House Manager Report
September 15, 2022


1. Client Statistics
We served 403 families in August, 627 adults and 734 children. This is 138 families more than we served in July. In August we had 146 new clients. We averaged 18 families a day in August compared to an average of 13 families a day in July.

2. Virus impact
Since July 1st, 2021, clients do not need an appointment to shop.
Since November 8th, 2021, donors do not need an appointment to make donations.

3. Volunteers
We have 40 regular volunteers.
Because of the increase in clients and donations we are looking for regular volunteers to receive, sort, tag, and hang up clothes, sort, and place household items on shelves for selection, and check clients in and out.
We particularly need one or two volunteers who can help with receiving donations on Thursday and Friday morning from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm (time can be slightly flexible). These volunteers will be responsible for greeting donors at the back door, carrying in and sorting donations. To perform this job you must be able to lift as much as 30 pounds and communicate well with our donors.

4. Donation Status
Our current needs are:
Pots and pans
Silverware
Tennis shoes, both men’s and women’s
Small household appliances; microwaves, toasters, coffee pots, blenders, fans
Can openers
Underwear preferably new, size small, men’s and women’s
Pajamas; men’s, women’s, and children’s
Men’s jeans
King, queen, and twin sheets
King, queen, and twin blankets/comforters
Towels and washcloths
Vacuum cleaners


5. Business/Community Contacts
University of Michigan Health/Michigan Medicine did a drive for school supplies consisting of backpacks, toiletries, socks, underwear, menstrual products, personal care products, and general school supplies. We were amazed at their generosity!

6. Community Outreach
On Saturday, September 10, we had five students from the Saline High School Key Club volunteer with us. They were a great help with the kids’ department. They will be back on October 8.


7. Facility Status
The elevator is not certified by the State of Michigan. We reminded our landlord of this on April 25, 2022. The current certificate expired July 26, 2019.

8. Safety Issues
On Monday, September 12, a volunteer lost his wallet at the House. We found it on the floor with cash and cards removed. The volunteer filed a report with the police.

9. Incidents
On Thursday, September 8, there was a client who didn’t want to leave the building at closing time. Once the volunteers got him outside the House he didn’t remember where he lived. We called the police. They came and helped him.

10. Areas that need attention
People are dumping donations on the back porch after donation hours. Very often those items are in bad shape or are items we don’t take, recently they included large pieces of furniture and a kitchen sink.

11. Client Stories
One recent client made an impression on me. She was shopping for her brother who had been kicked out of his house by his girlfriend and had nothing, no clothes and no household items. The client was very positive and commented “Don’t worry about us, God has us!”

12. Overall Appearance and Organization
The store area is looking well.


Submitted by Gemaya Griffin, House Manager