Clothes For A Cause
Working as a first grade teacher, Lisa Jelenek noticed something about one of her students. The boy, walking to gym class, had ill-fitting shoes. When she asked the boy about it, he said his parents couldn’t afford shoes. And that’s when Lisa’s idea for opening the Clothesline in Laingsburg came to her. The Clothesline has a simple mission statement:...
Continue ReadingCapital Area Literacy Coalition
The ability to read and write is a basic need for individuals today, yet thousands in the Lansing area are illiterate. The Capital Area Literacy Coalition (CALC) opened in 1985 to help adults and children learn to read, write and speak English. This past year, CALC helped 1,093 adults and children in more than 75 locations. According to U.S. Census statistics...
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Non-Profit Profile: Caring About Kids
Adding the ‘Just Because’ Factor to Foster Kids’ Lives Six hundred and twenty foster children — That’s how many children Caring About Kids (CAK) works with. The number is equal to two elementary schools full, and that’s just in Ingham County. CAK was founded in 1994 and is run entirely by volunteers. The organization was created as a result of...
Continue ReadingNonprofit: Shared Pregnancy
Worried. Confused. Lost. That is what many women are feeling when they arrive at the center. When someone walks through the door of the house-turned-center on Walnut Street in downtown Lansing, she sees bright colors, baby items along the wall and friendly faces willing to help. The Shared Pregnancy Women’s Center has been helping pregnant women in the greater...
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Nonprofit Profile: Capital Area Humane Society
There is an abundance of animals in the Lansing area in need of families. Capital Area Humane Society (CAHS) has many furry companions available for meet and greets daily. Dogs and cats are the most popular dwellers at CAHS, however pocket pets such as rats, chinchillas, bunnies and even birds can be found at its facilities from time to time. In order to ensure...
Continue ReadingNonprofit Profile: Hannah’s House
Every day, thousands of women get pregnant, and thousands of women lose their jobs. For those women who experience both at the same time — or otherwise find themselves in a rough patch they cannot imagine raising a baby in — there is hope. Hannah’s House is the answer, functioning as a shelter for women who have nowhere to go and are financially unprepared...
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Jessica Yorko: A Voice for Community
Close your eyes and imagine a city filled with community spaces where neighbors and children gather and share a beautiful winter afternoon; with buildings and alleys draped in murals; where biking isn’t just a leisure activity reserved for the weekends, but a major mode of transportation. Now, for a moment, imagine that city is Lansing. “There are places...
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