Helping residents with their basic needs is an important goal of the Albion-Homer United Way. Funding these programs is particularly important during the current AHUW fund raising campaign.
As an example AHUW key support is for the Community Table of Albion to provide food for area residents. Funding has helped maintain food distribution and a food pantry. The CTA is under the umbrella of the Albion Health Care Alliance.
Drive through food distribution is held three times monthly at Albion College campus behind Wesley Hall at 705 E. Michigan Ave. Coordinator is Amanda Cheladyn. In addition there is a food pantry which is open during designated hours. Both the food distribution and the pantry are designed to provide increased food security to the greater Albion community.
This past year another AHUW grant has helped fund an emergency roof replacement program through the Battle Creek Area Habitat for Humanity. This addresses housing as one of the basic needs being met by AHUW monies.
The program is for a limited number of Albion residents who need new roofs to save their homes. According to Habitat Executive Director Robert Phillips the AHUW grant added to an existing Calhoun County grant for roof replacement. He stated, “We have a long list of people in Albion that need new roofs before it is too late. These are for people who cannot afford new roofs and without a roof they are going to lose their homes.”
Internet access continues to be accessible in Homer through an Albion-Homer United Way grant to maintain Hot Spots at the Homer Public Library.
The grant made it possible to offset monthly service fees for the current Hot Spots at the Homer library. With this funding the library can continue to help provide internet service for those families without access or with limited access to the web. Previously the library received another Albion-Homer United Way grant to purchase six Hot Spots
According to Homer Public Library Director Trixie McMeeking the Hot Spots are used by a variety of patrons including young adults, families and senior citizens. The Hot Spot program has helped over 200 patrons with internet access for school, work and entertainment purposes.