• North West Detroit Youth Coalition - summer camp programs & S.A.Y.A.I.H.M. Summer Camp begin in June each year. Visit: www.nwdyc.org  Also Visit /html/camp.htm. 
• New Hope Community Development Non-Profit Housing - Visit: http://newhopedetroit.org/      And/or /html/new_hope_housing.htm

And/or http://newhope.samsbiz.com/

On 7/30/2009, 
On behalf of the children that we serve, I would like to thank the St. Francis community especially the VBS children and parents for their generosity. We gave away back packs and loads of school supplies to more than 100 children in our community on Saturday, July 25.   If there is any way that we can assist you, please let me know.    Thanks Again, Nalani 

On 3/15/2009, 
I just want to thank you and the people of St. Francis for your generous food donation. God has truly blessed us with such a wonderful sister parish! The sixty-six grocery bags will feed and give hope to those in our community in need.  If we can assist you in any way, please don't hesitate to ask.   Thank you, 
Nalani Bradford, Corpus Christi Parish Social Ministry Director
 

On 7/20/2008,  A Backpack & Supply Drive:
From: "nalani_bradford
Sent: Monday, September 15, 2008 
Subject: Re: Backpack Drive
I'm wonderful! Hope all is well your way. The backpack drive was fabulous the children were excited about school. I have pictures ... SOON...
---------------
Donations of Backpacks and School Supplies
are needed for our Sister Parish!  On July 19/20, 2008, please bring donations of needed school supplies and backpacks in new or excellent condition to weekend Mass. At the time of the offertory (when Father invites the children to bring forward canned goods for the poor) place your donation in the basket near the altar. Our parish children will pack the supplies during Vacation Bible School.
School Supplies Needed:
Backpacks (new or in excellent condition); pencils; crayons; washable markers; glue sticks; erasers; child safety scissors; paper tablets (school writing paper); folders; lunch boxes.
        The backpack and school supply drive benefits the disadvantaged children in our sister parish, Corpus
Christi in Detroit and is being organized by our St.
Vincent Service Committee here at St. Francis
Parish. For more information, please contact Ellen
Ward (821-2132) or Chris Mollo (734-222-0629).
Thank you!
 

On 6/22/2008,  Thank you! July 28, 2008
Dear St. Francis of Assisi Parish c/o Chris Mollo:
            Because of your generous food drive, more than 128 children in our summer day camp program enjoyed healthy lunches and snacks.  We served 1523 meals. 

Just to give you a glimpse of the program . . .

Campers began each day with a healthy breakfast including apple sauce, cereal, waffles, and fresh fruit. Then, campers participated in daily exercises. Next, they learned valuable skills in their age appropriate activities: Money Management class, Spanish class, basketball, volleyball, tee-ball and soccer.

 After that, campers enjoyed well-balanced homemade lunches including grilled chicken breast, vegetables, spaghetti, tacos and fresh fruit. In the afternoon, campers enjoyed organized games, Dance/Cheer class, Sign-Language, Drum program, Life Skills and Nutrition class. The camp day ended with reviewing the “Choice is Mine” affirmation and giveaways for the campers who could answer questions about what they learned during the day.

Program highlights . . .

• Manny Harris, a sophomore basketball player from the University of Michigan , talked to the campers about making positive life choices. 

• The entire camp enjoyed a field trip to the Henry Ford Museum .

• Mobile Dentists performed free dental exams, cleanings and x-rays for interested eligible campers.

• Mr. Edwards from Shear Heaven Barbershop provided free hair cuts

• Michigan State University Extension’s (EFNEP) Nutrition program taught campers about proper nutrition necessary for maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle. 

• Mrs. Derschaun Sharpley of the Helping Individuals Succeed Agency presented an exciting, fun and useful dining etiquette seminar.

On behalf of S.A.Y.A. IHM campers, staff and dedicated volunteers, I would like to thank you for your support. Your commitment to helping children in our community is sincerely appreciated. 

