Grace Centers of Hope Kicks Off "Quarters For Kids" Campaign To Support New Childcare Center

PONTIAC, MI, April 20, 2011 (Press-News.org) Grace Centers of Hope has put out a call to churches, businesses, schools and organizations to make a donation or pick up a change bucket in support of its "Quarters for Kids" campaign. Monies being raised will help bring the campaign goal of $250,000 to a close and then provide for operating costs for the organization's new Hands of Hope Childcare Center.

"We are extremely grateful to the community for stepping up and generously responding to our requests for funds, so we could purchase and renovate our Hands of Hope Childcare Center," said Pastor Kent Clark, CEO of Grace Centers of Hope. "After we reach our goal of $250,000, we are hopeful that the caring residents of southeast Michigan will continue to drop their quarters into the change buckets. Monies raised on an ongoing basis will allow us to operate our quality childcare facility five days a week."

Grace Centers of Hope is opening Hands of Hope in June 2011 in the former P.O.H. daycare facility, which is located at 18 E. Pike St., Pontiac. The $250,000 campaign covers the purchase of the facility and the renovations to accommodate the Center's needs and meet building codes. The nonprofit organization has currently raised $200,000 for the campaign.

Hands of Hope will care for as many as 50 children of homeless parents attending Grace Centers of Hope programs, or living in Little Grace Village. There will be no fee charged to parents participating in the programs. The facility will operate from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays. Children will be accepted from newborn to five years. Hands of Hope Childcare Center staff will be specially trained to evaluate and work with at-risk children who have suffered trauma or developmental deficits as a result of homelessness.

"Those quarters will ensure our little children have a safe and nurturing environment where they will be cared for, helped to overcome any disadvantages they may be experiencing, learn how to socialize and be taught all that preschoolers should know before they head off to elementary school," said Melissa Rodriguez, Children's Program Director of Grace Centers of Hope.

For more information about picking up "Quarters for Kids" change buckets or to make a donation to the campaign, contact Michelle Atwell at Grace Centers of Hope, 248-334-2187, ext. 35. To learn more about Grace Centers of Hope, visit http://www.gracecentersofhope.org.

About Grace Centers of Hope
Giving hope to the helpless since 1942, Grace Centers of Hope is one of southeast Michigan's oldest and largest service provider for the homeless. Today, Grace Centers of Hope is considered one of the leading faith-based organizations in Southeastern Michigan, confronting issues of homelessness, addiction, poverty, abuse and spiritual emptiness on a daily basis. On any given night, Grace Centers of Hope provides transitional and emergency shelter to 150-200 men, women and children, in addition to serving more than 100,000 meals each year. Grace's $4.8 million yearly budget is maintained solely through corporate and private donors, exclusive of any government assistance. For more information, or to make a donation, visit http://www.gracecentersofhope.org.