It isn’t very often that one hears about a nonprofit organization founded and operated by kids. Snuggle Sacks was founded in August 2015 by Stacy Daul’s three children: Addisyn, Jaxson and Sheridan. Based in Fenton, this group’s goal is to increase awareness of homelessness in our communities and provide survival kits for those in need.

Thanksgiving is the time of year to be grateful and to celebrate the simple things in life – family, friends, food. It is also the time of year to reach out a helping hand to those less fortunate and this year, there are local area organizations and businesses with plans to do so. With the country still dealing with the pandemic, the procedures of the giving may change, but the spirit is still the same. Everyone deserves a holiday.

Members of the Junior League of Flint will swap their purses for grocery bags from Oct. 18-24 to highlight the fact that when a child is removed from a home in police protective custody, (and in subsequent moves within the system) often their belongings are put in trash bags.

September is Hunger Action Month, a national movement to raise awareness about hunger in the United States and the policies and systems that can combat it. This year, the efforts are even more pressing, especially in Michigan, according to a recently released press statement. Due to the global pandemic, Feeding America predicts Michigan’s statewide food insecurity rates will increase from 13.6 percent to 21 percent this year.

September is Suicide Prevention Month and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) wants to remind Veterans and their loved ones through the “Be There” campaign that small actions can make a big difference to Veterans experiencing difficult times.  During this and every month the Detroit VA Medical Center remains committed to spreading awareness of suicide prevention to Veterans and their supporters and connecting them to the resources they need.

Kristen Sobanski of Fenton knew she wanted to help children in need. She searched for a service organization to join, but struggled to find one that fit her vision. “My passion was to help children in need,” said the mother of four. Her husband Eric asked her, “Why don’t we start our own organization?” So, in 2014, the determined young couple co-founded Delivering Hope for Kids, which provides food assistance, coordinating with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, to help feed needy kids in the Fenton area. “We had the passion and the commitment to do it,” she remembers. “And there are Fenton area children at risk for hunger. We want to make sure their bellies are full.”

It’s all about meeting basic needs and making sure that no one goes hungry. The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan distributes over 28 million pounds of food (including 11 million pounds of fresh produce) through a network of more than 700 partners in 22 counties, according to President/CEO, Kara Ross. Partner agencies include church pantries, soup kitchens, boys & girls clubs, women’s shelters, school systems and “anyone who wants to provide food to the hungry.”

Sloan Museum of Discovery received $400,000 from the Hagerman Foundation this week, bringing the foundation’s total contribution to $1 million, according to a press statement. The fundraising goal for the re-imagined history and science museum is $27.5 million. The museum hopes to close out the campaign soon, with $1.8 million left to raise. Sloan Museum of Discovery is slated to open in early 2022.

Today, July 15 at 6am, Pat and AJ from Cars 108 morning show and Mindy Williams, President/CEO of Whaley Children’s Center, began living on the roof of the Downtown Grand Blanc McDonald’s to kick off the fifth annual Cars 108 Roof Sit. They will remain on the roof until Friday, July 17 at 10am to help raise funds for the children at Whaley Children’s Center.

Genesee County Habitat for Humanity (GCHFH) has received a grant of $15,000 from the Community Foundation of Greater Flint from the Arthur L. Tuuri Health Fund to support Habitat’s critical repair loan pool, according to a press statement. The grant will provide home repair services for low to moderate income residents at a sliding scale cost based on their income, which enables homeowners to complete critical repairs when they don’t qualify for other assistance programs.

Genesee County Habitat for Humanity (GCHFH) has received a grant of $5,000 from the Community Foundation of Greater Flint to support restart operations. The grant is from the Greater Flint Urgent Relief Fund and will be used to purchase signage, thermometers, gloves, cleaning supplies and masks necessary to continue operations safely through the COVID19 pandemic.

Genesee County Habitat for Humanity is accepting donations of empty deposit bottles and cans. effective immediately Monday-Friday, from 9am-4pm at the ReStore, 101 Burton St. Flint. Please call 810.766.9089 ext.205 upon arrival. All proceeds go towards helping GCHH build homes for low to moderate income individuals and families in Genesee County.