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.

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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!

SUMMER BLAST WAS BACK WITH A BANG

SUMMER BLAST WAS BACK WITH A BANG

Community Unlimited’s Summer BLAST program is back with a bang! After one week of “vacation” (if you can call getting ready to educate and entertain over two hundred kids of all ages a vacation) the formidable staff of CU is back in action.

Malinda Olmsted is the site director for the high school, where over thirty students are enrolled in credit-recovery activities. Visits to local colleges are also planned, to acquaint the future graduates with the college campus and activities that are available. The garden club is planting a butterfly garden in the courtyard of the high school, and joining the middle school in a vegetable garden.

At the middle school, Cher Troup, interim site director, is very excited about the upcoming summer and the activities that are planned for the kids. “We are just so excited to be back!” she said in an interview. “We have so many things planned, and the kids are great. Our teachers are the best; we have Ronda Fisk, Dawn Morris, Kyle Miller, Nick Martin, Kim Palmerton, Hannah Burdick, and Sherry Smurr. They have so much experience to share, and are looking forward to a great summer!” Approximately sixty-five middle schoolers have signed up as of the first week of the program. Activities include the gardening club, which has started a vegetable garden behind the middle school building. A part of the harvest will be donated to the Union City Food Bank. The rest will be canned and sold at the Farmer’s Market later this summer. Another popular group is the Inventors Club, where a few inventions are being re-invented and many others are coming up from Original Thoughts.

Site Director Emily Dibert is staying busy at the elementary school, with over one hundred kids participating in Summer BLAST. Keeping everyone in line are foster grandmas, as well as CU staff Marcia Stuart, Tim Minor, Lance Wilkinson, Kelly Smeltzer, Alisha Gaylord, Ali Baklund, Kandice Harrington, Emily White and Joe Good. Joining the party for this summer is intern Alona Gaylord, who is filming a documentary on the program. The free breakfast and lunch program has been extremely popular at all the schools; however, probably the most fun place to be an observer is the elementary. Some of the younger students can barely see over the counter to get their bagged lunch! Their excitement is evident; one young lady was overheard saying, “We get oranges? COOL!!!” After eating, they clean up and take to the afternoon activities, from the playground to doing arts or learning cooking, or so much more. On Wednesdays, the afternoon is filled with towels and swimsuits as the schools join together on buses to travel to Coldwater’s Heritage Pool. Friday has field trips to many interesting sites, such as Kalamazoo Valley Museum and upcoming trips in June to Coldwater’s Popcorn Theater, Little River Railroad Depot Tour, and Binder Park Zoo. Earlier trips have included Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and Full Blast in Battle Creek.

For more information on upcoming trips and activities, call Julie Dibert at 517-741-4656, or check the website at www.communityunlimited.org. Volunteers are welcome, and new ideas for activities are also appreciated!

SENIOR COURT CHOSEN!

Nearly fifty senior bingo players were treated to a surprise this month at the First Congregational Church, when it was announced that they would be voting for a Bingo King and Bingo Queen.

“Since this group is practically a family, we felt that there should be a family leader,” Terry Binion told the assembly. Sealed envelopes were distributed to players with Bingo Bucks, with eight random envelopes containing a $5 Bingo Buck. Recipients were Junior Edwards, Al Wilcox, Harold Connin, Howard Streeter, Ruth Booth, Ruth Edwards, Fern Jones, and Donna Lou Lepper, comprising the first annual Bingo Court.

Tickets were then handed out to each player to cast their vote for King and Queen. Results were tallied after the games, with the results to be announced at the next monthly bingo meeting on Saturday, September 19 at the Congregational Church. A fun-filled coronation ceremony is planned, so be sure to join the fun beginning at 1pm!

July Senior Bingo

Saturday, July 18th marked another successful Senior Bingo for Community Unlimited. The events (which have been occurring regularly for almost a year now) provide an enjoyable opportunity for the community's seniors to get together and socialize. However, due to the dedication and creativity of CU's Youth Board members, they've grown to be much more than that, with concepts such as "Bingo Bucks" (imitation money printed by the Youth Board and won through the game, then traded for prizes), themes (examples include Hawaiian luau, May Day/Cinco de Mayo, and Easter), and recognition of birthdays and anniversaries for any of the seniors during that month.

This weekend's event was no exception; the room at the hosting Congregational Church was decorated in accordance with the month's theme of Independence Day (there was also a cake assembled to resemble the flag). Aside from the elaborate additions, the activity on its own is a worthwhile event, with the vast personalities emerging and flourishing in the community (as well as playfully competitive) atmosphere. It was led by the regular caller, Youth Board secretary Terrance Binion, with several other Youth Board members helping out by pouring coffee, writing down the numbers, and handing out the Bingo Bucks to the winners.

Terry Binion said, "I love the look on people's faces when they get a bingo. Everyone has their own 'winning face.'" He also added that people have "their own disappointed face...when I tell them to clear their cards." With games running the gamut from straight bingo to “X Marks the Spot,” “T for Terrific,” “I for Independence,” and Cover-all, Terry gets to see plenty examples of both throughout the afternoon. And of course the happy faces when lunch break is announced, and the line forms for the ice cream floats and other delicious snacks!

Next month's bingo will take place Saturday, August 22 at the Congregational Church, from 1 to 4 PM. There is a combined theme of Birthday Party (celebrating the one-year anniversary of the bingo) and Getaway Vacation. Anyone bringing in a relic of one of their previous vacations (pictures, souvenirs, etc.) will automatically receive an extra Bingo Buck. Players may also earn extra Bingo Bucks by bringing in 2 non-perishable food items for the Congregational Church’s food drive (one Bingo Buck for each two items) that day.

Aloha from Youth Board Bingo!

Aloha from Youth Board Bingo!

First Congregational Church was the host for Community Unlimited Youth Board’s June Senior Bingo on Saturday, June 27. Twenty-nine players celebrated with a Hawaiian Luau, complete with music and grass skirts.

Ginger Palmerton returned to help Paula Blue lead the Youth Board kids in setting up the Bingo Bucks store, decorating the fellowship hall, and running the games. Terry Binion was assisted with calling numbers by his best friend and baby brother, Justyn Kalvin Richard Costigan. Devin Snyder and Matt Miller greeted players at the door with festive leis; and Carolyn Smeltzer helped in the kitchen with keeping the Kona coffee, a specialty Hawaiian blend, hot and ready for the players.

Judy Carpenter was the only June birthday, celebrating her twenty-first birthday again. Player Betty Baylis donated a slew of “M&M Candy – Man’s Survival Kit” packets for the edification of stress relief through chocolate. A small net bag of six different color M&M® Candies, accompanied by directions for each color (“at the first sign that your wife is mad, eat the red one”) were given to each player. Many laughs were shared as directions were read and candies eaten.

Lunch Luau included Hawaiian Punch (of course), Hawaiian Fruit and Meat Skewers, Hawaiian Fruit Salad, and cupcakes decorated with festive Hawaiian-colored coconut shreds. Hawaiian music filled the air and Paula entertained with her hula dance in a purple flowered muumuu. The teens, in their imitation grass skirts, to everyone’s disappointment declined to hula dance.

Next month’s bingo is scheduled for Saturday, July 18 at the Congregational Church from 1-4 PM. The party theme will be a traditional Independence Day. Be sure to join in for an “explosive” good time! Call Paula Blue at 517-765-2740 to confirm date and time, and be ready to “sparkle” with fun!