Thank you all for your Holiday blessings!

WOW! That is all I can say. The last two weeks have been truly amazing. I feel blessed everyday to be a part of a community that digs in and helps those in the community who are struggling.

Over 1300 individuals will have Christmas presents under the tree and a wonderful holiday meal this year thanks to the generosity of many. Whether it is Chrysler who filled seven Durangos with gifts at the Tech Center or Norte Dame Prep high school who did a toy drive or the churches who added Baldwin to the giving tree or even the individual family where every child brought and/or dragged in a turkey; the generosity has been overwhelming.

There was also the Genesys Credit Union folks who packed the boxes, the girl scouts who sorted food, the Oakland University and Seaholm high school students who set up the Holiday Store, the St. Paul Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham First United Methodist churches who shepherded people through the Store and the groups from Children’s Village, DSW and Rite Aid who passed out food.

The stories are too numerous to share, the people involved were truly amazing. We were also able to purchase additional fresh produce this year for the baskets because of the cash contributions that people sent in and we were able to help several additional families who would have been without gifts at the last minute. Thank you all! Thank you for being part of a Holiday miracle.

2011 has been an amazing year for Baldwin. In the midst of trying economic times Baldwin has thrived. Our core services have strengthened and expanded and many ideas that were just starting to show promise in 2010 have fully taken root. We now are offering evening meals in the soup kitchen, our GED program has four graduates, the hoop house and gardens are producing vegetable nearly year-round, the after school program is now offering fitness activities with Oakland University and yoga classes and diabetes coaching are just starting to take off. Because of the support of thousands of donors and volunteers Baldwin is truly making a difference in the lives of many.

If you haven’t contributed to Baldwin yet this tax year I invite you to support our efforts at year end. We have big plans for 2012 but we need your support to make them happen. We want to make Baldwin a better place to be fed, clothed, educated and empowered.

Feel free to donate online at Network for Good

Once again thank you for helping Baldwin meet the needs of city and to make Pontiac a better place to live, work and raise a family.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a Happy New Year to All!

Lisa Machesky

Executive Director