Service benefits our communities and us!

Like many, I enjoy the feeling of giving.

It likely began at a young age growing up in a family with four brothers and four sisters in which being aware of others’ needs was part of my daily life. I especially think of my mom who, despite raising a large family, always made time to volunteer, greet new neighbors and offer assistance. And she did so in simple ways and in a humble manner—never insisting or expecting that her children act accordingly. But her example was ingrained nonetheless, and resulted in the rest of us having a similar desire to reach out and help others.

That same attitude of giving is prevalent among my coworkers at the League. And in my 37 years working here, it doesn’t seem to matter who comes and who goes, the overall culture is that of a caring, giving staff.

You hear regularly about the work the League and our dedicated staff is doing at the policy level to enhance the lives of Michigan residents and families, but you may not be aware of other efforts we’re involved in.

One in particular is our annual staff donation drive for Haven House—a vital organization in our Lansing community that provides emergency housing and support services for families with children. The shelter helps families who are homeless prepare for permanent housing by developing and promoting self-sufficiency, stability and financial responsibility. We have been proudly supporting Haven House and the families they serve for several years, and we do it during the summer months when service organizations are often in greater need and Haven House supplies run very low.

Most of the items we donate are used to create “Welcome Home” kits that are given to families when they move into their new homes. These kits include many necessary household items that cannot be purchased with food stamps.

The staff at Haven House is equally committed and passionate about helping others, and we are happy to do our part to support them. It’s always fun to see their delighted faces when we drop off our donations, and even greater to think about the families who will be using them. This year, Haven House Volunteer and Special Projects Coordinator Leah Weidner, who wasn’t there when we made the delivery, emailed later to say, “Just got in from a training and was so excited to see the hall lined with items . . . Thank you again and from the entire staff and families of Haven House. We’re so grateful to have you as a community partner.”

I feel very fortunate to be part of a team in which our leader, Gilda Jacobs, not only encourages staff to engage in community activities, but also allows time for us to do so throughout the year. While our work focuses on broad policy change, we also value community service and the great people and organizations who have made helping others their mission as well.

— Mary Logan