, water, and rent: Income qualified families are eligible to receive help when they have received a shut-off notice or notice to quit/eviction. Social work staff will negotiate with utility companies and landlords to make sure there is clear understanding of expectations. In 2007, FIA helped in 106 situations to maintain housing, utilities and transportation.
- Free Medical Equipment Closet: Donated durable medical equipment is made available to anyone who needs it on an as-needed basis. In 2007 the medical room supplied nearly 200 items to area residents.
- Preschool Scholarship Program: FIA has limited funds available to help at risk children access early childhood education in an area preschool program. FIA helps an average of 6-10 children access this essential education each year.
- Adopt-a-Student Program: Individuals and groups “adopt” a low income school child (privacy protected) and supply them with a new backpack, school supplies, and a new outfit to help them make a good start to the new school year. In 2008, 110 school children received backpacks.
- Christmas Adopt-a-Family: Individuals and groups “adopt” a low income family (privacy protected) and shop for Christmas items. Items are wrapped and delivered to FIA for distribution.
- Thanksgiving Food Baskets: A full holiday meal is supplied to needy families.
- Christmas Day Meal: A community meal is coordinated with local volunteers so no one eats alone on Christmas.
- Counseling: Counseling for children is available on site through Huron Valley Child Guidance, and made available on an emergency basis through local providers with FIA subsidy.
Home Meals for special dietary needs: Homebound individuals
below age 60 with special dietary needs are provided with home delivered
meals in conjunction with the Senior Nutrition Program.
Additional Programs
We co-sponsor or house these programs
- Chelsea Hope Clinic: FIA partners with link to HOPE site to provide medical visits to the uninsured. FIA staff schedule appointments for the clinics, which are held at FIA House once each month on a Saturday morning.
- Friendly Visitor Program for Homebound Seniors: FIA partners with the Chelsea Senior Activities Center to identify and serve homebound seniors with a friendly visitor or shopping service.
- Huron Valley Child Guidance: see Counseling (above)
- Washtenaw County Senior Nutrition Program: FIA partners with Washtenaw County Senior Nutrition Program (contact 734-475-0160) to provide home delivered meals to homebound seniors.
- Community Support and Treatment Services of Washtenaw County: Developmentally disabled persons stationed at FIA House help with our clothing donation program and help deliver meals to homebound seniors.