In addition to supporting local businesses, I feel we are also called to support people in need. I am pleased to spotlight a local charitable organization in each issue of the Office Express Press.
Charity Corner: Capuchin Soup Kitchen
Christmas and New Years have long passed and we all sufficiently stuffed ourselves to the brim with the holiday foods that we indulge in only at that time of year. Then we turn right around and vow to loose the extra few pounds we put on during the holidays.
Yet while we are trying to lose those extra pounds, there are others in our state that don’t have enough food and many that go to bed hungry at the end of the day. The Capuchin Soup Kitchen, which has been serving the metro area since 1929, is dedicated to fighting this growing problem in our state. They are working to meet the basic needs of people in the metro area regardless of race, sex, age, color, national origin, religious preference, handicap or income.
For more information or to donate to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen visit: http://www.cskdetroit.org/index.cfm.
Charity Corner - 
St. Vincent DePaul
I don’t know if any of you heard about it, but there is a bad economy around here. A lot of us like to complain and justifiably so in many cases, but when we compare our complaints to those who are truly living in poverty, our woes hardly compare. St. Vincent DePaul is embarking on a capitol campaign to meet the increased needs in our area. We know them for their thrift stores and clothing drives but they also run a summer camp in Michigan as well as provide disaster relief and emergency food stores as well.
How about combining some fun for your business with helping this organization help others? By attending their 18th annual golf outing on June 16th, you can help fund their summer camp for disadvantaged children? Click here for details.
Of course any help is always appreciated. Please contact them at http://www.svdpdet.org/donate_launchpad.html for financial donations, to schedule a pick up of donated items at your home or business or to find other ways that you can volunteer.
Charity Corner
One of our customers is an organization called Guest House. I hadn’t really understood what they did, but I’ve come to find out that they help clergy fight addictions. I think it’s always easy to assume that priests, pastors, deacons, and nuns never have many problems in life. The fact of the matter is that they have a whole set of problems and temptations that we don’t realize or appreciate. Why would I think that they wouldn’t make mistakes? After all, they are as human as me and I’ve made more than my share of mistakes.
Guest House was founded in the 1940’s by Austin Ripley. Ripley, a recovering alcoholic himself, found that many in the religious sector were struggling with addictions. The result of his discovery was the creation of a treatment program that respects the ministry of priests and religious while also treating them with compassion just like anyone else who is prone to addictions.
In 1956, Guest House was opened in Lake Orion, Michigan. Following their simple philosophy, Guest House works to “Save the individual! Save the vocation! To do this they perform a professional assessment for each client including a physical and psychosocial assessment coupled with a spiritual summary and feedback conference with the client. The program’s main focus is to cut through the denial and help those who think they may not need it.
Since its inception more than 7,000 priests and religious have been received help for their addictions. They have come from more than 165 dioceses, 120 religious communities and 48 countries worldwide, with most returning to their ministries after recovery.
As the season of lent starts for Christians, I think it’s an appropriate time to remember all who struggle with these types of addictions. To learn more about Guest House visit http://www.guesthouse.org/about.php
Volunteers of America - Adopt-A-Family
Office Express adopted 3 families for Christmas this year through Volunteers of America. Thank you to WF Whelan and Raymond James, two of our customers, for their generous donations toward our families. As you can see in the pictures, we did lots of shopping and bought several items for each person.
Picture to the left is the the Garza-Vela Family. Left to right is Frederick - Age 10, Anthony - Age 5, Carlos - Age 10, Karla - Mom, and Jackelin - Age 1.
Pictured to the right is the McKinney family. In the front row, left to right, is Romale - Age 9 and Kayla - Age 7. In the back row, left to right is Lonnelle - Age 16, Rolanda - Mom, and Kiarria - Age 12. Not picture is Kimora - Age 1.
Picture to the left is the Carattini family. Left to right is Celestina - Mom, Cristian - Age 6 months, Alejandro - Age 6 and Francisco - Age 13. Not pictured is Nidia - Age 14.
The gifts were delivered on Friday, December 19th. We drudged through 10 inches of snow to make sure these families had their gifts in time for Christmas.
Charity Corner – Volunteers of America
December is the month for charitable giving. Did you know that many nonprofit organizations receive more than 50% of their gifts in the last two months of the year?
Last month I introduced you to Volunteers of America, and I would like to tell you just a little bit more about them. My teenage sons planned to join this organization and work on fundraising through their school to pay for gift baskets that would go to families in need. Unfortunately, the boys learned some tough lessons about planning and getting people involved early, so they were not able to pull this off for this year!
I still think this is a very worthy organization for you to consider this year. Christmas is, after all, a season of giving. When I think about the gift we were given from God, and the reason we celebrate this season, I know that anything I give back is paltry in comparison. But we have been called to share the financial resources we have been given with those in need.
I also think giving is an important way to rejuvenate people’s souls. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to be hungry. I’ve never suffered financial distress that prevented me from buying gifts for my children. But I can imagine that if I was in that situation, my heart would be breaking and my emotions would be at an all-time low. To then receive a gift from total strangers, out of the goodness of their heart, could do nothing but help lift me from my depression. That in itself is a gift.
