...because everyone needs a family...

As N.O.A.H. dives into 2010, entering a new decade of serving the homeless and impoverished individuals in the core area of Detroit, despite the current economic situation, staff has embarked on three separate fundraising activities: 

The first of which includes publishing our first calendar for the year 2010 featuring some of our beloved volunteers.  Costs to produce this product were $1200; to date we have raised nearly $1900.  We ordered 225 jewel case calendars and have 120 remaining and of the 165 wall calendars ordered we have only a handful left. 

Amidst the hustle and bustle of grant season, we did get a chance to send out an appeal letter in November that resulted in raising over $2500. 

Thirdly, the second annual Concert of Thanksgiving garnered over $6750 for N.O.A.H. with low cost to rent the facility and all other expenses were covered by volunteers and staff.   Also during the holiday season we received a gift of $5000 from the George R. & Elise M. Fink Foundation. 

Krista Dover, our US-2 Missionary and Linking Coordinator, has with much assistance from our volunteers, been developing our marketing/public relations efforts during the past year.  We are proud to report that the N.O.A.H. Project now has its own website (www.noahprojectdetroit.org) developed by friend and volunteer Lisa Peyser and its own facebook page.  Krista has been diligently carrying the message of N.O.A.H. to many classes and programs at a number of Universities, schools and church adult and youth groups throughout the Detroit metropolitan area.  Many of these speaking engagements have included a member of our targeted population as well.  These presentations have not only increased the public awareness of N.O.A.H. and our role in advocating for those we serve, but has also resulted in an increase in volunteers and future planning for more participation by schools and youth groups. 

After 10 years of exploring a variety of ways in which our target population can express themselves, we have, along with our Fine Arts Collective, developed a partnership with Birmingham First UMC.  Within the last year, what started as a couple of women wishing to volunteer has developed into Art & Soul.  The number of volunteers has increased to 20 who donate their time, talents, in-kind contributions and financial support.  Presently, they are having bag lunch participants paint bowls that will be sold at a future Empty Bowls fundraiser at Birmingham First UMC.  Take a visit to the 5^th floor kitchen of Central UMC that is currently being renovated into an art studio—a new space where they can store their materials, projects that underway but not yet completed, and conduct workshops and provide work space for more intensive art projects.  Once this has been completed, it will be open for use by N.O.A.H. participants and church members alike. 

In the advent of this new decade, we are celebrating a 10 year history of being graced with 28 interns from various schools and academic backgrounds.   With supervision from the Project Coordinator, this history has been an instrumental aspect of both our civic involvement and advocacy for the population we serve. Many of our past interns continue to be involved with N.O.A.H. in some way.  We are pleased to welcome Alauna Peirce, a BSW Intern from University of Detroit Mercy and Nicole Williams, a MSW Intern from Wayne State University.