KIWANIS CLUB OF ANN ARBOR

It’s hard to furnish just one apartment but groups from around Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County have furnished over 25 in Avalon Housing’s new Hickory Way Apartments. By the end of the first phase of Hickory Way move-ins, community members will have filled 34 units. An additional 36 units will be available for Avalon Housing clients sometime in the summer, seven of which still need sponsors. (Heidi Ruud / HouseN2Home)Teams of volunteers and sponsors worked to collect items and set up over 25 apartments at Hickory Way in January. (Heidi Ruud / HouseN2Home)

The Ann Arbor YMCA and Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor distributed gifts to children in Washtenaw County in time for the holidays. ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Ann Arbor YMCA and Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor have teamed up to make sure children in Washtenaw County have gifts for the holidays. Many of the gifts were provided by the Ann Arbor Kiwanis Thrift Shop and staff at Ann Arbor YMCA. “We are so grateful for our collaborative relationship with the Ann Arbor Kiwanis,” said Ann Arbor YMCA President and CEO Toni Kayumi in a release. Together, our two nonprofit organizations hope to help make the holiday season and winter break a little brighter for kids in East Washtenaw County.”Learn more about the Ann Arbor YMCA here or about Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor here.

ANN ARBOR – The Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor Foundation Inc. has awarded $20,000 to Food Gatherers to help the Washtenaw County food bank and food rescue program in its response to fight local hunger. The number of visitors to food pantries has risen sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic -- up to 300% for some of Food Gatherers' 170 partner programs. “We are grateful for the Kiwanis Club’s commitment to help our neighbors facing food insecurity,” Eileen Spring, president and CEO of Food Gatherers said in a statement. “COVID-19 has added extra hardship for families facing food insecurity. Partner programs include meal programs, food pantries and emergency grocery services that serve food insecure families and individuals without access to nutritious food.