Last month, Tiffany Lemieux-McKissic (CEDAM Manager of Membership and Communications) and Olivia Courant (CEDAM Communications Intern) traveled to Saginaw to visit members Circle of Love CDC and Neighborhood Renewal Services.
When we arrived at Circle of Love, we were greeted by staff and volunteers in the middle of preparation for information drops later that day. We helped stuff bags with information about helpful services that are available from Circle of Love and their community partners. The team of volunteers then took the information to households in their service area. The drops were part of Circle of Love’s Community Awareness Week. Executive Director Pamelia Brazil said that the drops have been very successful, with increased numbers of people calling for housing counseling and other services.
X
After a morning of walking and delivering information, everyone took a break and had tacos for lunch nearby another of Circle of Love’s projects, Operation Gateway. Circle of Love coordinated this project with Covenant HealthCare, Covenant Neighborhood Association, Northwest Neighborhood Association, and the City of Saginaw. A large number of volunteers were engaged in cleaning up the Hill Street neighborhood. We got to see the areas after they were cleared of vegetation, but volunteers said that the difference was shocking. One of the abandoned lots was so overgrown that the volunteers were surprised to find a dilapidated shed in the corner. When cleanup started it was impossible to see it beneath all of the trees, vines, and weeds. The community volunteers worked really hard and made a huge difference.
For the second part of our visit we traveled to the other side of the Saginaw River to see Marcia Hoffman at Neighborhood Renewal Services. Marcia took us on a tour of one of the historic properties that is owned by Neighborhood Renewal Services, the Hill House. The inside showed traces of the home’s glory days, such as elaborate wallpaper, ornate staircases, and the original tile roof cap that now sits in the attic. Neighborhood Renewal Services has also started a community garden on the lot next to the Hill House (thank you Marcia for the GIANT zucchini).
Thanks to Circle of Love and Neighborhood Renewal Services for meeting with us, and we look forward to visiting and working with our other members in the future!
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X