As 2024 draws to a close, we reflect on a year of significant growth, impactful community engagement, and exciting new developments. Join us as we recap the highlights and accomplishments that made this year so memorable.

Hired First Full-Time Staff Member

On June 24th, 2024, we hired Maddie Tong as the Director of Programs, making her the first full-time staff member! Maddie interned here at FedUp while she was still an MSW student at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. She officially joined the team after graduating and has become an integral part of FedUp’s operations as she leads the development of our programs. 

Mini Chef Camp 2024

Mini Chef Camp at FedUp Ministries was another delicious success this year! Our young chefs learned the joys of cooking, creating dishes from our fall harvest soup to tasty burgers on the food truck. We partnered with the Community Family Life Center (CFLC) and their after school program to bring our camp to Ypsilanti Township! The first session kicked off on September 19th, and we'll wrap up the year with a festive final session on December 12th, where the kids will decorate Christmas cookies to spread holiday cheer.

A huge thank you to CLFC and the staff members who spent their time each week to share the joys of cooking with our young chefs at Mini Chef Camp! Their commitment made this program a resounding success. 

Laundry Trailer  

We're thrilled to annouce the arrival of our new laundry trailer, a significant milestone for FedUp and a testament to our dedication to serving the community. This achievement brings us closer to fulfilling a key goal in our mission to provide essential services to those in need. We're incredibly excited to launch this service soon, further enhancing our support for our community members. 

Access to clean clothing is not merely a convenience but a human right, essential for maintaining dignity, health, and overall well-being. For unhoused and low-income folks, laundry services can be a significant challenge, impacting their ability to secure employment, access healthcare, and feel fully welcomed in society. Providing this service is a crucial step towards fostering inclusivity and promoting basic human dignity. 

Due to the multiple vandalisms we've experienced this year and still having to deal with it, the WashUp program is temporarily on pause and will resume in January. 

It's Advent!

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

and lifted up the lowly; 

he has filled the hungry with good things,

and has sent the rich away empty. 

-Luke 1: 52-53

Mary's song, the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), resonates deeply with the mission of FedUp, especially during the holiday season. Her words proclaim God's favor toward the humble and hungry, echoing our commitment to serving those in need. The Magnificat's themes of lifting up the marginalized and filling the hungry with good things reflect the spirit of compassion and justice that defines our work at FedUp. Just as Mary rejoiced in God's provision, we celebrate the opportunity to provide nourishment and support to our community. 

Hi, I’m Emily! (she/her) I recently joined the FedUp team, after closing up my cafe in Detroit, and wanting to enter into a different form of community based care. I’m passionate about any work that looks holistically at people, and allows them to be uplifted and their basic needs met. My partner Saga and I have lived in Ypsilanti for over a year with our cats Cortado & Lebnah, and I’m grateful to get to serve the Ypsi community alongside FedUp, to make others know that: “Alone is nothing that you are.” (My catchphrase.) and the words that truly define the work I enjoy being a part of. I’m an extremely old soul, so what gives me life and grounds me is a pour over at hand, a newspaper in my mornings, jazz in the background, moments outside, working in the garden, birding, at home days, and being in community or at a dinner table, sharing life with those I love.

As December marks the end of the year and the culmination of their MSW program at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, we at FedUp bid a fond farewell to our graduating interns. Their dedication and hard work during their field placements have been invaluable to our mission. We deeply appreciate their commitment to addressing food insecurity and advancing social justice within our community. Their contributions have made a tangible difference, and we are incredibly grateful for their passion, empathy, and tireless efforts. We celebrate their achievements and wish them all the best in their future endeavors. Congratulations, graduates!

My time at FedUp has been so impactful on my growth as a social worker. I have developed skills of program management, volunteer coordination, grant writing, and so much more. I have so many wonderful memories that I will carry with me, including the amazing relationships and connections that I have fostered in our community this past year. I truly feel that I have been welcomed into this community and it has sparked a passion for this work.

As I move into the next phase of my career, I have accepted a job as Fundraising and Outreach Coordinator with FedUp, so I will be staying on with the team! I look forward to continuing to do this work in my new role.

My time at FedUp has allowed me to dive deeper into my passion for social work. I’ve had the opportunity to develop skills in community organizing, program development, and crisis management, all while building meaningful relationships within the community. I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to work in collaboration with other U-M students.

My goal is to continue pursuing community-centered work, ultimately utilizing my social work degree to engage with and support my tribal community as well as urban natives. 

As an intern at FedUp, I have had the opportunity to connect with community members of all walks of life who are committed to caring for each other and improving the life circumstances of all of our neighbors-housed and unhoused. I have taken away the deep care, commitment, and capacity of our community to show up for each other in times of hardship. One of the most impactful moments of field placement was our first group therapy session where just two community members showed up. But, we were able to create a safe, meaningful space for people to share their hardships, pain, and hopes in a loving way. And, they reminded us that trust takes time and as long as we stick with what we're doing and create a space of dignity and respect, people will always show up to receive the care they deserve.

My plan after graduation is to provide individual and relationship therapy to people who have experienced trauma. I hope to do so through a program that provides free and low-cost therapy to people who otherwise cannot access it, like we did through my internship at FedUp.

Dear FedUp Supporters,

The need for free and accessible hot meals in our community is so great. More than 40,000 Washtenaw County residents are currently experiencing food insecurity. As you know, our organization serves good, healthy, truck-style food with dignity to communities who are food insecure and economically exploited by unjust racial and economic systems. In May, we moved to downtown Ypsilanti where we served an average of 200 free meals per day through our breakfast and lunch program. LiftUp continues to thrive as a free brunch and worship service on the streets of Ypsilanti. We offered free showers and bathroom access to folks who needed them through our WashUp program. Our employment program grew tremendously with the addition of more than 10 new staff members, most of whom have a lived experience of housing and food insecurity. Our commitment to uplifting our community is unwavering, and we are blessed by your continued support in this work.

FedUp has increased services immensely in 2024 to help meet the needs of our beloved community. This is only possible because of your amazing contributions to our work. In partnership with the Giving Tuesday Movement, FedUp Ministries is asking for your generosity once again. During this season of giving, we are calling on our Companions to help us do a new and radical thing for our beloved community members. We recently introduced our NEW LAUNDRY TRAILER to the community. This has been a long journey, as our contractor built the mobile facility, with three full-size washers and dryers, from the ground up. This new service speaks to our core value of Dignity – clean clothing should not be a gift, but a basic right!

Here's how you can support our Giving Tuesday Campaign

Donate! Our goal is to raise $10,000 for Giving Tuesday to support our mobile laundry program!
Make a one-time donation today, or click “recurring giving” to join The Convoy!

Hire Us! Book the Food Truck for your next event, or have us cater a meal for you!

Volunteer! Give your time by volunteering at our Headquarters. We would love to see you!

Tell your friends! The more people that know about our work, the more opportunity we get to
spread love to the folks we serve!

Thank you for being a part of the FedUp Ministries team! Together we can do the work to fight food
insecurity in Washtenaw County.

Blessings,
Pastor Anna and the FedUp Team