Last week, the Center hit a new record of 44 households, representing over 100 individuals served in a single evening. The need is great and does not appear to be tapering off anytime soon. 

We want to thank a number of community- and business-sponsored food drives in process. 

There is a special drive called "Stuff a Bus" happening on November 12th from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Martin's Supermarkets throughout Michiana. Shoppers will have a chance to purchase items and donate them right at the store. We hope you will take advantage of this and consider donating for the growing needs in our local community. 

As we prepare for the holidays, we are continuing to offer Thanksgiving Baskets as well as working with the Christmas Coalition. Last year, with the community support, we were able to serve 300 families. However, due to budget constrictions as well as the spike in families in need, we are running a waiting list to accommodate as many families as we can. In only two days time, over 200 families requested a Thanksgiving Basket. Unless we receive more support from generous donations, it is likely that some families will not be served. 

We will be providing additional information on the specific ways you can support and serve the Neighborhood Center. Until then, please see if you can support us in any of these ways listed >

The Neighborhood Center is so appreciative of Beacon Credit Union for sponsoring the Project Spotlight and for all of the community members who voted. We are especially grateful for Heather King, who took initiative, got involved, and advocated for our organization, and ultimately, the families we serve.  Our thanks to all!

2011 Project Spotlight Winners Announced

Beacon Credit Union is proud to support every community we serve.

Project Spotlight is a program created to discover and support worthwhile projects in each community that Beacon serves. Our hope is to be able to support community projects both large and small, and bring awareness to the many good things happening in our communities every day.

The Winners of Marshall County
As determined by member voting, the following organizations were chosen from each community to receive funding amounts of $1000, $500 and $250 (1st, 2nd and 3rd place).

1st - Marshall County Neighborhood Center
2nd- United Way of Marshall County
3rd - Saint Joseph Health Center

The Marshall County 4-H Junior Leaders chose The Neighborhood Center for their September community service project and we are grateful for all of their hard work. 

Over 20 members attended, and with big smiles and determined attitudes, they helped unload, sort, and stock 1,600 pounds of food for the Center's pantry! They also cleaned our building and helped move items to storage. 

We are grateful for the act of volunteerism our local community group demonstrated and we share in the 4-H vision that is, "a world in which youth and adults learn, grow and work together as catalysts for positive change."  

We would like to thank Ancilla College for hosting their first annual Community Engagement Fair, on September 13th through 14th. We really appreciated the invitation to join students and faculty at their beautiful campus. Over the course of two days, we were able to share information about volunteer opportunities at MCNC, and in the coming months, we look forward to seeing student-volunteers in our pantries and holiday programs.

We are delighted to inform you that MCNC was approved for a 3M corporate giving grant. Today we received a check for $2500!

3M has shown a great deal of interest in supporting The Neighborhood Center. They hosted a very successful employee food drive in April, which brought in about 700 pounds of food. In July, Amber Moulton, Human Resources Field Representative, invited us to apply for a one-time grant through 3M's community giving plan. 

If you have a friend or contact with 3M, please be sure to express our gratitude for this grant award.

On Wednesday, Aug. 24th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., MCNC will host the Adams Street Kids as they 'ASK' About Applesauce. Members of the youth group will prepare and serve two dishes made with applesauce.They will make their recipes available to our clients, so they can better utilize items from our food pantry. This activity is a community outreach and involvement effort, spearheaded by Julie Stauffer, executive director of ASK youth organization.

We are delighted that they provide this service to our food pantry clients.

We would like to introduce a new ongoing post titled, "Thanks for Shining!" where we spotlight  some of the special people who have gone above and beyond to help our mission. MCNC recognizes the personal attention and dedication our donors, volunteers and board members provide. We'd like to announce this summer's selection of individual spotlights and share a bit more on why we are glowing with appreciation for their support and service. 

