Hello and Happy Fall!
The last several months have continued to be challenging. As we increased our efforts to reconnect with the greater community, we realize there were still questions and concerns arising about the ongoing global pandemic. For people with financial insecurities, these questions have caused additional anxiety at an already anxious time. Fortunately, Faith in Action was here for them. Without your help, these fellow community members would have been left even more vulnerable than usual.
Not only do we rely on the generosity of community members, but we are also thankful to our volunteer board members that invest countless hours working toward our common goals. In September, we said goodbye and thank you to Jane Boyce, Doris Galvin & Mark Royce, each having served 6 years in their board positions. In turn, we welcomed Joe Ziolkowski, William Ruddock, and Shawn Dettling, and look forward to their contributions in the future.
Faith in Action is very fortunate to have so many caring residents in Chelsea and Dexter. Last Spring, a young Dexterite, Girl Scout Thea Jensen, had hopes of attaining her GS Bronze Award by completing a community service project. She enlisted the help of a fellow Girl Scout and friend, Rachel Perrine, and together with their Moms, got the ball rolling on a Pet Pantry housed at FIA in Dexter. With the help of other Girl Scouts, including Ellery Geiselman, Tabitha Lamb, and Cecelia Patierno, and the Dexter Lions Club, the Dexter Pet Pantry is up and running at the current FIA Joy Rd. location in Dexter. It will be relocated to the new Dan Hoey Rd. community building once the Hilltop View Apartments are complete.
The upcoming months will be busy for all of us here at Faith in Action with the holidays approaching and our annual coat giveaway kicking off very soon. We will again be assisting our clients with Thanksgiving Dinner items, and we will also make Christmas dinner supplies and gifts an option through anonymously matched sponsorships for households that we serve.
Along with Avalon Housing, we are in the final months of bringing Hilltop View Apartments to the finish line. We will be hiring a new Social Worker for onsite supportive services in Dexter. We are also working with several local churches to address a need for additional emergency temporary shelter options within the community in the very near future.
The appreciation and gratitude expressed by our clients are the true measures of success. Just last week a client told us, “You’re making a world of difference in peoples’ lives” to which one of our dedicated volunteers replied, “It could be any one of us.”
Well said.
Our annual fundraising events have obviously been impacted by the pandemic but “the show must go on” and to that end, our annual print newsletter will be hitting area mailboxes in late November, and around the same time we will share some of our stories online as we introduce a few "Faces of FIA". We hope you will read these informative materials and consider donating to Faith in Action as we approach the holidays and the new year. Better yet, set up a recurring gift through the website giving link and make your gift year-round!
Stay well,
