2021-22 Charity of the Year: Foster Care Closets of Michigan!
As we know, this has been a difficult stretch for just about every person, family, and industry. The impact of the pandemic has left many nonprofits trying to make ends meet, while working twice as hard to provide critical information, materials, and services too Michiganders.
For this reason, we are excited to announce our 2021-22 COY program will focus on providing as many items and exposure to a coalition of Foster Care Closets across the state!
What started with one conversation with the Michigan Foster Care Closet quickly evolved into a BIGGER idea, where Michigan students can help Foster Care closets across the state.
For this year’s state service project, we are asking schools to host a clothing drive, focusing on specific “shopping lists” from these incredible organizations. All collected items can be brought to the state conference to complete our onsite service project and allow these wonderful organizations to provide for families around the state.
Service leadership is one of our primary core values and we are excited to continue our work supporting outstanding nonprofits around the state of Michigan – while allowing your students to exercise their passions and commitment to making our state a better place to live and grow.
Meet our New Friends!
Macomb Foster Care
Contact: Kevin McAlpine
Email: macombfostercloset@gmail.com
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/MacombFosterCloset
Website: https://macombfostercloset.org/about-us
Mid Michigan Foster and Adoptive Coalition
Contact: Sheila Barnaby
Email: gratiotfostercloset@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mmfac
Website:https://midmichiganfac.org/?fbclid=IwAR3p8BwRDzMYIH26IO0Rn1y7taYhngOxaO_WkSUyhDCcfqiEvgKqnaWHj-w
Western Wayne County: Foster Closet
Contact: Allison Johnson
Email: fcmwwc@gmail.com
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/FosterClosetofMichiganWesternWayneCountyBranch
Downriver Foster Closet
Contact: Charity Bronson and Kimberly Allen
Email: downriverfostercloset@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Downriverfostercloset
Website:http://www.downriverfostercloset.com/?fbclid=IwAR1DSirFbhP3nIoCGX9OfjSgm_PvHdgW60VN_vCVZ8-w-pao1eBexpLSmlQ
Foster Closet of Isabella County
Contact: Holly Hansen-Watson
Email: isabella@fosterclosetofmichigan.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FosterClosetOfIsabellaCounty
Michigan Foster Care Closet (Ann Arbor, Plymouth and Lenawee)
Ann Arbor Contact: Jennie Sharp
Email: annarbor@michiganfostercarecloset.org
Website: https://www.michiganfostercarecloset.org/ann-arbor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MFCCA2
Plymouth Contact: Rachael Secord
Email: plymouth@michiganfostercarecloset.org
Website: https://www.michiganfostercarecloset.org/locations/plymouth/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichiganFosterCareClosetMainBranch
Oakland County Foster Closet
Contact: Michele Austin
Email: Oakland@fosterclosetofmichigan.org
Website:https://www.ocfostercloset.org/?fbclid=IwAR1nZ1dpd_WatEQefG1o6DBbi3ASR1_x6sKKXVfku6IddBME9lANjGIUKdk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OaklandCountyFosterCloset
U.P. Foster Closet
Website: http://www.upfostercloset.org/?fbclid=IwAR37ozX_pxmP5i8nVib1F9MkqTqrCnqomHcE_uXlHM0n8g2LrAhuVijBfLo
Delta
Email: upfcdc@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UPFosterClosetofDeltaCounty/
Dickinson
Email: upfcodc@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UPFosterClosetofDickinsonCountyInc/
Marquette
Email: upfcmc@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UPFosterClosetofMarquetteinc/
Livingston County Kids Closet
Check back for a complete shopping list soon!
Extra Credit: Supporting your own Local COY - Here's how it works:
This year student groups can look to their own community for nonprofits that are doing amazing work supporting their neighbors and community members. Your student group will review what nonprofits operate in your community and will select one local nonprofit that you would like to highlight as your school's very own “Charity of the Year.” Here’s where the fun starts! After you’ve made your selection, we want schools reaching out to learn more about that nonprofits mission, benefits, organizational structure and the value they provide to your community. This information will be collected by your student group and turned into a 10-minute or less video overview of your selection.
This project gives educators the chance to encourage students to take a closer look at service leadership in their own communities, learn more about community initiatives and projects and provides students with a curricular activity (with an informational interview.) In the video overview students will also highlight their work to support this nonprofit, whether that be with fundraising, material collection, a social media awareness campaign or other creative ideas.
Help Promote Local Charities and their Work!
After your group has made the selection, follow our informational collection guide to help craft a custom video. These videos can be posted to your schools social media accounts, to local city webpages or shared with other media outlets to help spread the word and provide more exposure!
Informational Interview Video Should Include the Following (click to enlarge):
Students are encouraged to use video editing software to enhance the presentation and incorporate photos, video from student fundraising, awareness projects, images or promotional created, and video from the interview with your charities spokesperson.
Example Submissions
Eisenhower High School
Salem High School