Donor Spotlight: Angela Ridenour

Earlier this year, Angela Ridenour of The Biography Spot donated her professional time and talent for a family portrait day for families in Marshall County. Over 30 families were given a free portrait session complete with two 5 x 7's and eight wallets in the pose of their choice just in time for Mother's Day. Angela tells about her experience, "I had fun creating lasting memories for all of the families who participated." Angela also said that she would like to offer this service again. MCNC would like to thank her for finding a way to use her passion to help people. For more details on MCNC's family portrait day, click here >

Volunteer Spotlight: Fred Benner, Marcia Pownall, Elias Baca, Dan Barden

This special crew of volunteers, also known as our "picker uppers" lift our spirit, as well as our load with transportation and ongoing delivery of donated items from local businesses like Little Caesars, Krogers and Martin's. Earlier this summer, Marcia and Elias were spotted at Little Caesars during their weekly pick up of pizzas, read more here >  Thank you for picking up the deliveries and helping us! We appreciate their ongoing pick up efforts. 

Board Member Spotlight: Geoff Payne

Often the necessary work of MCNC's board members goes  unseen. Therefore, we would like to sing a praise about one of our special board members, Geoff Payne. Geoff supports the center not only by offering the typical resources as a member of the board, but Geoff shows sincere care and concern for the center. From stopping in from time to time just to say hello to the staff, he demonstrates support beyond his roles and duties as the treasurer. His friendliness and willingness to help is greatly valued and appreciated. Thanks Geoff!

There are many other donors, volunteers and board members who are dedicated and appreciated. Stay tuned for our fall update when we will showcase more individuals to spotlight. 

If you would like to participate in supporting the Marshall County Neighborhood Center, there are a variety of opportunities, including our upcoming holiday events. For more information on how you can help the Neighborhood Center contact the office at (574) 936-3388. 

Did you know that every day in our country, 27% of our food is wasted?

You can help and be a game changer. It only takes five minutes and you will make an impact through the simple use of social media. Click here to make a difference to reduce the amount of food wasted today >  

We want to thank Heather King from Beacon Credit Union for nominating us for one of the three Marshall County organizations selected in the Project Spotlight program. 

Beacon's Project Spotlight is a new program created to discover and support worthwhile projects in each community that Beacon serves. Over the past several months, Beacon members have nominated worthwhile organizations to support. Three finalists were then chosen to participate in the Project Spotlight voting. Finalists each have the opportunity to receive money from $200 to $1000! 

We need your vote!!! Show your support so the Marshall County Neighborhood Center family can win! 

We are pleased to announce the USDA Summer Food Service Program, a federal program that provides FREE meals and snacks to children when National School Lunch meals are not available is now available at schools throughout our county. This program is not based on family income; it is open and free to every child.
Although more schools may be participating in the Summer Food Service Program, details on  the Argos Community School Corporation and Plymouth Community School Corporation are included below. Please contact the administration offices of the school nearest to you to learn if your local school is also participating and the hours of operation. 

The Plymouth Community Schools is providing a FREE breakfast to any child in the school district age 18 and under at Lincoln Junior High from June 8th through August 3rd.  Breakfast is served from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.  Riverside Intermediate School will also serve breakfast from July 18th to the 29th from 7:45 to 8:45.

Plymouth Schools are also providing lunch at Lincoln Jr. High through August 3rd.  They will serve lunch from 11:30 to 1 p.m.  Lunch will also be available at Riverside Intermediate School from July 18th through the 29th from 11 a.m. till noon.      

The Argos Community Schools will be providing a FREE mid-morning snack to children 18 years of age or younger.  The mid-morning snack will consist of milk or juice, along with a food item; such as, a granola bar, yogurt, fresh fruit, bosco sticks, etc. The snack will be provided during the elementary and junior high summer school session, August 1st – August 12th, Monday thru Friday, 10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M., in the school cafeteria.

The summer school students will come to the cafeteria with their classes at 10:00 A.M. and will be served first.  Other children, who wish to receive a mid-morning snack, may come to the cafeteria at 10:15 A.M.  The snack will be served until 11:00 A.M. or until the last food item is served, whichever comes first.

Children, not in summer school, should enter through the front doors of the Argos High School building and proceed to the cafeteria.  Children are asked to leave the building once they have finished with their snack.  Parents can accompany their children, but adults cannot have the snack for free.