Peace and Blessings,

Nalani Bradford, S.A.Y.A. IHM Summer Camp Director and Christian Service Coordinator  for Corpus Christi Catholic Community
 

On 1/20/2008, At our 5 pm Mass on Sunday, January 20, we welcomed 

Thanks to those of you who went out of your way to make this happen:  Michelle Baines, the Corpus Christi’s music minister; Carol Fedewa, the St. Francis’ music minister; and members of St. Francis Peace & Justice committee, especially, Phil Kearney, Patti Yonka & Mary Wakefield.
 
 

On 6/24/2007, Food/Grocery Drive, for Kids in Detroit at our Twin-Parish Youth Camp where: 75% of Kids Cannot Afford Meals.

On Sunday June 24th 2007, a small but enthusiastic group of St. Francis parishioners traveled to our sister parish, Corpus Christi Catholic Community in Detroit, to deliver the groceries gathered during that weekend’s food drive.  The groceries were used to feed lunch to the kids attending the Summer Activities for Youth Achieving Integrated Hearts and Minds (S.A.Y.A. IHM) program (summer day camp). 

S.A.Y.A. IHM is a four-week summer enrichment program for youth ages 6 to 17 in Corpus Christi’s community.  The objective of the program is to provide opportunities for community youth to engage in healthy activities (mind, body and spirit) to develop meaningful skills and relationships that will help them be successful during their summer break and throughout life.

Over 148 youth attended this year’s program.  Most of the families of these children do not have the economic means to pay for the lunches.

The following are words of thanks to you from Nalani (Nikki) Bradford, S.A.Y.A. IHM Summer Camp Director & Christian Service Coordinator of Corpus Christi.

  “Because of your generosity, more than 148 children in our community had an opportunity to develop meaningful skills and relationships that will help them be successful during their summer break and throughout life.”

“On behalf of S.A.Y.A. IHM campers, staff and dedicated volunteers, I would like to thank you for your considerable food donation.  The food provided over 800 meals.  Our staff enjoyed the time spent with St. Francis Parish volunteers during our lunch together and while you all helped to categorize the food items.  Your commitment to helping children in our community is sincerely appreciated.”

For more information and more pictures from this year’s program, please visit www.corpuschristi
-detroit.org/html/camp.htm.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this a very successful food drive!  The generous donation of your money and time is greatly appreciated.

On 1/22/2007, Renee Keogh wrote:    I just received a nice letter from Christine Laing (Formation) at Corpus Christi and thank you letters from six students in her Eucharist class.  We continue to pray for them and will be writing back today, most likely. Christine also sent a copy of a blessing for the signing of our senses. We'll probably do that in our class today too.   Blessings,  Renee

On Saturday, October 21, 2006, Allen Sherzer, Steve Polgar & Scott Wright met with Fr. Don Archambault the pastor at Corpus Christi in Detroit.  Our car pool departed from Ann Arbor at 3PM.  And, we returned to Ann Arbor by about 6PM.

In 2004, Scott Wright made contact with Fr. Don Archambault the pastor at Corpus Christi in Detroit, and formally announced our Twin-Sister-Parish Relationship. Sister Parish Serach  Notes 2004.

Fr. Donald (Don) Archambault the Pastor said, "The people are not so much poor [economically disadvantaged].  The Institutions are poor [economically disadvantaged]." 

Prior to 2006 our Sister Parish was:
St. Gerard Parish, Detroit,  600 families as of October 1, 2004.   The membership is about 70 % Black people & Island people & first generation of African people.   The School Closed in 2004.  The parish community has founded some new non-profit / charitable organizations during the last year.  'New Hope Community Dev. Corp." to renovate homes - non-profit corporation + one also for youth activities in the neighborhood.   We Work on an institutional level ... have a Sister Parish in Hati,  & another sister parish in Detroit. 

New Project IDEAS:

Know the need & see a concrete project where they can do something...

Haiti ... orphanage (self supporting bakery)...    Choir exchange...   Fund development talents... Secretary/Receptionist...  Paint the gym... (paint free?)
Home Shrubs video program...
An Action Oct 21, 2006...
Pastor pulpit exchange...

We hope to begin considering some Long Term (5 year) &  some Short Term (this year) Goals.