MorningSide Thrives With Help From Our Non-Profit Partners

During this holiday season of giving, we who live in MorningSide can truly give thanks for the many nonprofit partners and leaders who provide service in and near our neighborhood. A prime example of working together to help neighbors was the recent Thanksgiving food distribution event on Tuesday, November 23.

As noted here, Motor City Grounds Crew and Brilliant Detroit led the effort, with support from the MorningSide Board of Directors. All the more impressive is the fact that the magic all came together in four days, kick-started by a last-minute grant to the MC Grounds Crew from the BeyGOOD Foundation. Joshua from the Grounds Crew knew that Rakisha from Brilliant Detroit had lists of families in need, and that the BD house on Balfour would be a great central location for distribution. Rakisha reached out to the MorningSide board for volunteers and some matching funds.

The next day, Christie Laster from Greater Pentecostal Temple church on East Warren at Haverhill donated bags of fresh vegetables left over from their Gleaners Food Bank distribution. (Note: the next Gleaners food giveaway at Pentecostal will be December 27 from Noon-2pm.) On the day of the event, three MC Grounds Crew employees delivered turkeys and “fixins,” along with a few prepared meals, to those who couldn’t get over to the Brilliant house. Along with Rakisha and myself, MCO board members Charon Nogues and Twiana Odom, Windee Brown and other BD employees loaded the cars of grateful MorningSide residents. A hugely successful event all the way around, serving close to 50 families.

Another amazing nonprofit working in our area is Habitat for Humanity Detroit. On December 9, the Mayers family received the keys to their newly renovated house on Lakepointe. Several neighbors turned out to welcome the family, and I was proud to represent the wider MorningSide community.

In addition to those already mentioned, several other nonprofit organizations located in/near this neighborhood also deserve our thanks and support for their ongoing work. The East Warren Development Corp., Friends of the Alger Theater, USNAP-BAC, Arts and Scraps, Detroit Public Library Jefferson Branch, Mack Avenue Business Association, and Bethany Lutheran Church all are assets that make MorningSide a better place to live.

Happy holidays to all!

Motor City Grounds Crew Joshua Arnston delivers food to a nearby resident. Image courtesy of Brilliant Detroit and Motor City Grounds Crew