Starbucks Community Service: Message List

Re: Send a message to the community of Newtown

communityservice@starbucks.com — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 20:09:52 GMT

Re: Send a message to the community of Newtown

communityservice@starbucks.com — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 20:08:52 GMT

Mailing a box today with hearts from all over the great state of Michigan!!

Mitch Album - Detroit Free Press Article

communityservice@starbucks.com — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:25:12 GMT

They were homes once, but they are homes no longer. They are hollow dangers. Hiding places. Drug houses. They are lurching shadows that stare down our city's children as they walk to school. There's a real home; there's a shell of a house. There's a neighbor; there's two shells of houses. A child wonders who just ducked behind a smashed window, or why that doorway is wide open. The child is scared -- with good reason. And we need to stop it. On Aug. 25, I am helping organize an event called 100 Houses to make those streets a bit less frightening for kids. The goal is ambitious, but simple: Board up 100 houses in a single day. That's right, 100 houses. We can do this. In a way, we must. Because the Abandoned Home has become a terrible symbol of Detroit. Left behind by someone who couldn't pay the mortgage. Bid farewell by someone who couldn't deal with the city. These places, like animal carcasses, are quickly stripped of anything valuable -- right down to the pipes -- and then begin their steady slide into the muck. The windows and doors are soon gone, smashed or destroyed by people wanting to use the place for shelter, hiding, prostitution, drugs. When one house like that goes down, it affects the block. When many go down, it affects the neighborhood. Families leave. They walk away. And what's the result? Another abandoned house. It's all for the kids Several times over the last few weeks, we rode and walked the streets of the chosen 100 Houses neighborhood, around Osborn High School, by 7 Mile and Hoover. There is an elementary school in the area and several parks as well. We charted the structures we plan to board up. On streets like Dresden, Waltham, Goulburn, Alcoy. Two-story houses. One-story houses. Wood. Brick. With porches. Without porches. Most were once fine homes. Now they are bent, broken, peeling, knocked full of holes. "What are you all gonna do?" we were asked by teenagers and middle-age men, who wandered over in curiosity. "We're going to board these up," we answered. "About time," came the frequent response. And it is. Look. We're not kidding ourselves that this is a permanent solution. That will come when these structures are knocked down or refurbished and occupied by hopeful citizens rebuilding their neighborhoods. But if we don't patch up the blocks that still hold families, there may not be neighborhoods to rebuild. The city doesn't have the money. It won't for some time. There are an estimated 40,000 abandoned structures in the city, and, according to a Free Press analysis, more than 5,000 within a quarter-mile of schools. The state Legislature and governor have allocated $10 million to knock down hundreds. Good, but not enough. Mayor Dave Bing has plans to raze 1,500. Good, but not enough. So we need to kick in. Human capital can best make our city human again. That's you and me. Here is the number to volunteer for the 100 Houses: 866-992-GIVE. Are you up for boarding up? Ready to help the cause Already, several generous and civic-minded companies have jumped on board 100 Houses. Bolyard Lumber in Birmingham is providing all the wood. Belfor, a property restoration company headquartered in Livonia, is cutting the wood and providing men, equipment and Dumpsters. Mosher & Associates in Birmingham is bringing crew and clearing the brush and overgrowth that makes these properties even scarier. Home Depot has offered to help. Blight Busters, Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries and other community groups are pitching in. We are looking for volunteers. You needn't be an expert, just willing to help. The event will start at 8 a.m., and finish, hopefully, early afternoon. We will gather at the Osborn parking lot and move to the assigned houses. All materials will be provided. You need only bring the spirit -- unless you happen to be a master carpenter, in which case, call even faster. The number: 866-992-4483. Or go to atimetohelp.org. No, we won't fix the city in a day. But there will be 100 fewer dark and shadowy dangers to kids who head back to school in a few weeks. You start with 100, you see where it takes you. Maybe someplace great. At the very least, in the right direction. See you on the 25th - Mitch Album - as posted in the free press on Aug. 5th

