TUC Annual Report for 2014

The University Church � 2014 Report � http://www.theuniversitychurchtoledo.org 1

The University Church 2014 Outreach Report


4747 Hill Ave Toledo, OH 43614 419-‐534-‐3080

Mission Statement:

The University Church was established in 2006 to fulfill the need for a faith community devoted to transforming the places in which we

live locally, nationally and globally.

The church’s mission is to build an authentic Christian community that seeks to reach those outside the faith, introduce them to Christ,

and grow together in discipleship.

That mission is defined by our actions: building, seeking, reaching, and growing.

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Putting the “Community” in Community Garden and Community School Our success is not our own, but rather the work of extremely dedicated partners, generous donors, and compassionate volunteers. We cannot thank them enough. Community Partners: Toledo Public Schools Food for Thought The University of Toledo Health Science Campus Health Care Access Initiatives University of Toledo Social Work Graduate Program University of Michigan School of Social Work The Ohio Association of Food Banks Children's Hunger Alliance TACKLE Rocket Pediatrics Mercy Health Partners Westside Montessori Penta Career Center University of Toledo Honors College St. John’s Jesuit High School St. Ursula Academy Partners in Education After-‐School Alliance (Northwest Ohio)

Grant Makers: The Toledo Community Foundation The Stranahan Foundation The Toledo Rotary Foundation Waterville Community Church New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation In-‐Kind Support: Shared Legacy Farms Hoen's Greenhouse and Garden Center Humblebee Family Farm BenSell Greenhouse Sustainable Local Foods Balance Pan-‐Asian Grille Jo-‐Ann Fabric and Craft Stores Collaborators: John Pantel (University of Toledo Medical Center) Ben and Sarah Cohen (The Happy Badger Café) Brandon Doriot (The Local) Rob Campbell (Stella's restaurant) Scott Bowman (Fowl and Fodder restaurant) Lance Roper (Actual Coffee)


Building a Healthier, Stronger Community

Every child in our neighborhood should be safe, cared for, and valued – and no parent should be without the means to make that happen. The Reynolds Elementary Outreach Initiative continues to transform Reynolds into a community school where the entire neighborhood can access vital resources that build academic success, healthy families, and a strong community. In the summer of 2014 the University of Toledo Medical Center’s Rocket Pediatrics established a weekly pediatric clinic at Reynolds Elementary School. Families in the school’s community now have consistent access to healthcare for their children – regardless of whether they have insurance or transportation.

Services and Resources Offered at Reynolds Elementary School:

• After-school and summer youth

programs

• A weekly on-site pediatric clinic (UT

Rocket Pediatrics

• Mental health counseling

• GED classes (Penta Career Center)

• ACT: Raising Safe Children courses

• School Supply Pantry (TUC, Grace

Church, Epiphany Church)

• Physical fitness activities (Mercy Health

Partners)

• Adult exercise classes (the Josh Project)

• Food Security (Food for Thought & TUC)

• A variety of family-oriented

programming

Before starting kindergarten at Reynolds Elementary School, Christopher hadn’t seen a doctor since leaving the hospital as a newborn. When his mother brought him to the Rocket Pediatrics Clinic, the pediatrician took notice of his poor eyesight. If he didn’t get glasses soon, he would eventually go blind in one eye. With access to healthcare through his school, though, Christopher saw an ophthalmologist and received his glasses!



CSA Sponsorship Levels

Growing Food, Growing Compassion One out of 4 people in the city of Toledo lives below the federal poverty level. Many of these people struggle to put food on the table for their families, let alone find healthy food. When money for groceries is low, fresh fruits and vegetables are often eliminated in favor of cheap processed foods that offer very little nutrition. So we’re growing fresh, healthy food to feed our neighbors. We’re making people aware of the troubling poverty in our neighborhood. And we’re helping our community grow compassion through service. In June 2014 we launched our Community Shared Agriculture program. Like your typical community supported agriculture model, TUC Garden is selling shares of its harvest upfront to cover operating costs. Unlike your typical CSA, though, the buyer finances a share for another family in need. During this program’s first year, over 25 families received fresh produce on a weekly basis from May to October.

$800 provides a family with a grocery bag of fresh produce each week during a 22-‐week growing season.

4 Sponsors in 2014

$200 provides a family with a grocery bag of produce each week for one month.

10 Sponsors in 2014

$50 provides a family with one grocery bag of fresh produce.

3

Sponsors in 2014



A Place at the Table for Every Neighbor On the 3rd Thursday of every month, The University Church opens its doors and ministers to any neighbor in need. With plenty of help from Food for Thought (and a few other community partners), we provide visitors with: • Supplemental groceries

through the Food for Thought Mobile Pantry

• Fresh, seasonal produce from our Community Garden

• Basic toiletries through our Personal Needs Ministry

• Tips on how to turn the food visitors choose from the mobile pantry into tasty, healthy meals in our Community Kitchen

• On-‐site medical care, provided by volunteers from the University of Toledo Medical Center and ProMedica

• Enrollment in state and federal assistance programs with the help of an Ohio Benefit Bank Counselor

• Referrals to other local ministries and relief services through Toledo Area Ministries

Above all, we ensure that every individual knows they’re a valuable part of the

community.


Always Reaching Out: TUC’s Plans for 2015 We have spent the past four years growing a strong, unique relationship with Reynolds Elementary School and Toledo Public Schools. Our collaboration with Reynolds has resulted in programming for individuals of all ages, and we are excited to spend 2015 enhancing those programs. Here a few of the Reynolds Outreach Initiative staff’s goals for the year: TUC Community Garden looks forward to increasing its food production and volunteer engagement. The garden staff has set the following goals for 2015:

• Initiate the “Agriprenuership 101” program, which will teach 4-‐5 young adults the agricultural and business skills needed to jumpstart their own livelihoods. We’re excited to partner with Lucas County Juvenile Courts CITE program through WSOS for this.

• Distribute at least 18,000 lbs. of produce – 8,000 of which should be grown by TUC

Community Garden. This increased amount of produce will allow us to supply more food to Food for Thought and UT HealthGrows.

• Continue the Community Shared Agriculture program. We plan to host the actual

food distributions at Reynolds Elementary School, where parents may buy food with “Reynolds Bucks” earned through volunteer work and programming participation.

• Host over 1,000 volunteers.

• Become a licensed after-‐school provider through the Ohio Department of Job

and Family Services.

• Increase partnerships that promote inter-‐generational collaboration. This includes fostering the school’s new partnership with Genesis Village and establishing a relationship with the Northwest Ohio Area Office on Aging.

• Strengthen parents’ involvement at Reynolds Elementary School. We look

forward to facilitating additional groups through ACT: Raising Safe Children and continuing the weekly parent support group (which includes activities like cooking, stress management, and knitting/crocheting).

• Re-‐design programming for 5th-‐8th grade students so that it emphasizes

mentoring, college/high-‐school exploration, and character enrichment.

• Mentor other local churches as they develop their own partnerships with Toledo Public Schools.



TUC Outreach by the Dollars

Reynolds Outreach Initiative

Income (2014): $97,983.00

Expenses (2014): $86,849

Community Garden

Income (2014): $92,458.00

Expenses (2014): $76,973


Documents

TUC Annual Report for 2014