Grace Centers of Hope Receives $5,000 Donation From Local Meijer

PONTIAC, Mich. — January 3, 2022 — Grace Centers of Hope (GCH) today announced that it received $5,000 through the Meijer Team Gives fall donation program. The nonprofit is one of an estimated 500 nonprofits to receive a surprise donation after being selected by a diverse panel of Meijer team members at the Rochester Hills S. Adams Rd. store. The first-ever Meijer Team Gives event donated an estimated $3 million to nonprofits, which were identified by local Meijer team members in their communities across the Midwest.

“At Grace Centers of Hope, we help men and women who are faced with overwhelming challenges in life find the hope, dignity, confidence, life skills and spirituality they need to empower their success and regain control of their lives,” said GCH CEO Pastor Kent. W. Clark. “We are able to do this meaningful and life-changing work thanks to the generous support of our donors, including corporate partners like Meijer. We are truly grateful to the entire team at the Rochester Hills S. Adams Rd. store for selecting our organization as a beneficiary of this wonderful donation program.”

Earlier this fall, Meijer team members in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin formed a diverse committee at each store and distribution facility to nominate a local nonprofit organization or two for consideration of a fall donation. Each store and distribution facility chose to award one local nonprofit $10,000 or two nonprofits $5,000 each in the Meijer Team Gives donation event.

“What makes this event so special is the hands-on role our team members played in nominating and selecting the nonprofits that would benefit in their own communities,” said Cathy Cooper, Senior Director of Community Partnerships and Giving for Meijer. “Our stores and distribution facilities know the needs of their communities because they live in and serve them every day, so we’re pleased to have them lead this giving effort by identifying the local causes that matter most to them.”

GCH provides a comprehensive range of programs and services to help individuals and families overcome issues of homelessness, addiction, neglect, poverty, and spiritual emptiness. To achieve these outcomes, it incorporates the Gospel of Jesus Christ, personal accountability, life skills education and work-related programs. The GCH programs include:

· One-Year Life Skills Program for men and women — daily classes, individual case management, group case management, routines to develop workplace skills, financial planning and access to the Career and Education Center.

· After Care Program — allows graduates of the One-Year program to remain connected to GCH and receive ongoing support by living in Little Grace Village, a drug-free, healthy Christian community consisting of more than 50 homes in downtown Pontiac.

· Children’s Program — provides parents with a safe and nurturing environment for their children while they are participating in programs and working to improve their lives. It includes FREE pre-school and infant care at the Hands of Hope Childcare Center, educational and recreational activities during school breaks, a summer camp program, case management, and more.

· Career and Education Center — offers a variety of classes such as GED prep courses, career search workshops, one-on-one resume writing assistance, job search assistance and coaching, financial planning, work readiness, and more.

About Grace Centers of Hope

Giving hope to the helpless since 1942, Grace Centers of Hope is considered one of the leading faith-based organizations in Southeastern Michigan, confronting daily the issues of homelessness, addiction, education, parenting, poverty, abuse and spiritual emptiness. On any given night, Grace Centers of Hope provides transitional shelter to 150-200 men, women and children, in addition to serving nearly 110,000 meals each year. Grace’s $7.5 million annual budget is maintained solely through corporate and private donors, exclusive of any government assistance. To learn more about Grace Centers of Hope or to make a donation, please visit www.gracecentersofhope.org.

About Meijer

Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates more than 258 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. A privately-owned and family-operated company since 1934, Meijer pioneered the "one-stop shopping" concept and has evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive apparel departments, pet departments, garden centers, toys and electronics. For additional information on Meijer, please visit www.meijer.com. Follow Meijer on Twitter at twitter.com/Meijer and twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.