Walking for Warmth 2012

Congratulations to Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency (WMCAA) on a successful 16th Annual Walk for Warmth to raise funds to heat the homes of people in our neighborhoods that need help, at Westland Mall last Saturday. There was a nice turnout and The Information Center was well represented by our team of walkers who were pleased to be part of a fun morning dedicated to a very good cause. Those who are having problems paying their energy bills can call DTE energy at (800) 477-4747 for help in going over payment programs and other helpful resources such as: the State emergency relief program for low income households who have received a shutoff notice, the Home Heating Credit from the Michigan Department of Treasury to use towards heating bills, and The Heat And Warmth Fund (THAW) for low income households during times of crisis. The number to call for information on WMCAA programs and services is (734) 246-2280. For more information on all services and supports available to the community call The Information Center’s free helpline at (734) 282-7171.

Jobs Available

The Plymouth and Northville locations of Home Depot store are having a job fair on Wednesday, March 14^th.

In order to attend you must email: tradtke@rossprov.com and sign up for one of three time slots: 9 a.m., 10 a.m., or 11 a.m. You must sign up in advance and fill out an application online ahead of time. On Wednesday you should be prepared to interview (business attire). The event will start promptly at 9 a.m., and each of the sessions will start promptly and last one hour. The address of the Job Fair location is 30206 Plymouth Road in Livonia (48150). For more information call (734) 466-4688.

This Job Never Ceases To Amaze Me

Earlier this month I went to Ann Arbor radio station, WAAM TALK 1600 and was interviewed for the "Bridges to People" Sunday, February 12, 2012 morning show at 7:30 am. I’ve been briefly interviewed on radio before by phone, but this was my first time in a radio station. “Bridges to People" is a weekly radio program which discusses the social issues of our day while attempting to bring sound resolutions to those problems. It is hosted by Dr. Sean O'Neal, Lead Pastor of Stewart Road Christian Ministries Center, in Monroe.

It actually was a pleasant but meaningful conversation that seemed to go by pretty quick. I guess I was enjoying the conversation.

Funny thing is I ended up last Sunday morning going out to the car, starting it up, and sitting with the car running and a mug of coffee to listen to the car radio and hear how it sounded. I think that a couple of voices were heard (albeit at 7:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning) offering a brief alternative view to those “others” that seem so prevalent on radio and other media these days.

How to Access Health Help

This Saturday, February 18, 2012 a free health clinic for individuals without medical coverage will be provided from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Lincoln Park located at 1724 Fort Park Boulevard in Lincoln Park (behind Tim Horton’s at the corner of Anne). Receive a free check up for heart health, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose (blood sugar); for resources and information about diabetes, nutrition, health and wellness. Specialists will help you understand if you might be eligible for Medicaid, disability, other medical and non-medical benefits or supports. If you don’t have health insurance coverage today, you should go.

Poor Does Not Define A Person, Actions Do

Below is a quote from a former poor person. In an unpublished autobiographical manuscript that I discovered written by my father who recently passed away, I found this. My father grew up as a child in a very impoverished family, but through ongoing pursuit of education and hard work he ultimately became a distinguished professor at a major Big Ten university:

"I actually considered my inheritance, in the way of physical and intangible assets to come not just from my ancestors, but from benefactors that included relatives, intimate friends and compari who treated us D'Angelo children as kin and were regarded as such by us. It also includes charitable friends and neighbors, private agencies, schools and state and local agencies indispensable for the poor who seek redemption. Without the kind help of these living entities life would have been extremely difficult for us. This outside assistance was not an infrequent handout, but was often repeated graciously and extended, but never fully acknowledged for what it was. Our parents depended on it even if they wouldn't admit it to themselves or to the rest of us. The benefits we received through their interventions were material and physical in the form of food, fuel, clothing, money and experiential opportunities that enriched our lives. Just as important in the list of benefits to us were real but intangible things like love, attention, acceptance, warm relations and recognition of our worth. Whatever deficiencies or incapacity's our parents possessed in providing these refinements were supplemented by many benefactors that I acknowledge with gratitude."

Why Should We Care About Other People? (Part 2)

Why should we care about other people? While pondering that question recently many thoughts came to mind and stirred my emotions and intellect. This is part two of those observations.

Why should we care about other people?

Reaching out to others is good for our souls, especially when we know we won't be getting anything in return from them. Some people are motivated by the thought of eternal salvation, others figure it’s the least they can do given the opportunities they have received in their lifetime.

The better we can make things for others, the better we make the world for ourselves as well. Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.

Cooperation can actually get more done than unbridled competition. There are legitimate selfish reasons for cooperation, even if you don't care about other people.

It’s not hard. Things like avoiding littering, respecting our natural resources, and not wasting food are easy. In the big picture of things we want to help our species survive.

There is no law that says you have to care about people who don't care about you. Many of us are opposed to doing anything just because someone demanded that we should. That said, there may be reasons why you may WANT to care about people. The foremost reason people may not care about others is because they are not yet able to care about themselves.

There is a period of every one's life when it is important, and healthy, to be selfish. You need to take care of yourself. It is also important to be self-centered when you haven't been focusing on taking care of yourself. However, you find yourself in a place where you are happy and have satisfaction with your progress in life a lot sooner when you begin to care about others and help them experience some happiness themselves.

When you encounter people who cannot care about you, it is often because they cannot care for themselves. You need to be strong enough and secure enough to offer assistance to them if they are willing to accept it.

Try it for awhile and see what it can do to your life! In the scheme of things, we're all family. It doesn't do any harm to care for everyone.

Why should you care about other people?
Because we are all around you!

Why Should We Care About Other People? (Part 1)

Why should we care about other people? While pondering that question recently many thoughts came to mind and stirred my emotions and intellect.

Why should we care for other people?
That is what we should do as the human species!!!

Karma: what goes around comes around. If you were in a situation where you needed help and no one cared, you would be furious that no one was there for you.

Caring about others makes us happy and content. It is amazing what a little “peace on earth, good will towards men” spirit does to people in December.

Some people have no one else to care about them. Orphans, or the little old lady down the street whose children ignore her. The homeless schizophrenic who can’t afford his medications and now he's on the streets. Who else is going to help them?

The welfare of those countless others affects you, too. When lots of people are out of work, they don't have money to spend on products and services from the businesses which employ your immediate friends and family.

When kids don't have educational and employment opportunities; when adults can't get a job and wind up on the streets, they are far more likely to get involved in criminal activity just to survive; which affects everyone else.

Did you know it costs about the same amount of money to have someone in prison for a year as it does to send them to college for a year?

We may never know that the kid we take the time to help may turn out to be the scientist whose work finds the cure to cancer, or autism, or Alzheimer’s disease or comes up with the secret to an affordable car that gets 100 miles per gallon.

In closing, let's take a moment to think about those in need. The next time someone turns to you for help, please take time to think about how your response affects the person asking for help and how it may ultimately affect you and your community.