“I just wanted to thank you for the financial help you’ve given me. Because of your support I’m not homeless. I thank God every day for the caring people I’ve encountered. May God continue to bless you all.”

The note of thanks came from one of the record number of people served by the Leelanau Christian Neighbors (LCN) last year.
LEELANAU CHRISTIAN Neighbors volunteers Marcia Hoffsterer and Marilyn Nell were among a host of people who helped relocate the food pantry to the north end of the Suttons Bay school complex last week. The pantry opened at its new location Monday.
More than 750 families/individuals received help from the organization’s Neighborhood Assistance Ministry (NAM) last year, up 11 percent from 2008.

The increase appears to be a sign of the times, according to LCN president Jane Nichols, who is stepping down from her leadership post later this month. She has been president for the past six years.

“As an indicator of the still growing need in 2010 was the number of applicants who came for help on the first Monday of the New Year — a record of 15 compared with the 2009 weekly averages of 6 to 10,” Nichols said.

Another indication of the growth came this week, when the LCN completed the relocation of its Suttons Bay food pantry after outgrowing its space in the lower level of Suttons Bay Congregational Church. The move to a former Suttons Bay Schools classroom also provides more parking and better access for people with disabilities who had to navigate stairs to reach the old pantry location.

The public’s growing reliance on LCN has also resulted in a 15 percent increase in the 2010 budget.

NAM works with applicants seeking short-term, emergency financial assistance. While LCN is known more for the food pantries it operates in Suttons Bay and Northport than for NAM, more money is being spent each year by the organization helping people with other needs.

Last year, LCN spent $74,020 on the assistance program, up 9.2 percent from 2008. More than 40 percent of the total was for housing, while 32 percent went toward utilities and 23 percent for transportation. The number of individuals and families who were helped last year was up 11 percent over 2008 and 68 percent from 2007.

“More than 90 percent of applicants who received assistance more than once (two to five times) did so for costs of transportation, primarily gasoline. Travel expenses —gasoline, repairs, insurance, licensing — was the most frequent category of assistance given,” Nichols said.

In contrast, $56,386 went toward the food pantry operation.

In total, 625 families received 6,894 bags of food from the pantries, located at St. Gertrude church in Northport and the lower level of the Congregational Church in Suttons Bay.

The number of individuals served last year was up 32 percent from 13,455 to 17,796. Fortunately, LCN officials said, food donations increased by the same percentage: from 22,725 pounds in 2008 to more than 30,000 pounds last year.

While there has been some indication of economic growth nationally, Michigan continues to be among the states with the highest unemployment rates, and the future financial picture continues to look bleak. That is reflected in the LCN’s 2010 budget of $155,800, which is nearly three times the amount spent five years ago. Some $76,000 is identified for NAM and $75,000 for the food pantry, with the remaining $4,800 earmarked for administration.

“Many of us are not directly affected by the state of the economy but likely know someone — a friend, a neighbor, a family member — who is being hurt,” Nichols wrote in a recent letter asking for continued support from the community. “Despite the fact that our retirement portfolios have taken a hit, they are looking better with the improvement in the stock market last year … Your contribution will do more than ever before to help people you may never meet, but who will nonetheless be touched by your generosity.”

Nichols called 2009 a success for the organization, which with the help of dedicated volunteers was able to meet the growing need for assistance in the county.

“As more and more people approached our doors for assistance and food, our community opened their hearts and pockets and provided for that need,” she said, pointing to contributions in 2009 from LCN churches and individuals that represented a 31 percent increase from 2008.

Total income two years ago was $128,055, with $45,707 contributed by member churches. The remainder came from individuals ($40,386), grants ($29,000) and fundraising efforts ($3,500).

In 2009, individual contributions jumped 31 percent to $58,970. Funds from member churches increased 11.4 percent to $51,649.

Last year, LCN was also successful in securing sizeable grants from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians ($15,000) and the United Way of Northwest Michigan ($10,000). In addition, the pantries received $5,500 for technology hardware, software and training from MI NOW!; $5,000 from the Campbell Endowment Fund; and $1,000 from the Genuine Leelanau Fund.