Shirts for Sale

Community Unlimited has shirts for sale, there are 2 size small, one size medium, and two size large. Call Julie at 517-741-4656 for details! Call quickly and get in on the hottest fashion statement since the fig leaf!

NOVEMBER SENIOR BINGO UPDATE

Almost fifty participants were present at the CUYB November Senior Bingo, held at the Community Unlimited building on November 21. Sharon Smith, Janice Vosburg, and Glee Majors celebrated birthdays, and Sally Swartout celebrated her wedding anniversary, with cakes and song. A surprise birthday celebration was held for Bingo Caller Terry Binion, marking his 18^th birthday on November 6^th. Players were treated to his rendition of “The Zippedee Birthday Song” and treated him to a slew of cards, including one depicting a year’s worth of photos of Terry from previous bingos, signed by all the attendees.

A “blind auction” was held, with Hazel Bowerman winning with a bid of $105 Bingo Bucks. Her prize was $110 Bingo Bucks.

A special guest at the lunch break was Cindy Fox, of Jack’s Grocery. She came in to kindly accept a large thank-you card that had been signed by players and CU members, in appreciation of Jack’s donation of monthly food for the games. Cindy also had a November birthday, so was given a birthday cupcake also.

Julie Dibert, Project Director for Community Unlimited, also spoke with the players about current activities and the need for financial assistance. Explaining about the Endowment Fund and the newest project the Backpack Food Program, she encouraged those that are able, to continue their contributions. She also thanked everyone for their faithful support during the previous year, and looked forward to next year’s bingo games being as well-attended.

Thank You Jack's Grocery!

The November Senior Bingo had a special visitor at lunch break.






Cindy Fox, of Jack's Grocery in Union City,
stopped by to accept a thank-you card from everyone for Jacks' generous donation of food for each month's bingo games.




As Cindy had celebrated her birthday earlier that month, she was also treated to a birthday cupcake.















King Junior made sure that Cindy received a royal hug before she left!

Haunted Hallways 2009

The hallways of Union City Elementary, before the Haunting begins...




























Alison begins the task of decorating the doorways where the candy stations will be...














while Keith and Terry set up the outdoor sign.



The ghosts begin their dance as they wait for the trick-or-treaters to line up.











And did they ever line up! Over 1200 people came to enjoy a safe trick-or-treat experience at the eleventh annual Haunted Hallways!











Even the strollers had costumes, as the line wended its way to the parking lot.












Autumn Sparks of Mendon made sure she was the first in line, because nobody can deny candy to a cute pirate!












Miss Kitty hands out candy to Scooby Doo; the fur didn't fly but the yummies did!












Getting ready to give a scare... the shrieks could be heard clear down to Patricia Polacco's Graves House!

























Ahoy Mateys! Pirates were popular with all ages, as shown here with a young trick-or-treater and the Lady Pirate of Captain Bree handing out the candy!

Community Unlimited Communiqué

Vol. 1, Issue 1 September 2009

-221 Ellen Street '(517) 741-4656 :www.communityunlimited.org

2009 has marked many changes for Community Unlimited.

• Ø A new address as we moved into the former Learning Center at 221 Ellen Street, Union City.

• Ø Receiving the 21^st Century Learning Community Center Grant, to continue and improve the BLAST program.

• Ø The overwhelming success of Senior Bingo as a monthly event.

• Ø Opening a VITA tax preparation site at the Community Building in Union City, thus providing free tax services to low-income area residents.

And there is so much more in store for the coming year!

We have received a one-time grant of $2500 from the Food Bank of South Central Michigan to cover the start-up costs of our newest project, the Friday Back Pack Program. “The Kids' After-School Pack program targets children from low-income families who are at risk of going hungry over the weekend. Once each week during the school year, kids are given special backpacks that are filled with non-perishable food. A typical backpack, depending upon our Food Bank inventory, has contained items like: a protein (canned macaroni-o's & beef, or beans & franks, or beef stew, or peanut butter or soup), fruit juice and usually an additional beverage, crackers. Nutri Grain bars, single serve cookies, single serve chips, individual boxes of cereal, pudding cups, and packets of instant oatmeal.

A backpack can weigh 5 to 7 lbs., depending upon what's in it. The cost of the food included in a typical Kids' After-School Pack averages $3.50/pack. This does not include the cost of the cloth backpacks.”(From the website of Food Bank of South Central Michigan.)

Sponsors are being sought to help continue funding for this worthwhile program, and donations are tax deductible.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Upcoming events in the next three months include:

September

*8: Before-school BLAST program begins, Union City Community Schools

15: Community Unlimited Board Meeting, 6:30 pm, 221 Ellen Street, Union City

19: Senior Bingo, 1-4 pm. First Congregational Church, Union City (theme: Coronation and Back to School/Homecoming)

*21: After-school BLAST program begins, Union City Community Schools

October

*3: Heritage Day Celebration, downtown Union City

20: Community Unlimited Board Meeting, 6:30 pm, 221 Ellen Street, Union City

24: Senior Bingo, 1-4 pm, location to be announced (theme: Halloween)

*31: Haunted Hallways, Union City Elementary School, time to be announced

November

17: Community Unlimited Annual Board Meeting, 6:30 pm, 221 Ellen Street, Union City

21: Senior Bingo, 1-4 pm, location to be announced (theme: Thanksgiving)

*27: Union City Chamber of Commerce Annual Christmas Parade, downtown Union City, time to be announced. Youth Board members will be accepting donations of non-perishable canned goods for the Community Food Basket Project before and during the parade.

