By Emma Brown, Delta College Student Submission
As the freezing Michigan weather settles in for the season, people experiencing homelessness in the Tri-City area are struggling to endure the deadly cold. There is a desperate need for supplies like warm blankets, clothes, hats, gloves, and hearty food; not to mention shelter. Below are a variety of organizations that offer such services to people who experience homelessness, either for free or for affordable costs in Midland, Bay City and Saginaw.
Services offered in the Midland area:
- Open Door, 412 Buttles St., https://www.midlandopendoor.org/
Midland’s Open Door is a 24-hour homeless shelter and soup kitchen that’s open 11:30 a.m – 1:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. They also offer takeout sandwiches in the evening to those in need. There are two buildings: the main building on Buttles street which houses men, contains the soup kitchen, and holds the clothing ministry, and the second building at 1610 W. Carpenter St. that houses women and children. Other services that Open Door provides to its residents are counseling resources and a case manager to assist them with moving forward.
2. Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1310 Ashman St., https://mempres.org/ministriesandmissions
The Memorial Presbyterian Church in Midland runs multiple ministries to aid those in need. Such as the Warm Hat Ministry, which hangs handmade hats and gloves across the street, free for those in need. Another is the Midtown Mission Garden which grows produce to give to The Bridge Food Center and Midland Fresh. Both are programs for people experiencing homelessness or who may have low income. Another assistance they offer is the HELP Food Pantry located in MPC, made to assist community members obtain groceries when it can be too expensive otherwise.
3. Reclaimed Creativity; Ninni’s Re$ell Shoppe, 1531 Washington St., https://www.reclaimedcreativity.com/
Reclaimed Creativity; Ninni’s Re$ell Shoppe, is a resale shop in Midland that has naturally low prices and gives items for free to people and families in need. They are open from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. They sell handmade arts and crafts, donated clothes, and household items, bringing assistance in a sustainable way. The shop is run by volunteers and all profits go to families in need, local nonprofits and organizations. Freebies are also given to each customer once a day, every day.
Services offered in the Bay City area:
- Mid-Michigan Community Action, 1574 Washington Ave., https://www.mmcaa.org/
Mid-Michigan Community Action helps people of all ages with a variety of issues like housing, money management and food insecurity. They assist families and children in need by supplying items like food vouchers. They also have services to prepare expecting mothers, such as breastfeeding tools, and health checks. MMCA also offers aid to veterans and their families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
2. Safe Harbor Kitchen, 706 Joseph St., https://safeharborkitchen.com/
Safe Harbor Kitchen is in the Bay City Banks District and focuses on feeding those in need, though they also offer personal hygiene products. There are takeout meals at 5:30 p.m. every Monday and Tuesday, a food pantry open from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. on Monday, and mass food giveaways at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Safe Harbor is a non-profit organization that runs off of volunteers and donations.
Services offered in the Saginaw area:
- East Side Soup Kitchen, 940 E. Genessee Ave., https://www.eastsidesoupkitchen.org/food-services/
East Side Soup Kitchen is in the heart of Saginaw, it focuses on serving food and bringing comfort to those in need. They are open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. and the food is free. The soup kitchen also has a “Blessing Barn” which is an honor system food locker outside the building for individuals who cannot make it during mealtimes. They also offer free holiday meals like Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
2. Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan, 1021 Burt St., https://rescuemidmichigan.org/
Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan is a faith-based non-profit organization that offers emergency housing to men, women and children, veterans, or families in the area who are experiencing homelessness. Their services consist of two free meals a day, provided clothing and personal hygiene products, as well as meeting with a case manager to discuss the next steps. Their facility also has security cameras and offers private bathrooms and showers.
3. Old Town Christian Outreach, 600 Gratiot Ave., https://www.oldtown.online/
Old Town Christian Outreach runs the Old Town Soup Kitchen in Saginaw. Meals are served from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. There is also food distribution out of their food pantry on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.
The harsh reality is that individuals experiencing homelessness in every community are going to be outside in life-threatening conditions this winter. Although each organization above offers a lifeline to those in need, it is still a formidable challenge to face alone. By volunteering and donating, you can make a tangible difference for those experiencing homelessness in your community.
