House Manager Report
May 15, 2021



1. Client Statistics

We served 113 families in April, 191 adults and 164 children. This is 47 families less than we served in March. We had 18 new clients. We averaged 5 families a day.

2. Virus impact

Clients don’t have to wait anymore for an appointment. Most clients can come in the day they call or the next day.  We see a slight increase in walk ins. Overall, it has been a lot more quiet with clients. Maybe people are using their stimulus money, or people don’t need much since they still don’t have jobs or their children are still not going to school.
Donors must wait about 2 months for an appointment.
We are still not open on Saturdays.

3. Volunteers

We have 32 regular volunteers and we have one new volunteer.
We had 2 volunteers who were doing their community service hours.
There was a volunteer meeting on Saturday May 17.  Several procedures were discussed and two proposals for the reorganization.

4. Donation Status

Our current needs are:

  • Pots and pans
  • Silverware
  • Men’s tennis shoes
  • Small household appliances – microwaves, toasters, coffee pots, blenders, fans
  • Can openers
  • Girls & boys pajamas – sizes 6 and up
  • Men’s and women’s pajamas
  • Queen sheets
  • King and queen blankets/comforters
  • Towels and wash cloths
  • Cleaning items – brooms, toilet brushes, plungers, vacuum cleaners, mops, etc.


5. Business/Community Contacts

Angels Care managed another sale of residents’ items at Cross Street Village, a senior living apartment complex, and donated the items left over after their sale on April 23. They have been donating to us for several years after each sale (usually 2 times a year).
One of the owners of Top Drawer, a high end women’s consignment store,  came to the House on Thursday May 13.  They will start selling some of our high end clothes, purses and shoes on consignment.

6. Community Outreach

The Michigan Foster Care Closet in Ann Arbor took some of our extra kids donations.  We received infant food and soap from them, since they couldn’t give that to their clients.

I talked to the new RSVP director, who posted an article on her Linked-In page of our meeting. She will use this article in her special edition 50th anniversary newsletter to commemorate that the RSVP grant program is 50 years old.  This will go out to about 450 people.

7. Facility Status

The elevator inspector came on May 5th and Detroit Elevator serviced the elevator on May 7th. There are is still no phone in the elevator.
The landlord will paint the upstairs in the next two weeks.  We are responsible for cleaning the carpet.
The big chunks of asphalt in the parking lot near our dock still haven’t been removed.
The roof where the semi-truck ran into it is now repaired.

8. Safety Issues

None. All the areas are much clearer now.

9. Incidents

There were no incidents.

10. Areas that need attention

In April we implemented our electronic check-in and check-out system.  We are still working on improving the system.
Better oversight of administrative issues needs attention, especially information entered in the new computer system.
We are still overwhelmed by donations.

11. Client Stories

One client has been coming to us for years since her children were small.  She is now bringing her granddaughter who is pregnant to the House.

12. Overall Appearance and Organization

The place continues to look VERY GOOD.



Submitted by Gemaya Griffin, House Manager