Our mutual call to love and serve the world faces particular challenges in a time of sheltering at home.
While you are staying at home, praying for those affected by the pandemic is one of the most powerful ways you can serve.
We have asked our community partners for what may we pray. Here are their latest needs:
Our Community Partners are in dire need of items ranging from peanut butter and pasta to the ever-scarce toilet paper. You can also give to our COVID-19 RESPONSE FUND, which covers care for front-line workers, addresses food insecurities, gives the homeless stay-at-home shelter and offers financial assistance to those who are unemployed. Finally, donating blood can help save lives.
Our current goal: To be announced.
The COVID-19 Response Fund has been made possible by the generosity of church members and community members. With the Fund, we are able to address the following critical needs:
Especially when times are troubled, Christ Church Cranbrook believes God’s steadfast care for the world can and should be found in the church’s work for the community.
To see all the partners and causes we are have supported so far, click here.
To give a tax-deductible donation, give here. Your funds are matched dollar-for-dollar by some generous contributors!
Questions? email Pastor Manisha.
Bound Together, a tutoring center in Pontiac, has become a site to give out bags of food. They would love to hand out workbooks for kids of all ages as well. Use this Amazon Wish List to purchase books. They will be sent directly to Bound Together.
We had to cancel the blood drive at our church and the need is profound. \
Visit the American Red Cross website and pick a time to donate blood. They are working hard to keep social distance for all donors.
Purchase items and deliver to our local food pantries and shelters.
Urgent food needs: Mac n Cheese, cereal, pasta and sauce, canned meat, all pantry items, fruits/veggies, bagged snacks, deli meat, bottled water.
Urgent household item needs: Toilet paper, all hygiene items, hand sanitizer, laundry detergent, bleach, cleaning agents, paper plates, plastic utensils
Unique Items: Underwear and socks (All Saints Episcopal Church) , lunch bags (Baldwin Center), cigarettes (Hope Warming Center), Paper Grocery Bags with Handles (Meals on Wheels)
We are asking you to deliver directly to the organizations to minimize exposure. Drop off items at any of these locations- they all need them!
Sanctum House needs your help
Sanctum House is a sanctuary for women survivors of Human Trafficking. It is a local safe house and a place of love and support but now, as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak and physical distancing, Sanctum House is in desperate need for food. They need donations of electronic giftcards from Walmart which will be used to purchase fresh food and staples for the 15 residents of the facility. Christ Church Cranbrook has responded with an initial donation. Won’t you join in this effort?
Please order an electronic giftcard for any amount from $5 – $50 online, and Walmart will email it to Sanctum House to be used to purchase essential grocery items.
Donate here: https://giftcards.walmart.com/ip/Basic-Blue-Walmart-eGift-Card/653984410
Recipient email: shannon@sanctumhouse.org
Recipient name: Sanctum House
Senders name: (donor name)
Message: (any message donor wants) plus Christ Church Cranbrook
For Questions? Contact Tim Miller at murphy2@bignet.net
Believe it or not, there are things you can do safely at home. There are also ways you can help that require venturing out. Governor Whitmer has made exceptions to allow people to volunteer at non-profits “that provide food, shelter, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals.”
A request from our Community Partner Baldwin Center:
We invite you, our treasured supporters, to help us advocate for our community and clients by sending an email to PublicHearing@smartbus.org
Emails should be sent before August 20th. Feel free to use the following sample subject and body in your email.
Sample subject: Public Hearing comment, elimination of Route 753, extension of 462 FAST
Sample body of an email:
I am concerned that the proposed discontinuation of the SMART Bus Stop at Baldwin and Virginia/Tacoma Ct. will create undue hardship for people in the area. It is my understanding that Baldwin Center clients, community members, and guests at the nearby HOPE shelter use this stop. Without it, the nearest stop would be on Montcalm, nearly a mile away.
I ask that SMART keep a stop at Baldwin and Virginia/Tacoma Ct.
You can see more information, as well as other ways to participate in the public hearings, here:
https://www.smartbus.org/How-
Again, all feedback should be sent before August 20th to PublicHearing@smartbus.org. Thank you for raising your voice with our community.
Click here to read an article about the bus stop changes.
After 3 months of reinvention of their mission, day-to-day tasks, professional and personal demands and threat to their own health, our community partners’ staffs are mentally and physically overwhelmed.
As other significant events in the country have occurred, media focus has moved away from the COVID pandemic and the battle to overcome it. This has been disheartening to many of the non-profit staff members and we would like to let these heroes know that their efforts continue to be so appreciated by the entire community.
What You Can Do: Send a card or write a note of encouragement and thanks to staff working at one or more of our community partners. They can be as simple as a “Thank You!” or could highlight appreciation for all of their hard work to ensure that vulnerable folks who have no other source for help are being cared for during this difficult time. Wish them well and offer prayers that they, and their families, stay healthy.
Have your children create a card or drawing to show their thanks as well!
Come Volunteer to help with the CCC Community Garden.
Christ Church Cranbrook has four raised vegetable beds near the church’s south door. Volunteer gardeners are needed each day to weed, water and harvest the garden. We have planted tomatoes, kale, collard greens, beans, onions and more. There is an herb garden too. Our fresh produce will go to our the farmers market at All Saints in Pontiac. It can be as little as 1 hour every week or as much as every day – whatever your schedule allows. Click on the link below to view timeslots to participate.
Over 150 people eat breakfast at All Saints on Saturday. With the new mandate, this has become a take-out meal.
Thursdays: 4 people hard-boil eggs and prepare food
Fridays: 4 people package the meals
Saturdays: 4 people set up, distribute meals and take down.
We need volunteers, aged 18 to 65. Please sign up for any shift here.
Volunteers are needed for limited positions in June to sort food and to distribute. To see all opportunities, click here.
Because all Michiganders are required to wearing face masks, we have been asked to donate masks for residents who do not have any.
For more information and directions on “HOW TO” and “WHERE” to donate them click here.
Questions? Email Jill Bednas .
Be a driver for Lighthouse of MI and deliver food boxes to families by leaving on their front porch. If interested, Email Manisha Dostert
The COVID-19 Response Team is coordinating food distribution efforts at Oakland University. Volunteers are needed on site to assist with packing food boxes for households. Shifts are from 9am-1pm and 1pm-5pm Monday – Friday.
For more information and to sign up, click here.
