2018 ReportStarted in 1986 as a tribute to Father John Goodrow, the rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan from 1962-1985, The John H. Goodrow Fund was created to continue the outreach program that he had established. Today, the Goodrow Fund is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization designed to help Isabella County residents with emergency needs not met or fulfilled by other agencies. Residents needing assistance call Listening Ear who then calls the Goodrow volunteer on phone duty for that week. The volunteer calls the client directly to find out his or her situation. As of December 31, 2018, the Goodrow Fund had 783 cases representing 1,494 people helped. Of these cases, 63.8% were helped with transportation needs such as local bus passes, gasoline, vehicle repair, insurance and registration. Shelter (rent, motel) cases were 16.1%, utilities (electric, gas, propane, and water)were 11.9%, household and personal care items accounted for 6.4% of the cases, and medical care (including dental and eye) represented 1.8% of the cases. Over $78,000 was spent on goods and services for client assistance. Additionally, the John H. Goodrow Fund supported a program called “Clean and Bright.” Clients were allowed to do up to two loads of laundry per week at St. John’s Old Rectory. Area churches, businesses, service organizations, individuals, grants, and fundraisers gave monetary support allowing the phone volunteers to provide between $1500-$2000 per week in goods and services to help with emergency needs. Help to clients was usually limited to $200 and was typically given once or twice a year; no cash ever went to clients. Besides one major fundraiser in the winter, we had a golf outing in the summer and a brunch in the fall. Grants received were from: Faith Weavers, United Way of Gratiot/Isabella Counties, Mt. Pleasant Rotary, The Morey Foundation, Blessed Sacrament Parish of Midland, Diocese of Saginaw Rice Bowl, Catholic Community Foundation of Mid-Michigan, and the Mt. Pleasant Jaycees. The John H. Goodrow Fund was run entirely by volunteers with the exception of a part time (4-6 hour per week) bookkeeper. The total number of phone volunteers was nine. These volunteers worked for a week at a time for six to eight times a year (with flexible scheduling). Three other people volunteered to help with the data entry of client help given. The John H. Goodrow Fund had an active working board of 15 members who met once a month for a minimum of seven months. Direct oversight and fundraising was the board’s main tasks. Sharon Bolton, The John H. Goodrow Fund, chairperson 1/17/2019 |