FOOD GIVEAWAY
We're working to help fight food insecurities. In our partnership with Food Gatherers, Berea Cares has been distributing food for more than three years. Our program is NOT income-based.
Instead, it sits right in the community and is available to any family in need of additional food resources.
The urgent issue our organization works to address is the challenge of serving an increasing number of families facing food insecurities during our distribution process.
670 families were serviced via our Food Pantry over the past three years. In 2023, we serviced 351 families, which is double the number we served in the past three years (almost a 50% increase).
We are uncertain whether this increase is due to greater community awareness of our pantry, an actual increase in need in Ypsilanti Township, or our policy of not turning anyone away.
Located at the heart of the West Willow and Willow Run communities in Ypsilanti Township, the Berea Cares food pantry is conveniently situated less than six miles away from the Eastern Michigan
University (EMU) campus and less than eight miles from Washtenaw Community College. We take great pride in being the sole food pantry in Ypsilanti or Ypsilanti Township that serves the community on
the 3rd Saturday of each month at Berea City of Hope Church, 1070 McCartney Road, Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Monetary Donations are always welcome. If you are interested in donating, please contact us at Admin@BereaCares.org and we will send you a donation link, as well as the 501C3 information for your tax purposes.
If you require food assistance, please click the flyer above.
Emergency Assistance
Annually, we provide aid to individuals in our community facing urgent circumstances. The majority of cases involve emergency housing support,
as our organization recognizes the prevalence of housing insecurity among not only the unemployed, but also ALICE households and those directly affected
by the Pandemic. Additionally, we offer assistance with emergency food provisions, clothing, and diapers for infants.
Our services are available to anyone in need. In most cases, those who reach out for assistance are BIPOC individuals who are ineligible for housing vouchers, welfare, and bank loans.
Donations are always welcome. If you are interested in donating, please contact us at Admin@BereaCares.org and we will send you a donation link, as well as the 501C3 information for your tax purposes.
EMPLOYMENT
Berea Cares provides a job board accessible to all individuals with internet access. The job board is free of charge and features job and internship opportunities in Washtenaw and Wayne counties. We also post information about upcoming job fairs, employment workshops, and training opportunities offered by non-profit organizations like Focus Hope and Detroit At Work. Additionally, we offer free resume creation services for certain residents.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS OUR JOB BOARD
SUMMER LITERACY
Annually, our Literacy program attracts the participation of approximately 100 children through grades 3 through 9. Our current initiative provides assistance through reading fundamentals and overall increased literacy for
our marginalized youth in grades 3 through 9 who are facing challenges in reading. Trained volunteers engage with these students either individually or in small groups. By utilizing literacy diagnostic assessments, volunteers can
pinpoint the specific needs of each student and monitor their progress in reading. Our annual efforts are dedicated to supporting struggling students in enhancing their literacy skills, enabling them to reach a level of reading and
comprehension that aligns with or surpasses their current grade level.
Last summer, 90% of our elementary school participants either maintained or advanced their reading abilities through our summer program.
This highlights the significance of literacy programs as we continue to provide support to the community.
This year, we received a literacy grant from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, enabling us to enhance our support for a greater number of students by providing the necessary equipment for the expansion of our literacy program.
This initiative will cater to an additional age group of students, specifically those aged 13 to 18, facilitating their access to online literacy resources and allowing for the acquisition of more computer equipment.
BACK 2 SCHOOL FAIR
Our annual Back To School Community Fair attracts more than 500 people in our community. With Bouncey Houses, Ponyrides, Petting Zoo, Face Paintings,
Food, Fun and Free Backpacks, we bring our community together each year to make sure each child is prepared for school. More than 400 backpacks are distributed during this event.
We extend our gratitude to our valued small business donors whose contributions significantly contributed to the success of our 2024 Back To School Community Fair.
Jamari L. Moore Coat Drive
The Jamari L. Moore Coat Drive was founded to honor the memory of our directors' nephew who was a victim of gun violence, right in our community, just months before his 4th brithday. Now in our nineth year of operation, our
Coat Drive provides upwards of 200 coats annually to children in need as well as we keep Jamari's name alive!
In 2023, our campaign received coverage from a local television station, resulting in heightened visibility and an increase in the number of coat recipients. Click GRAPHIC BELOW to watch the snippet of the television coverage of our Coat Drive!
