Mid City Nutrition not too long ago named a brand new government director to guide the group by means of the ending phases of a long-awaited constructing venture.
Sarah Jones started her new position earlier this month, changing present government director Alice Rieves. Rieves is about to retire on Nov. 4.
“There is a whole lot of love right here on this soup kitchen,” Jones mentioned. “And that’s the factor I’m possibly most enthusiastic about. I’m excited to return right here on a regular basis.”
Rieves mentioned she is retiring now to present Jones the prospect to study and really feel snug in her new position earlier than starting operations at a new building that is currently under construction at 830 Griswold St.
Rieves mentioned she needs Jones to deliver new insurance policies and procedures, in addition to recent concepts and views to the brand new area, which has a tentative completion date of late March or early April 2023.
“You want recent eyes with recent concepts earlier than you go into a brand new constructing,” Rieves mentioned.
The new 7,200-square-foot constructing will embody a educating kitchen, a primary kitchen, a big eating space, and a walk-in cooler and freezer. The area will enable purchasers to return to in-person eating after the COVID-19 pandemic pressured the soup kitchen to transform to carryout meals resulting from area restrictions at its present area within the basement of St. Martin’s Lutheran Church at 805 Chestnut St.
Jones mentioned she is happy to deliver the soup kitchen into the brand new area, and has just a few tentative concepts for it. One of these concepts may be to carry programming on the location, comparable to talking occasions, small fundraisers or a narrative hour for households with kids.
After attending to know purchasers at meal occasions, Jones mentioned she seen the soup kitchen serves principally people, with few households. If that may be a want in the neighborhood, she mentioned she want to look into the obstacles stopping households from accessing the soup kitchen’s companies and create extra outreach for that inhabitants.
Jones mentioned up to now, she has been attending to know the soup kitchen’s workers and volunteers, in addition to assembly with neighborhood stakeholders. She has additionally been settling into and studying concerning the position.
More on Jones
Jones has labored in public libraries for the previous 18 years, and has expertise working in childrens’ and youths’ applications, in addition to administration and administration. Most of her profession was spent on the Clinton-Macomb Public Library, however she has additionally labored on the Mount Clemens Public Library and Oak Park Public Library.
Jones mentioned she discovered the job posting after shifting to Kenockee Township along with her husband to dwell on a farm and thought it will be the right use of her expertise.
Jones mentioned she is happy to maneuver from a social service position right into a nonprofit setting the place she will likely be an instrumental a part of fixing meals insecurity.
“Just to be on this job the place I can do that direct factor and the results of my work is that folks have dinner tonight, that’s actually fulfilling,” Jones mentioned.
She mentioned her roles within the library system gave her folks, administration, know-how and social media expertise, in addition to expertise working with funds and overseeing multi-million greenback budgets. Libraries are additionally a public service, very similar to nonprofits, she mentioned, and the abilities she realized there could be instantly utilized to Mid City Nutrition.
“Librarians are very helpful folks,” she mentioned. “We deliver quite a bit to the desk.”
During her time in her library profession, Jones mentioned she seen a whole lot of youngsters in lower-income communities in Clinton Township have been experiencing meals insecurity, so she tried to supply meals throughout after college applications.
Rachelle Bonelli was a part of the five-person search committee that employed Jones. She mentioned Jones’ recognition of meals insecurity as an essential social subject was an essential issue when selecting her for the position.
Bonelli mentioned the board additionally appreciated Jones’ service-oriented work in libraries, in addition to her background in human useful resource administration and know-how.
Mid City constructing committee member Bethany Belanger was additionally a part of the hiring committee. She mentioned Jones was one in all about 10 candidates and 5 folks interviewed. Jones’ credentials, references and outgoing character stood out from the group.
Jones mentioned she can be excited to work with the soup kitchen’s volunteers and workers, which embody younger adults who’ve not too long ago aged out of foster care, folks with particular wants, seniors, former purchasers and wealthier members of the neighborhood.
“You would by no means even know the form of financial and social variations between one volunteer and one other down right here and that has been actually heartwarming,” Jones mentioned. “There is simply one thing so nice about seeing this workforce work collectively for this widespread trigger.”
While Jones’ profession in nonprofits is simply starting, Rieves will likely be retiring from a collective 26 years with Mid City Nutrition. Rieves mentioned she is grateful for the chance to serve a supportive neighborhood.
“It’s simply been wonderful,” Rieves mentioned. “I used to be given the chance to do what I like and to be the place God positioned me.”
To study extra about Mid City’s companies, inquire about volunteering, or to donate, name (810) 982-9535, go to their web site at midcitynutritionsoupkitchen.com/ or go to their Facebook web page at Mid City Nutrition Soup Kitchen.
Contact Laura Fitzgerald at (810) 941-7072 or [email protected].
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