Please consider donating your Rewards points to the Volunteers of America Adopt-a-Family program. Remember, Office Express will match your points to double your gift. This is a wonderful way to help out, and you won’t even have to write a check! You can learn more about this organization at http://www.voa.org/. Office Express has adopted 3 families this year and we are busy buying gifts for them.
Charity Spotlight – Volunteers of America (VOA)
Over the summer, we were approached by a representative for the Volunteers of America, to sponsor a teen leadership program in conjunction with Major League baseball. I thought to myself, “I have two teenage boys who love baseball and who need service hours for school. Maybe this is something we should do.” This program runs an Adopt-a-Family program during the holidays and a reading program in the spring.
Teen leaders are promoting these VOA programs in their schools right now. Click here for information on the Adopt-A-Family program. You can buy items for families in need, or you can provide cash so that the volunteers can purchase the necessary items. Each family of four receives food and gifts for approximately $150.
We believe this is a great program. The employees at Office Express are going to participate in adopting some families, so join us this year and make a difference to someone in need!! If you are interested in adopting a family, click here for a Sponsor Signup Sheet.
We need to stick together as businesses, but also as a community. Please consider donating your Rewards points to the Volunteers of America Adopt a Family program. Remember, Office Express will match your points to double your gift. For 250 reward points, we will send VOA $100.00!! This is a wonderful way to help out and you won’t even have to write a check! Just send us a letter (Attn: Sharon Horger) along with your points and we will take care of the rest.
Clark Park Coalition
A customer recently informed us of a great organization. Please read the following press release from the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Clark Park Coalition celebrates 15 years, completion of new outdoor ice rink. The end of 2006 saw the opening of a new $1 million outdoor ice rink in Clark Park. It is the only one of official competitive size in Detroit and is open 7 days a week.
Clark Park Coalition (CPC) feels “very fortunate” for the gift from Wayne County that afforded the rink’s rebuilding, according to executive director Anthony Benavides. The administrations of county executives Ed McNamara and Robert Ficano as well as County Commissioner Ilona Varga worked to have the funds allocated to the park.
CPC organized in 1991 in response to the planned closure of the rink and, after their initial winter season, “the kids kept coming,” remembers Benavides. They now also provide opportunities for hockey, softball, baseball, volleyball, soccer, golf and tennis and have expanded beyond sports to include educational programs like tutoring and computer training. They also take children on field trips and provide free lunches over the summer. Approximately 1,000 children are reached by CPC’s programs each year.
On Jan. 23, CPC will celebrate the rink's grand opening and their 15th anniversary from 5-8 pm. Ficano will "cut the ribbon;" Varga, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and Governor Granholm are other honorary guests expected at the event.
As for the ice rink, it is open Monday-Friday from 3-8 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from noon-6 p.m. The rink is for open skating until 6 p.m. and for drop-in hockey games until the rink closes. There are learn-to-skate-sessions on weekends for youth and adults. Skating is free for children; adults are charged $3 for open skate and $5 for hockey.
Source: Anthony Benavides, Clark Park Coalition
The coalition is always on the lookout for used hockey gear. If you have a local rink that you can post a flyer at or you wish to donate, click here.
Charity Corner
Detroit Institute of Arts (http://www.dia.org)
If you’re a regular reader of this newsletter, you’ll notice that most of the time our Charity Corner articles are centered on organizations that help feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, find cures for disease, or address some other social issue.
But this month, I invite you to think about one of the artistic jewels in our community. The Detroit Institute of Art (DIA) is recognized as one of the country’s premier art museums. The museum’s approximately 60,000 works of art comprise a multicultural survey of human creativity from prehistory through the 21st century. From the first van Gogh to enter a U.S. museum (Self-Portrait, 1887), to Diego Rivera’s world-renowned Detroit Industry murals, the DIA’s collection reveals the scope and depth of human experience, imagination, and emotion.
Humans were created with the capacity to experience beauty; to share emotion; and to create works of art that express a range of emotions and attitudes. I know that art is often looked upon as an “extra.” It’s one of the first things to be cut when budgets get tight. And yet, it is one of the lasting ways in which the human race understands the world and communicates with generations of today and tomorrow.
If you haven’t been to the newly-renovated DIA, take the family for a visit soon. You’ll find something for everyone to enjoy!
http://www.dia.org/PressReleases/showpressreleases.asp?ID=417
Charity Corner: Capuchin Soup Kitchen
Many of us feel like it’s hard to make ends meet when our kids want a new Game Boy, or when we’re struggling to put enough money away for retirement.
But when I think of the thousands of people in Detroit for whom food is a luxury, then I am reminded how truly blessed we are.