December

15: Community Unlimited Board Meeting, 6:30 pm, 221 Ellen Street, Union City

19: Senior Bingo, time and location to be announced (theme: Christmas gift exchange, New Year Celebration)

*TBA: Packing and distribution of Community Food Baskets

Events marked with an * indicate volunteers are needed.

***Dates and/or times are subject to change. Please call the office to confirm any activity that you are interested in!!***

We are looking for volunteers to be trained to prepare simple tax returns at our VITA site this upcoming tax season. If you are interested in this FREE training, please call Julie Dibert at the office for information.

The August Senior Bingo initiated not only the beginning of our second year of the games being held every month, but also the Bingo King and Queen. Court members were randomly selected and voted for by the entire congregation on August 22, 2009. Coronation of the new King and Queen for the year will be at the September game, September 19 at 1 pm at the Congregational Church in Union City (the one with the cannon).

Trained volunteers prepared taxes for approximately fifty families during the 2009 tax season, which enables Community Unlimited to offer the program again for the 2010 season. If you are a low-income resident of Union City, Burlington, or Sherwood and are interested in getting your taxes prepared for FREE next year, be sure to set up an appointment when you get your W-2!

Ideas are being solicited for suggestions on expanding the use of the Community Building for the community, developing local recreational facilities, and fund-raising activities. Please call Program Director Julie Dibert at 517-741-4565, or email jdibert@communityunlimited.org with your ideas and input, and be sure to watch for the next CU Communiqué in December! You can also follow the adventures of Community Unlimited at http://comunl.blogspot.com/ and in the Battle Creek Enquirer, Union City Clarion, Bronson Journal, Homer Index, Marshall Shopper, and Coldwater Daily Reporter.

August Senior Bingo News from Community Unlimited

Four new players joined the fun this month at Senior Bingo, sponsored by Youth Board of Community Unlimited. August 22 marked the first year anniversary of the games being held monthly, and just fewer than fifty seniors gathered to celebrate.

It was a very busy day, as players not only voted for “Senior Bingo King and Queen” (results to be announced September 19 at the next gathering), but they also donated 126 items of food for the local food pantry in Union City. The August party theme was “Vacations,” and everyone that brought in a souvenir from their vacation received a Bingo Buck. Decorations included two wall-size world maps, souvenir cups and glasses, and placemats made from state maps culled from an atlas. One player serendipitously got the section of the Michigan map that contained the city where his mother used to live. Another player gifted advisor Paula Blue with a picture postcard from Paula’s home state.

Advisor Ginger Palmerton helped YB members Jeremiah King and Tabitha Logan keep players supplied with snacks and drinks, as well as handing out Bingo Bucks to the happy winners. Carolyn Smeltzer assisted in the kitchen, keeping the coffee hot and the ice cream cold (and keeping the workers from indulging in too much of the ice cream!).

YB member Terry Binion, between calling numbers for the games, spoke to the assembly regarding funding for future games. The Youth Board plans to give presentations to local boards and companies in a search for corporate sponsorship. Players Renita Halbieb, Ruth Edwards, Martha Wilcox and Carol Adams were the first to volunteer to attend the presentations as representatives of the players, to share first-hand expressions of their appreciation for the monthly activities.

During the lunch break, seven people celebrated August birthdays with cupcakes, songs and photos. Enjoying the attention (and extra Bingo Bucks!) were Ruth Waite, Renita Halbieb, Mary Perry, Jeanette Stevens, Carol Adams, Donna Lou Lepper, and Don Edwards.

The Youth Board would like to extend a hale and hearty “THANK YOU!” to Pastor Karen Nachtigall for making the fellowship hall available to the seniors while the Wesleyan Church undergoes renovation on their hall. The next monthly game will be on Saturday, September 19 from 1-4 pm at the First Congregational Church in Union City (the one with the cannon). Be sure to join the fun and learn who the new Bingo Queen and Bingo King will be! New players and those with September birthdays will receive extra Bingo Bucks. The themes for September are “Coronation” and “Back to School/Hom

Publish Post

ecoming;” wear your Union City Varsity coat for extra Bingo Bucks!

MAY SENIOR BINGO WITH COMMUNITY UNLIMITED

MAY SENIOR BINGO WITH COMMUNITY UNLIMITED

Saturday, May 30th, found approximately fifty people having the Fiesta of a Lifetime at the Fellowship Hall of Union City’s Wesleyan Church. Community Unlimited’s Youth Board hosted its monthly Senior Bingo with a multiple theme of Mother’s Day (with corsages for the ladies), May Day, and Cinco de Mayo. Calhoun County Office of Senior Services contributed magnifiers for the players, which were very popular with everyone.
After three hours of swinging at the parrot piñata, it looked like the Baseball Hall of Fame wouldn’t be getting new members anytime soon. But after removing the hidden interior brace, a little more damage was done, and many players won candy and Bingo Bucks as they spilled from the cardboard bird. No eggs were laid by the parrot in the process.

Nellie Bennett, Junior Edwards, and George Wrigglesworth, Sr. celebrated May birthdays, enjoying cupcakes, candles, and extra Bingo Bucks, as well as the choral rendition of “Happy Birthday” crooned by their peers.

Due to the renovation of the Wesleyan Fellowship Hall, the next Bingo game will be held on Saturday, June 27 at the First Congregational Church (yes, that’s the one with the cannon). Games begin at one o’clock; be sure to be on time as the theme is Hawaiian Luau. Will Terry wear a grass skirt? Will Drew do the Hula? Join us for Bingo and find out!