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 21st 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.
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