For many years, FISH of Grand Blanc has lent a helping hand to all residents living within the Grand Blanc Community School District, according to Chairperson, Barb Smith. The nonprofit, nondenominational organization was founded in 1974. The word FISH represents the symbol of the early Christians to identify themselves, Smith explains. And the need in the area is great as Grand Blanc is Genesee County’s largest school district. “One in three Grand Blanc students living within the district participates in the Free/Reduced Lunch Program,” reports Smith, a FISH volunteer for 42 years.

There is still time to sign-up for, or donate to, Genesee County’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s taking place this Saturday (September 28) at 11 am at UM-Flint White Building Lawn. Registration can be done online or starting at 10:00 am on Saturday. Donations can be made online at act.alz.org.

The Ties and Tails Gala is coming up this weekend! The highly anticipated event will take place this year at Signature Chop House in Flushing. All proceeds from the fundraiser will go directly to help the animals at the Genesee County Humane Society (GCHS).

Clarence Campbell, pastor of Grace Christian Community Fellowship on Davison Rd., needs your help.  Mr. Campbell is president of the Eastside Coalition and operates the Power of One anti-blight initiative. He has used his free time to clean up litter and trash around his neighborhood for years. He is also part of the Clean & Green program, volunteering to mow empty lots throughout the Eastside and he is responsible for the flowers and benches located along Franklin Ave.

For over 40 years, Edith Campbell has dedicated her free time to helping dogs in need throughout the City of Flint. “It really started at Christmas in 1967,” she remembers. “I worked at Buick and driving to and from work, I would see dogs that looked starved. I felt I had to do something about it.” She began to tell co-workers about her plans and they began donating food and pet supplies. “I started using Christmas as an excuse – I asked the owners of the suffering animals if I could give their pets a Christmas present.”

At Fenton Center of Hope, the vision is “to serve our neighbors who are hungry and in need of resources resulting in a better quality of life.” The founders, Bob and Jennifer Strygulec, previously ran a Food Pantry and Baby Closet at the Freedom Center Church in Fenton. The couple founded Center of Hope as a non-profit in 2016. The husband/wife team eventually gave up their respective careers in finance and interior design to further their work in addressing the needs of the less fortunate and to provide even more services. “We knew we needed to be here full time,” Jennifer reports. “We see so many of the same people, generations of the same family reaching out for help. Bob had a heart to really do something to change people’s lives and to look at the underlying causes.” Bob adds, “Our thought was: What could we do to help people make a long-term, substantial change?”