Programs @ Outreach East
Food Program
Clients can receive food every 30 days including can goods, dry goods,meat, cheese, eggs, bologna, hot dogs, vegetables ,fresh fruit ,soups, peanut butter , jelly , mac and cheese, bagels,laundry soap, dish soap toilet paper , bar soap and bakery items as available .We also give personal care items (shampoo,toothpaste, deodorant) every other month.
Food reclamation project
Through grants /donations, Outreach East is able to supply containers and pay school employees to package the left-over un-served food to freeze for pick up once a week to distribute to our food clients. The response to this program is great. Seniors and moms love to just pop it in the microwave for a quick meal – pizza, hamburg, meatballs potatoes and gravy , chicken nuggets , breakfast items and many items we would not be able to supply to our clients. That totals approximately 6000-7000 pounds of food a year that otherwise would be thrown away. Win- win for everyone!
Diapers/ Baby Food
We take very good care of our littlest clients. Diapers and wipes are always available. Formula ,baby food, shampoo, powder and lotion are also available dependent on donations
Clothing
Clients can visit our clothing room every other month . Last year Outreach East gave out over 3200 Adult shirts , 1800 adult pants, 2500 boys and girls shirts, over 1900 boys and girls pants and 1850 pairs of underwear and over 2000 socks.
School Snacks
Thanks to the thoughtfulness of 3 Pepperidge Farms Route salespeople, we are able to supply cookies and crackers to our clients and school counselors for their snack closets.
School Supplies / Back packs
Client parents bring us a list from the school their child attends and Outreach East helps them with the items on the list that we have and backpacks that have been donated to us. Since Davison School District is a year round program and school starts in mid August, we start giving out the first of August. Donations are very appreciated starting early in June and July .
Household items
Household items are available to our clients. In addition to our clients, we also assist but are not limited to Veterans moving into housing from programs, women trying to move from an abusive relationships and maybe have nothing as well as foster and family members taking in children unexpectedly. Donations of gently used sheets, towels are always needed.
Winter Coats /Boots and hats
Outreach collects returnable cans and bottles for our “Cans For Coats “ drive the first Saturday in November. Proceeds raised from this enables us to buy new coats, snow suits and boots for our area children in need . You don’t have to store your returnable cans and bottles all year. Just drop them off to us during our open hours at your convenience.
Christmas Adopt a child
Last year outreach assisted over 420 Children with Christmas gifts. It is because of all the people and local businesses that “adopt a child” that makes a wonderful Christmas happen for children that otherwise may not have one. (Currently our Christmas program is reserved for students in the Davison Community School District)
Outreach works with Davison Schools as well as many other agencies in Genesee County and maintains a database with other surrounding entities to ensure clients do not get Christmas help from multiple agencies.
Holiday Dinners
Last year Outreach was able to give almost 700 holiday dinners. These dinners included ham or turkey, stuffing , potatoes,gravy , yams, marsh mellows, green beans,cream of mushroom soup, cake and frosting , biscuits, pancakes , syrup and of course they received their normal monthly food order as well.
Financial
Outreach helps with financial assistance for utilities , rent evictions etc. depending on funds availability . In 2019 we were able to help with over $60,000 in Rent evictions and utilities alone. This does not include what was spent on medical, auto and other expenses.
Referrals
If we can’t help you, we have many resources we can refer you to to get the help you need.
Volunteer
Outreach East has over 40 volunteers a week staffing the food, clothing, and household rooms along with those who pick up food and personal care items. Outreach East depends on these volunteers to run the basic operations (approximately 10-15 a day) We also have volunteers with special needs that help us with various tasks. As they “work” with us it helps to build their self esteem. In addition we get “Blueberries” , Girl Scouts and youth groups, Honor Society members ) as well as others that need to do community service. Outreach East needs good volunteers, long term people that are organized, energetic and friendly.
Keep in Mind
Although we get a lot of donations to help us serve as many people as we do Outreach East Purchases much of the food and personal care items we provide. The food and personal care items that are purchased are because of the donations we received that makes us able to fulfill the needs in the community and areas around us that truly are in need. Even though we are a non-profit -We also have to pay rent, gas for vehicles,insurance, utilities, and more expenses of running a business. It is all of you that make it possible to help everyone.