by Ingrid Nova | Dec 22, 2011 | Community Service Ongoing, Foundation and Fund Raising
East Lansing, MI December 22, 2011 – HAVEN HOUSE announced today that it has received necessary funds to replace the 40 year old boiler that is on its last leg.
Haven House, the only homeless shelter in the area that serves entire families, was in desperate need of a new boiler. The East Lansing Rotary Club and Foundation along with Teresa Ringenbach, Manager Government Affairs of Direct Energy and John LaRose, Chief Executive Officer of Celink stepped up to help raise money quickly so it can be replaced before anyone gets left out in the cold.
Thanks to the East Lansing Rotary Club and The East Lansing Rotary Foundation’s social media campaign and sponsorship of the Mud and Suds fundraiser combined with additional generous contributions from Williamston Lodge #153 and Freemasons of East Lansing #480 they were able to raise over five thousand dollars for the boiler replacement funds. Celink and Direct Energy each also contributed five thousand dollars bringing in just over $15,000 to cover the costs.
After receiving the funds at a ceremony yesterday, with East Lansing Rotary President Tim McCafferey, and Rotarian Noah Smith, Teresa Ringebach of Direct Energy, and Representative Mark Meadows, the new boiler was ordered and installation is expected in the next couple weeks. “We were happy to assist Haven House with such an urgent need,” said McCafferey. Angie Mayeaux, Executive Director of Haven House expressed
her gratitude saying, “I am so grateful to the East Lansing Rotarians for their dedication to this project and to all the individuals and businesses that made our Christmas wish come true. We are at full capacity and keeping families safe and warm is a priority during the cold months ahead.”
Haven House provides temporary housing to homeless families with children while they look for permanent housing. The staff provides case management, counseling, parenting classes, and tutoring for the residents during their stay and offers a transitional program for families after they move into housing. More information about Haven House is available at www.HavenHouseEL.org or by calling 517-337-2731.
by Ingrid Nova | Nov 21, 2011 | Community Service Ongoing, Events, Foundation and Fund Raising
East Lansing, MI – The East Lansing Rotary Club and the Kroger Company have proudly teamed-up again for an annual effort to support East Lansing’s Haven House. Each year, the Rotary club raises money from its members to provide Haven House residents with Thanksgiving dinners and household supplies. Founded in 1983, Haven House provides emergency housing and support services for one-parent and two-parent families with children. The shelter helps families who are homeless prepare for permanent housing by developing and promoting self-sufficiency, stability, and financial responsibility. The Rotary Club was able to raise record amount of money this year, thanks in large part to a generous contribution from the East Lansing Lodge 480 of the Freemasons.
The Rotary Club is providing three turkey dinners, and Kroger is donating two dinners to this effort aimed at making the Thanksgiving Day holiday a little brighter for the 30 family members currently receiving assistance from Haven House. Each turkey dinner includes: a 10-12 lb. turkey, 3 lb. potatoes, 2 lb. stuffing, 1 lb. gravy, 1 lb. cranberry relish and a pumpkin or apple pie.
A certificate for the dinners was presented to Haven House Director Angie Mayeaux by the East Lansing Rotary Club President Tim McCaffrey and club member John Saltzgaber at the Club’s November 21, 2011 meeting. “Our club is proud to support the Haven House each year. They are a constant reminder to us of the good things going on daily in our community”, said McCaffrey.
In addition to the turkey dinners, the E.L. Rotary Club also donated seven “exit baskets” filled with household supplies to Haven House. Haven House provides an “exit basket” to each family that leaves their program to go into housing on their own. Each “exit basket” contains 35 different household items, including: a laundry basket, sponges, tub/tile cleaner, disinfectant spray, toilet bowl cleaner, toilet bowl brush & holder, dish soap, laundry soap, bar soap, dryer sheets/fabric softener, 2 buckets, mop, broom, dust pan, furniture polish, window cleaner, floor cleaner, pan scrubbers, paper towels, toilet paper, kitchen cleaner, bleach, Pine Sol cleaner, shampoo, deodorants for men & women, a hairbrush and comb, room deodorizer, band-aids, first aid kit, pot holders, comet, baking soda, trash bags, a small trash can, and toothpaste.
“We’re really appreciative the efforts of Rotary and Kroger to provide a wonderful dinner on Thanksgiving Day for our families. And, the “Exit Baskets” donated by the Rotary Club will be a big boost in helping seven families get settled into their own housing,” commented Haven House Executive Director Angie Mayeaux.
The Rotary Club of East Lansing has a long record of community service dating back to its formation in 1961 – they are currently celebrating their 50th anniversary year. The Club has nearly 100 members and has supported a broad spectrum of community projects, like the Playground in the Park at Patriarche Park, the East Lansing Softball fields and Aquatic Center and the renovation of Haven House.
The Kroger Co. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio (NYSE:KR) is one of the nation’s largest grocery retailers, with fiscal 2008 sales of $76.0 billion. Kroger operates five supermarkets in the Lansing area.
by Ingrid Nova | Oct 24, 2011 | Community Service Ongoing, Foundation and Fund Raising
Fellow East Lansing Rotarians: The number of people who are homeless and jobless continues to grow in our area. Haven House Director Angie Mayeaux informs me that during 2010, 24 families came to them both homeless and jobless. What’s even more distressing is the news that during the first 6 months of this year, 59 families have come to Haven House under these same circumstances.
Many thanks to everyone who attended today’s (October 24) East Lansing Rotary Club meeting and made a donation to support the Club’s Haven House Thanksgiving Project.Our goal is to match the $600 contributions made in each of the past two years so that we can again provide: 1) dinner on Thanksgiving Day for the families at Haven House, and 2) “exit baskets” for the organization to give to families relocating to their own housing.
Your generosity and support for this project is absolutely awesome!Just like during the past two years, you opened your hearts today to helping the less fortunate and donated $342 toward this project.
If you were unable to attend today’s Rotary meeting, we will be accepting donations at next week’s (October 31) Club meeting for this project. If you prefer to make a donation via check, please make it payable to “Haven House.”
Volunteers are needed to assist with: 1) the pick-up (Lake Lansing Kroger’s) and delivery of the dinners to Haven House on Wednesday afternoon preceding Thanksgiving Day and 2) shopping for the household items to fill the “exit baskets” we will be donating to Haven House.Please contact John Saltzgaber (saltzgaberj@comcast.net or 517/881-6112) if you’re willing to help with either of these efforts, would like to make a donation, or have any questions related to this project.
Once again, a heartfelt “Thank You” to everyone who made a donation today to this project!
