Michigan City Nonprofits and Charities

My son has attended Children's camp and gets behavioral management. It's a great organization that assists people with disabilities.

The Unity Foundation of LaPorte County (UFLC), is a gem to LaPorte County. The wide-ranging grant opportunities that they offer to individuals along with organizations is amazing. My organization has been the recipient of multiple grants, from continuing leadership skills to general operation grants, to receiving water fountains for our guests at our facility. They continue to be connected to the community and help those helping those in need.

We are preparing our children in Michigan for a successful kindergarten and beyond.

Dogs Changing Lives<br><br>I have volunteered with therapy dogs for 12 years. My team which currently consists of Maddie, a Great Pyrenees, Bugsy, a puggle, and Trillian, a terrier mix, works with the special needs program at Joy School. I consider every time we go to 'work' to be an inspiration but since I have to narrow it down I will focus on the early moments with my first canine partner Peanut, a pit bull mix.<br><br>When we first started I didn't know what to expect from the kids or my dog. I was nervous but Peanut seemed to know exactly what to do. With no formal training she walked into that classroom and won over even the most reluctant student. One young blind boy with autism was always loud and constantly in motion. The teacher brought him over to us and he became quiet. He sat still for a long time and the teacher commented that she had never seen him sit that calmly.<br><br>Peanut was a motivator for a little boy with cerebral palsy to learn to walk. He wanted to take the dog for a walk and his teacher wanted him to use his walker. If he wanted to walk Peanut he had to challenge himself to learn. By the time he started high school he was walking unaided.<br><br>Peanut's inspiration extended beyond the special needs classroom. She also helped to change people's opinions about pit bulls. Staff and students both commented on how they believed all pits were aggressive until they met Peanut.<br><br>I love what my dogs and I do with the kids. We change lives in so many ways. I am always working with the teachers to find new ways to incorporate the dogs into the curriculum. The teachers love having us but it's the reaction of the students when the dogs walk in that keeps me coming back.<br>http://mcas.k12.in.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=13<br>

The Voyager Program was founded by Dr. Bill Gerber, a local Pastor in Michigan City, IN to address the growing drop-out statistics in then two local high schools -- Elstong & Rogers. The program targeted those most vulnerable and initially started with ten students from each school. Mentoring & tutoring were the primary tools that began as an after-school effort. Summers were spent in the wilderness environment of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota and southern Ontario, Canada. Students were pulled out of class to receive tutoring and mentoring - to include their home environment. A "cash for grades' program rewarded students with savings bonds donated by local businesses. The bonds were held in the student's name until graduation. At years ten & twenty of the program it consistently graduated 93% of those enrolled.

I need some hours to complete my community service and I get along with kids very well and I think I can help

Corner to Cornerstone is that organization that when all else fails, you can come there, this organization has helped many people get jobs, housing specific training and all kinds of FYI's, they've helped people with clothing for job interviews, children hats and gloves and the list goes on. To Cornerstone, continue to serve your community with a big heart and big smiles, this community appreciates what you do.

Was privledged to work with Lubeznik staff on a successful Empty Bowls program to benefit the food pantries of LaPorte County and the Food Bank of Northern Indiana. By the coordinated use of their art programs with the county schools and after school programs, we created enthusiam not only for the fundraising results to feed the hungry but for the process of feeding them minds of our bowl creators -- Education in Art and education in Hunger relief both were successful. Another event is scheduled with the Lubeznik Center for February 2011 and we are looking forward to another successful partnership!

This organization is so focused on helping the homeless, hungry and individuals with disabilities mostly through a food pantry. The number of people served is increasing every week. They served 13,711 in 2009 and so far this year have served close to 8,000. What is so impressive about this non-profit is that they share their food and other resources with churches, woman's shelters and other food pantries to ensure everyone receives help. This is the most unselfish organization that I have been happy to volunteer for.