Baldwin Center Inc

Results: The Baldwin Center operates a menu of programs serving our neighbors from the very youngest to the very oldest. In cooperation with other local agencies and with the help of local congregations, volunteers and a large amount of in-kind contributions, Baldwin was able to offer assistance and support through the following projects and programs in 2011:   Feed • Baldwin Family Soup Kitchen – 66,405 meals were served in 2011 (43,835 lunches and 4,680 dinners). • Homeless Breakfast and Shower Program -men and women receive food and a hot shower. 7,246 breakfasts were served in 2011 and 589 showers were taken. • Youth Program- During the after school program (dinner and snack) and during the summer enrichment camp (breakfast, lunch and snack), children are fed. 9,040 meals were served in Baldwin's youth program in 2011. • Holiday Food Distribution - 621 families received four weeks' worth of food including fixings for a holiday meal in a basket at Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2011. • Food Recovery - Day old bread, baked goods and other fresh food items are collected six days a week by volunteers from area food markets, local farmers, and restaurants, for distribution to local families, free of charge. • Urban Garden- Baldwin has three gardening sites on its property; two traditional gardens and a 1,440 square foot hoophouse which provides year round gardening. Youth and other community members tend and harvest the garden. Food is used in the soup kitchen, sold at market and also brought home to the youth families. • Emergency Food Boxes- 43 boxes of emergency food were distributed to families in need. • Focus: HOPE Food Distribution Program - Once a month Pontiac senior citizens received a delivery of commodity food items. 1,650 boxes of food were delivered in 2011 • Summer Lunch- Baldwin, along with local partners, provided 1,879 summer lunches to area children. Clothe • Clothing Closet Program – 14,696 low income individuals and families visited the Clothing Closet in 2011. They received clean clothing, sheets, blankets and small house hold items free of charge. Victims of fires, residents of the local domestic violence and substance abuse shelters also used the facility. 88 HAVEN clients, the local domestic violence shelter, used the clothing closet and an additional 45 residents of local substance abuse shelters used the program. • Lighten Your Load – 339 individuals and families used the washers and dryers at the Baldwin to wash 1,404 loads of laundry in 2011. • Hats and Gloves- Hats and gloves are distributed to all at the soup kitchen throughout the winter months. 551 sets of hats and gloves were distributed in 2011. • Holiday Store Program – 1,315 low-income individuals received clothing and other gift items during the Christmas holiday. • Baby Food/Diaper Program – Donations of baby food and formula and 233 sets of diapers were passed on to clients who need temporary assistance feeding and diapering their babies. 37 newborn layettes were also distributed. • Feminine Hygiene- 187 women were provided with feminine hygiene products. • Back-to-School Program – 60 children received new school clothes, underwear, socks, and shoes to begin the school year; over 600 school bags filled with new school supplies were given out. Educate • After School Program – Open to elementary and middle school students Monday-Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., this program offers a hot meal, tutoring, and enrichment and recreation activities. Over 150 students were enrolled in the program and on average 35 children attended each day. • Summer Enrichment Day Camp – 63 children (1st-6th grades) participated in a seven-week summer program that included morning reading and math tutoring sessions and afternoon activities such as arts & crafts, outdoor sports, and field trips to museums, the beach and other local attractions. 47 children also spent a week at Camp Kinawind in Boyne Falls, Michigan; the older children went backpacking on South Manitou Island in Lake Michigan. • Trips for Kids- children were taken on mountain bike rides at area parks every other Saturday during the summer. • GED- Baldwin offers free computer based GED assistance. Four individuals received their GED certification. • ESL- Baldwin partners with Hispanic Education and Life Skills Program to offer English as a Second Language classes three times a week. Classes also include citizenship and computer instruction. Empower • Client Needs – In cooperation with other area human service agencies we help families and individuals with rent, utility bills, and other housing needs. $120,686 was distributed to families in need during 2011. • Pharmacy Assistance – Prescription cost for low-income clients who are unable to afford necessary medications. • Bicycles- 41 Bicycles were given to those needing transportation in 2011. • Case Management- In addition to meeting emergency financial needs Baldwin’s case manager helps individuals budget and reach out to other systems of support. • Justice for Our Neighbors- Baldwin hosts an immigration legal clinic for low-income residents once a month. • Alcoholics Anonymous – Meetings are on-site Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays. • Health Classes- Diabetes coaching and yoga classes were offered weekly. • Flu Shots, Health Screening- area health providers come to administer flu shots and conduct blood pressure and diabetes screening monthly. 55 flu shots were given at Baldwin. The Detroit Presbytery also sponsored a one-day health fair with a variety of health services offered. Significant accomplishments in 2011 include expanding our GED, fitness, wellness and urban gardening programs, being named a Charter One Champion in Action, and in 2011 Baldwin began offering evening meals twice a week. Baldwin also continues leveraging our relationship with Oakland University to strengthen our academic tutoring and expanding our fitness programs for youth. Additionally, a new relationship with Feed the Need began where area restaurants sponsor a meal in the soup kitchen 1-2 times a month.

Target demographics: The Baldwin Center serves the emergency basic needs of the poor in Pontiac. Pontiac encompasses zip codes 48340, 48341, 48342. Most of the people who receive services at Baldwin live in zip code 48342. Baldwin serves the very young through the very old. The neighborhood (census tract 1417), in which the Baldwin Center is located and the City of Pontiac are home to a large proportion of disadvantaged families and individuals.

Direct beneficiaries per year: 50,000+

Geographic areas served: Pontiac, Michigan

Programs: Today Baldwin’s mix of programs include the Family Kitchen which provides meals seven days a week; the clothing closet which provides used clothing to approximately 100 individuals a day; and the youth center where more than thirty-five youth gather each day after school and in the summer for academic support, a warm meal and engaging enrichment opportunities. The Center also provides laundry facilities, commodity distribution to low-income seniors, health screenings, healthy living classes, household items for fire victims, GED preparation, a holiday gift and food program, case management services and homeless prevention financial assistance for those facing evictions or utility shutoffs. In 2010 Baldwin has expanded its urban garden program to include a 1,440 square foot hoophouse that provides year-round growing opportunities and now hosts an English as a Second Language school.