VIDEO - AMoS event - ACT Award for John George

communityservice@starbucks.com — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:35:55 GMT

Yesterday during a luncheon at WXYZ TV channel 7, our local ABC affiliate, John George from Motor City Blight Busters was honored as the winner of the ACT award for Detroit2020 an organization working to highlight leaders and progress within our city. The video in the link provided includes some great footage from our AMoS event last week.

http://detroit2020.com/2012/04/19/detroit-2020-awards-presented-today/ - News story and additional videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ6qw_vzs38&feature=player_embedded - Video from our Event

Who can bring cambros?

communityservice@starbucks.com — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 22:02:22 GMT

Who can bring the cambro of coffee?

1 at 6pm

1 at 8pm

I can provide the cups, sugars, cream, etc.

Link to photos in Detroit News

communityservice@starbucks.com — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:43:46 GMT

http://apps.detnews.com/apps/multimedia/gallery.php?id=14081

Check out the photo gallery on the detroit news website!! 12 great photos

Link to story in Detroit News

communityservice@starbucks.com — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:18:46 GMT

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120411/METRO/204110357/Blight-fighters-start-transform-Detroit-block?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cs

Re: Thank You

communityservice@starbucks.com — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:16:53 GMT

"I'm going to sleep amazingly tonight, and not just because of my sore muscles. (I can't say this enough, that sledgehammer? So much fun!) This project is something that's going to stick around and be used to make a difference in people's lives and in the city itself."

Well said... Your email/post really made my night yesterday. It was my hope that at least one partner would have this kind of experience... You made that come true! So glad that you were able to attend and that you left inspired...

Thanks again

Thank You

communityservice@starbucks.com — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 23:22:27 GMT

Thank you - to each and every partner that was responsible for helping today. From the volunteers to the community team to our DM Summit group. Each and every partner helped to bring this special day together and I could not thank you enough.

Community service is near and dear to my heart - I hope that this project has inspired you to make a change in your neighborhood - no matter how small..

Again, thank you to all partners, customers, friends, family - your involvement in this project was truly fantastic. I look forward to seeing you at another event soon!

Tami Ford

Taford@starbucks.com

About Motor City Blight Busters

communityservice@starbucks.com — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 19:36:14 GMT

About Blight Busters

The Motor City Blight Buster Volunteer Network Gets The Job Done

In its remarkable 18 year history, Motor City Blight Busters in conjunction with its coalition of community partners can proudly claim 120,000 volunteers, who have contributed more than 658,000 volunteer hours to paint 684 homes, board up and secure 379 abandoned buildings, renovate 176 houses and build 114 new ones to make suitable housing for 1,160 people. In the process, they used 21,000 gallons of paint, 15,500 pounds of nails and 15,470 sheets of plywood. They demolished 113 houses with sledgehammers and people power and undertook 3,850 neighborhood clean-ups, that resulted in 1,550 dumpsters of trash and 70,000 garbage bags.

Over the years, 3,900 neighborhood residents have participated in Angel’s Night patrols from the Motor City Blightbusters headquarters. City officials have expanded the program and last year it attracted more than 65,000 volunteers city-wide. Blight Busters fed 350 people at its first annual Thanksgiving dinner, provided space for 300 students to learn building trades and culinary arts at ACCOSS Training Center in the Motor City Resource Center and offered free health screening to 500 citizens.

Always working to bridge the gap between groups, Motor City Blightbusters has hosted more than 500 suburban teens over the last two years who volunteered for inner city projects through the “Summer in the City” program, brought together 150 people in the JACOB (the Jewish and Chaldean Opportunity Builders) to assist in projects and helped 20 urban teen-age girls find fun and healthy activities in another Motor City Blight Busters program, Girlfriendz.

Motor City Blight Busters Founder, John J. George, has been awarded the “Points of Light” award by President Clinton. This award honors people who have done outstanding volunteer work