Catholic Charities

Launches a New Community Center Partnership

The corner of Fifth Avenue and Chippewa Street in downtown Flint has a long history of service to the people of Genesee County.  Now, more than 150 years after the first church or school was opened on the site, Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties is preserving that legacy as it takes on the ownership of the St. Michael/Schools of Choice Program building and launching an ambitious community center project that brings together a full spectrum of human service agencies.  “This is something we’ve wanted to do for a long time.  The opportunity was too great to pass up,” according to Vicky Schultz, president and CEO of Catholic Charities.  “We are now able to both extend our mission of providing help and creating hope, and safeguard the legacy of St. Michael Parish, which has faithfully served Genesee County since 1843.  We are excited to be joined in this project by two of the area’s most vital organizations:  Resource Genesee and Genesee County Community Mental Health (CMH).”

The school was closed  in May 2010 and boarded up following the move of Flint’s School of Choice to Northwestern High School, after 37 years at St. Michael.  “There were plenty of rumors flying around, but in the end we are grateful to St. Michael Church for being such good stewards of the property, and for allowing us to put the building to good use.  All of the services offered in this facility will be offered free of charge,” says Schultz.  Catholic Charities Project Manager, Jim Hall, agrees, “The building has remained in nearly constant use since it opened in 1927; it is in excellent condition.” Catholic Charities moved its Community Closet to the west end (Root Street entrance) of the main floor, and on November 1, 2010, Holy Angels Soup Kitchen, (incorporating the existing sandwich program) began serving hot meals in the former school cafeteria on Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.  St. Michael Church continues its Saturday morning meals (10 to 11 a.m.) from this location. 

            Catholic Charities welcomes Resource Genesee and Community Mental Health as partners in the project. “We needed to find just the right fit.  We couldn’t have found better collaborators for this venture than Resource Genesee and CMH,” stated Schultz.  Resource Genesee plans to relocate its operations, including the One Stop Housing Resource Center, to the new community center.  Frank Woods, Director of One Stop, is looking forward to the possibilities of the new center.  “People across the Midwest are watching the project with great interest,” stated Woods. “We are one of the few sites offering such a complete array of services.”  Kristie Schmeige, Director of Substance Abuse Services at CMH, is calling the concept a “recovery supercenter.”  CMH plans to offer recovery services from the new community center.  “It will truly offer everything.  It will be possible for someone to come in, take a shower, wash their clothes, receive personal needs items, complete a resume, eat a hot meal, read a book, play cards or a game of basketball, or nearly any other service they might need.” 

The Most Reverend Earl Boyea, Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Lansing, which includes Genesee County, is pleased by this new initiative.  “It is our duty as Christians to do all we can in the service of God’s children.  Catholic Charities and St. Michael Parish have answered this call and are acting together in the best interests of those they serve in Genesee County.  St. Michael School, with its parish, has walked in faith for nearly 170 years in Flint.  They now share their history with Catholic Charities, which will bring a new life of service to the community in these difficult economic times.  I offer prayers for the success of this project and for those in Genesee County who are in need of God’s love and comfort.” 

  “We are anxious to get the ball rolling, but it is very important that we protect the history of the school and the integrity of the building.  Generations of Flint families attended St. Michael School; the school needs to maintain its unique character,” states Vicky Schultz. 

WJRT TV12 on Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Catholic Charities will take over St. Michael's School

http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/video?id=7736261&syndicate=syndicate&section

Flint Journal, Thursday, October 21, 2010

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2010/10/flint_

nonprofit_groups_will_cr.html

NBC 26, Friday, October 22, 2010

http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/news/story.aspx?id=530202