Empty Bowls Brings Good Tidings

'twas days before the holidays, when all through the halls

Not a student was stirring, not even at the mall

The bowls were set on the table with care,

In hopes that someone soon would be there!

This story may sound strangely familiar, but it's truly the first of its kind. This holiday season marked the first University of Michigan Empty Bowls Event hosted by the Ceramics Club.

"A lot of work went into organizing this," said Samuel Bates, President of the Ceramics Club. "It worked out and I'm glad it's going to a good cause."

The club decided to plan an empty bowls event after discussing various ways they could host a group activity and give back to their community. John Leyland, U of M Ceramics Coordinator, presented the idea to the club members, explained Bates.

"You got to give gack," said Leyland. "It's nice to have your own food to eat, but it becomes even more fun to give." Leyland, an advisor for the Ceramics Club, said he grew up giving back to his community and that desire to help is part of who he is today. "For a potter making bowls and giving go hand and hand," Leyland stated.

For two days both students and faculty, roamed the halls in the School of Art & Design smelling the delicious aroma of soup. Many of them stopped along their way to participate and buy a handmade bowl and lunch for the day. "I love the cause and for something like this, I can go out of my pocket for," said Eric Priestly, a recent U of M graduate.

Thanks to the generosity of all those who participated, the Ceramics Club donated $2,000 to the SOS Food Pantry. The success of the event has the club talking about plans for next year. "This is definitely something we'll be doing again," confirmed Bates.

Thanksgiving Count Down Begins

In about five weeks many families and friends will come together to share in their traditional Thanksgiving meal. Some are already planning their dinner: oven-roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, yams and corn. Just imagining this elaborate meal can bring smiles and butterflies as you anticipate what a wonderful holiday you'll have.

But this year, there are so many families in Washtenaw County that are dreading this day. With each passing day, they become more fearful--afraid that they won't have ANY food, afraid that they'll have to tell their children the sad reality.

As those families wonder where they can find help, they remeber that SOS provides a special Thanksgiving food give-a-way. They know that they can come to the Crisis Center and recieve food items, so they can prepare a meal.

Please help SOS to give families a reason to smile. This year we are asking for gift cards from your favorite grocery stores so that our families can purchase food for the holiday. If you don't have time to shop, you can always make a donation.

Gift cards and checks can be sent to: SOS Community Services, c/o Chelsea Clark, 101 South Huron St., Ypsilanti, MI 48197

We are so thankful for your support!

This story was featured in the Washington Post. It's absolutely shocking; a must-read article!

Link to article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/05/AR2009100501296.html?referrer=facebook

Surge in Homeless Pupils Strains Schools

Here's a recent article in the New York Times about homeless children and school.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/education/06homeless.html?_r=2&hp

The Telling It Program Received Top Honors!

Pictured above (left to right): Faye Askew-King, SOS Programs and Services Director; First Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern; Governor Jennifer M. Granholm; Rebecca Fried, from U of M Residential College; Deborah Gordon-Gurfinkel, Creator of Telling It; and BMC, from the Ozone House.

The Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Partnership Award for Campus-Community Collaboration, which is organized by Michigan Campus Compact, honors exemplary alliances that are undertaken by a college or university and a community group. Their collaborations address vital areas of public need.

This year the partnership of University of Michigan-Ann Arbor with SOS Community Services, Ozone House and COPE Alternative School was one of three finalists for the Carter Award. The other finalists were Grand Valley State University - Westown Jubilee Housing, and Kellogg Community College - HandsOn Battle Creek.

"Telling It" is a collaboration between University of Michigan's Residential College and three organizations serving runaway, homeless and high-risk youth in Washtenaw County. For this program college students are paired with children and teens ages 7-18 to engage in art projects to help increase their literacy skills, self-esteem and likelihoood of graduating school to pursue higher education. Over the years, "Telling It" has involved more than 150 college students to help more than 200 young people.

All of the finalists were recognized at the 2009 Governor's Service Awards. The "Telling It" program collaboration was given a Certificate of Tribute by the Governor Jennifer M. Granholm in honor of "the exceptional accomplishments through volunteerism, and exemplary efforts to improve the lives of others."

Click here for more information about the Carter Partnership Award. Also, to learn about the Governor's Service Awards check out the official website.

Homeless in the Suburbs

In a special report on Parenting.com, an article explores the challenges families endure when they are homeless. Here is an excerpt from the article:

Eleven-year old Devin Bodiford's eyes blink open in the back room of a suburan Denver church. The clock reads 5 a.m. when his mother whispers that it's time to get up. His little sister and brother stir in their cots next to him. Two trash bags filled with the family's clothes are stashed in the corner; a tube of toothpaste, an alarm clock, a bottle of shampoo, and schoolbooks line the only table. For five days this has been home. In three more he will move again, to another church, to another cot in another room.

"Being homeless," the fifth-grader explains, "means you don't stay in one spot and have to move around a lot. It gets kind of confusing."

To read more of the article click here.

SOS Crisis Center Received Award

SOS Crisis Center received the Superior Service Award from Washtenaw County ETCS(Employment Training and Community Services). Washtenaw County ETCS is a unique government department that recognizes that community action and workforce development are essential to economic development. SOS Crisis Center was honored for being an ETCS Access Point, a place where consumers can come in and access the National Talent Bank and other job searching resources. Only 3 other agencies received the award: Jewish Family Services, Faith in Action, and Manchester Community Resource Center.