The Capuchin Soup Kitchen was started in 1883 to help meet the needs for food among the poor of Detroit. During its 150-year history, the organization has continued to focus on services for the working poor (people who have partial employment) and those who are truly destitute. Here are just a few of the services they provide in our community:
- 2,000 hot meals per day at our two locations at an avg. cost of $ 1.17 per meal
- About 300,000 pounds of food distributed per month to families
- About 30,000 articles of clothing given to clients per month
- More than 500 pieces of furniture and appliances given to families each month
- Showers and a change of clothing for up to 30 homeless and poorly housed persons per day
- Jefferson House, a substance abuse treatment program servicing up to 12 indigent men
- A children's library and art therapy studio serving up to 800 children per month
- A 25,000 square foot urban farm project
I know that many of us do struggle financially. But no matter what our struggle, we have been blessed in abundance compared to the people who are served by this wonderful organization. I hope that in this season of gratitude you will find it in your heart to support them in some small way. If all of us pitch in, we can have a remarkable impact!
Learn more and donate at http://www.cskdetroit.org/index.cfm.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. So I’d like to share a very personal story with you, and ask you to consider supporting this organization that does so much incredible work.
Four years ago, my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. One of her top priorities was to find accurate, in-depth information specific to her specific type of breast cancer. She found that Susan G. Komen for the Cure was an organization that could be counted on for this type of information. My wife especially liked their web site, using it before and after her treatment. Even today, four years later, she often searches their web site for updates and new information.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, they have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill the promise of ending breast cancer forever, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.
Breast cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in women. Nearly 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. There are almost 2 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. You probably know someone whose life has been changed by this disease.
The period of diagnosis and treatment was one of the most traumatic times in our 18-year marriage. We had young kids. I needed my wife. This organization helped us get through a very difficult period. Please support Susan G. Komen for the Cure during breast cancer awareness month. They make a difference. http://cms.komen.org/komen/index.htm
(PS…Yes, I still need my wife, and I’m grateful every day that she’s with us!)
Michigan Education Assocation (MEA)
Every time I turn on the news, I hear something about education in Michigan. Usually it’s the depressing stuff…saying that our kids are not learning enough science and math, or funding is being cut, or equally negative news.
I believe good education is critical for the success of our state in the next generation. As we try to diversify our economy and move into additional areas besides manufacturing, we are going to need a well-educated workforce that work in a broad array of fields. As an employer, I know what kind of skills I’m seeking as I hire new employees. So that’s why I’d like to share information about this organization with you.
The Michigan Education Association (MEA) is an organization that fights hard to ensure our schools have adequate funding, excellent curriculums, and dedicated teachers who are producing high-quality students.
The organization has been in existence since 1852. It represents the best interests of students and teachers to the governing bodies in Lansing as it seeks to affect legislation that impacts our educational system.
I encourage you to visit www.mea.org to learn more about this organization and how you can support their efforts. Our success tomorrow depends on the students of today!
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Almost everyone has seen some part of the Jerry Lewis telethon to benefit MDA, the Muscular Dystrophy Association. It has become an icon of the Labor Day Weekend. Last year, the telethon raised over $54 million dollars. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of every dollar MDA spends goes directly to research, health care services and education. The rest goes to fund raising and administration. The organization is actually quite amazing.
Did you know that $650 sends one child to MDA summer camp? Did you know that $2,000 assists one person with the purchase of a wheelchair, leg braces or communication device? Did you know $85 pays for one minute of research? Did you know that $500 assists one person with repairs to a wheelchair? Did you know that if you support MDA's online auction, children and adults with neuromuscular diseases in the Metro Detroit area will benefit from their unparalleled service excellence?
Office Express has supported MDA for the last three years by matching pledges during a specific time period of the telethon. We will be doing so again this year, and we hope our customers will pledge with us. When we know the specific time, we’ll share it. In the meantime, you can make your pledge right now via email, and we will match it.
If you are interested, you can also purchase sponsorships and auction items. Check it out at http://www.cmarket.com/catalog/landingPage.do?vhost=mdadetroittelethon
Society of St. Vincent dePaul
When we Detroit folks hear the name St. Vincent dePaul, we think of the clothing drives which are done at many churches. But did you ever think about what they do with all that stuff after they collect it? The Society of St. Vincent de Paul provides the Southeastern Michigan Area with more goods and services than any other charity…. all at little or no cost.
Clean your supply closet
In talking with the people at St. Vincent DePaul, we came up with this idea that could be a win/win for everyone. In visiting many of you over the last 20 years, I know we all have at least a couple of shelves in our supply cabinets that are holding something we haven’t used for years and we don’t just want to throw it away. Now is the perfect time to box that stuff up and call us to pick it up. After Office Express picks up your valuable gems, we will send them to St. Vincent DePaul and they will return a donation slip back to you for the items you donated.
Request a Pick Up
How they help!
The Society serves over 90,000 people annually and has an administrative cost of just 16%. This means that eighty-four cents of every dollar that they take in goes to help thousands of people in need.
Last year:
Vincentians provided more than $2 million in food, clothing, and furniture to those in need. Over 600 underprivileged children attended summer camp. Over 2,000 vehicles were donated to the Society.
St. Vincent relies heavily on personal donations. They collect and sell everything, including clothing, household items, furniture, and vehicles. All of these items are either given to those in need, or sold, to provide funds to support their many services.
For more information, for donations or to help someone in need, please visit http://www.svdpdet.org/
