06/07/2026
CARES Sunday Update, June 7, 2026
Hello Friends,
Happy first week of June!
It is hard to believe we have already entered the sixth month of the year. The days seem to move faster and faster, but here at CARES, every day continues to remind us how blessed we are to serve alongside such an incredible community.
As summer approaches, your CARES team is already hard at work preparing for the months ahead. For many of the families we serve, summer means children are home from school, food costs increase, and the need for support becomes even greater. Our team is focused, energized, and ready to help meet those needs.
Monday morning, our From Hunger to Hope Dinner Committee gathered to begin planning for next year’s event. Mary W. wasted no time at all. Before the meeting was even a distant memory, she had already secured the St. Mary’s Cultural Center for April 22, 2027.
Mark your calendars now because you won’t want to miss it.
One of the things that fills me with the most pride is watching our team continually look for ways to better serve our guests. This week, conversations began about increasing the amount of fresh produce available in our pantry. The Monday team immediately went into action.
My heart was full listening to volunteers discuss where we could create additional space for fresh corn, tomatoes, and even whole pineapples. What an incredible blessing it is not only to receive such abundance, but to place it directly into the hands of families who need it most.
Tuesday, June 2nd, was a day I have dreamed about for a very long time. At 6:30 in the morning, we removed the barricades and officially opened our brand-new parking lots.
For the past nine years, I imagined seeing a safe, beautiful parking lot welcoming our guests, volunteers, and community partners. That dream came true and what a wonderful feeling.
Watching vehicles pull in and seeing families step onto a smooth, safe parking lot was far more meaningful than I can put into words. It was not just a parking lot. It was another step forward in creating a Campus of Hope that treats every person who visits CARES with dignity, respect, and care.
Later that morning, Mr. Hall traveled from Utah to tour our campus. Kitty and I were honored to spend some real meaningful time with him following his tour of the campus and the operation.
One moment stood out to me. He shared with our team how impressed he was that every phone call had been answered in a timely manner, every required document had been submitted, and that our project video had already been completed before he arrived. That is worth a BIG Thank you to the team.
That compliment belongs entirely to our staff, volunteers, and partners. You are all incredible.
I say it often, but there are never enough ways to say thank you. CARES only succeeds because of the incredible people who choose to invest their time, talents, resources, and hearts into this mission.
Wednesday was another full day of planning, meetings, volunteer projects, and serving guests. It was also a busy day doing Duck Race stuff, it will be here soon, mark your calendars for 8-5-26.
Wednesday was the second day of distribution, and it was incredibly busy. Our intake team continued welcoming new households as more families reach out for support.May became the busiest month in CARES history. During the month, 905 households visited CARES, representing 1,890 individuals.
By the time Wednesday ended, we had already served more than 200 households in just the first two days of distribution. The need continues to grow, but so does the determination of our team.
If you can help support our work with a donation or sponsorship for our upcoming duck race it will help us feed our families over these upcoming summer months.
This week, the amazing volunteers from Omron joined us and tackled several important projects around campus. They cleaned and planted in our atrium, painted sections of fencing, removed dead landscaping, and helped improve the appearance of our buildings.
As I looked across the campus throughout the day, I saw volunteers keeping young children entertained while parents shopped. I watched food arrive and quickly find its way onto shelves. I saw checkout volunteers laughing, smiling, and helping families pack the groceries they selected for their families. It is one of the most beautiful things I witness every month. Happy faces everywhere. Volunteers sharing hugs. Children smiling. Guests expressing gratitude. Volunteers responded with genuine warmth and kindness. As guests leave, I often hear, “Thank you so much.”
Just as often, I hear our volunteers reply, “Thank you for coming. We will see you next month.” Those simple moments are what make CARES so special.
Friday was another great day in our warehouse. Our team reviewed the remaining food inventory from distribution and recognized that some of our donated products would not last until next week’s operations. Rather than risk any food going unused, we immediately shared those blessings with other food pantries throughout Metro Detroit.
We know we distribute thousands of pounds of food every month, but we also believe abundance should be shared whenever possible. Because of our vehicles, our warehouse operations, and our incredible driving team, we are able to pick up food and move food where it is needed most.
One point of pride for our entire organization is that we have reduced food waste to less than 1%. That number reflects the commitment of an amazing team determined to be good stewards of every donation entrusted to CARES.
Friday also brought exciting news for the future. We have officially partnered with the Lineage Foundation to strengthen and enhance our Community Impact Study with Michigan State University. This collaboration will help us better understand the needs within our communities, measure the impact of our programs, and identify opportunities to serve families even more effectively in the years ahead.
We are grateful to both Lineage Foundation and Michigan State University for joining us on this important journey.
Now, just to tease next week’s Sunday Update a little bit, I invite you to drive by Colette’s Place and take a look at what the incredible Wasmer Brothers Landscaping team has been working on. Trust me, there is much more to come.
You might think the week would be complete at this point, but not for our CARES volunteers.
This weekend, our amazing team members will be at the Farmington Farmers Market across from Goetz Farm selling Duck Race tickets and Duck Stuff. Be sure to stop by and say hello.
With grocery prices continuing to rise, one lucky duck owner will win $5,200 in Busch’s gift cards. That is a prize that could certainly help a family stretch their food budget.
Sunday, while many people are enjoying a well-earned day of rest, one of our dedicated volunteers will be picking up food donations from our community partner and bringing it back to CARES so they can help feed families in the days ahead.
That is the spirit of CARES. People helping people. Neighbors lifting neighbors. Hope creating hope.
And there you have it, another week in the life of CARES and our Campus of Hope.
As I close this week, I find myself reflecting on something very simple.
Every parking lot stone, every can of food, every volunteer hour, every donation, every partnership, every prayer, and every act of kindness leaves a footprint on this campus.
Those footprints tell the story of a community that refuses to look away when someone is struggling.
Together, we are building far more than programs, buildings, gardens, pathways, and food distributions.
Together, we are building hope.
Thank you for walking this journey with us, believing in our mission, and helping CARES become a place where people discover that even in life’s most difficult moments, they are never alone.
Until next week, take CARES and continue being the reason someone believes tomorrow can be better than today.