LEADERSHIP
Lena A. Johnston - Executive Director
Berea Care's Executive Director is Mrs. Lena A. Johnston. She has served in this capacity for 7 years. In a direct response to the community's
urgent needs during the peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic, she successfully implemented the Berea Cares Food Program. This program was established through
a partnership with the Food Gatherers food bank. Since implementation of this partnership, Berea Cares has provided food assistance to over
400 families and continues to serve families every third Saturday.
In addition to her accomplishments with our food pantry, Mrs. Johnston has also demonstrated her expertise in developing new initiatives.
One notable example is the Jamari L. Moore Coat Drive, which was established in memory of a child who tragically lost their life to gun violence within the community.
Now in its eighth year, the Coat Drive annually distributes more than 200 coats to those in need.
In 2023, Mrs. Johnston took the initiative to create the REACH MORE Campaign. This campaign aims to expand the reach of services and resources
provided by the organization to more residents in Ypsilanti Township. To achieve this, Mrs. Johnston has been actively forging new partnerships and
developing a comprehensive marketing plan to increase awareness of the programs offered.
As part of her current work within the REACH MORE Campaign, Mrs. Johnston is focused on several key objectives. Firstly, she is developing a youth
development program that specifically caters to the teenage population within the community. Additionally, she aims to address the needs of residents
facing food insecurities by providing more convenient distribution days for working families. Mrs. Johnston is also dedicated to establishing strong
community relationships to promote this new initiative and expand the budget for other identified services. Furthermore, she is actively seeking resources to support
disadvantaged groups and is diligently working to enhance awareness of the services provided by Berea Cares through various media outlets, including television, radio,
and social media platforms.
After-School TECH Bootcamp
This newly developed after-school program has been developed under a grant awarded by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLeap) and will serve as our after-school bootcamp for students in grades 9 through 12 (or ages 13 through 18).
The Technology Bootcamp is for 11 weeks. Students are required to attend all sessions during the 11-week period in order to receive their Certificate of Completion. This fast-paced, hands-on learning platform which, through the utilization of Khan Academy, students will utilize Chromebooks to access the platform and participate in the following components:
WEBSITE CREATION (6 Weeks)
Upon completion, each student will have constructed a functioning website centered around a project they have selected. Students can choose to build a website for themselves, a non-profit or a small business.
The competencies they will encompass logical reasoning, critical analysis, HTML/CSS proficiency, and a Meet The Professional segment designed to encourage contemplation of various career paths and their associated salary prospects. For those who show the technical aptitude, Beginners Python Coding will be introduced.
PIXAR IN A BOX - FILM & MEDIA (2 Weeks)
The craft of story telling, the principles of lighting, the science of color, the use of virtual cameras, the design of sets and staging, along with video rendering techniques will be taught in this class. Students will have the opportunity to collaborate with
the Berea City of Hope Church Media Department for their Sunday Worship Services, Tuesday Night Bible Study Live Streaming and streaming sessions, as well as streaming platforms such as Streamyard, Facebook and YouTube. The objective is to empower students to engage
actively in their respective churches and to equip them with the necessary skills to become content creators.
FINANCIAL LITERACY & INTERNET SAFETY (1 Weeks)
Budgeting and saving, consumer credit, financial goals, scams and fraud via social media, scams and fraud via banking apps; Income & Benefits - How to read a paycheck, understanding deductions, buying vs. leasing, how to keep your information safe and maximizing your allowance are all topics
of conversation for these sessions.
INTERNET SAFETY
Learning to surf safely. Becoming familiar with the concept of Personal Identifiable Information (PII) and the ways in which PII can be tracked online. Learning how attackers can gain access to data and devices, and what steps students can take to shut down cybercriminals and keep data and devices
secure. Strong passwords and two-step factor authentication will also be a topic, as well as a tool for all online activity during our 17-week bootcamp.
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS (1 Week)
Making high school count! Whether they're just entering 9th grade or in the thick of their junior year, it's never too early to begin thinking about college. Students will be encouraged to review their academic record, extracurricular activities, and standardized test results and measure the impact of the college admissions process.
CAREERS (1 Week)
Navigating a career and serving your community is an important part of your career path. Helping students identify what they enjoy doing naturally and then considering such a profession is our goal. Questions such as ARE YOU DRIVEN TO HELP OTHERS? These types of careers enable them to give back to their community through public service, missions work, or emergency response.