United Way Member Agencies
United Way of Manistee County provides support to eleven member agencies making a difference in our community.
Member Agencies are held to the same standards of excellence that you expect from United Way of Manistee County. On behalf of its donors, United Way screens these agencies for operational integrity through its annual citizen review process.
Alternatives for Area Youth
Alternatives for Area Youth manages the Teen Center located at 580 S. Maple, a drop-in facility that provides free or low-cost activities in a supervised environment without drugs, alcohol and smoking. The Center hosts between twelve and twenty teens daily. Activities include basketball, foosball, ping pong, billiards, computer usage, puzzles, board games, movie nights, crafts and dances. The latest addition to the Center’s grounds has been ramps for skate boarding, inline skating and biking enthusiasts. The Center also staffs a warming shelter for ice skating in Sands Park.
Contact:
Sheila Kaminski
P.O. Box 571
Manistee, MI 49660
(231) 723-1588 (Teen Center)
American Red Cross - West Shore Chapter
Fundamentally a volunteer agency, the American Red Cross provides a variety of services in Manistee, Mason and Lake Counties around the clock. Disaster services include financial support following fires or other family tragedies; food and shelter after large catastrophes; and preparedness education. The agency offers emergency aid with utilities as well. Help is also available when emergency communication is needed between families and military members. In addition, assistance is available to trace relatives in refugee camps or detained in wars. Health and safety services encompass CPR and first aid classes; lifeguard and water safety training; babysitter classes; and HIV/AIDS education programs. American Red Cross also sponsors community blood drives and bone marrow typing.
Contact:
Tim Lipan
1644 West U.S. 10
Scottville, MI 49454
(888) 241-3433 or (231) 757-3069
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://westshore.redcross.org/
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan
With a mission to empower community youth, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves the emotional, social, and educational needs of children ages six through eighteen. The agency facilitates professionally-supported relationships with one-to-one mentors in either a school or community setting. Bigs is committed to quality prevention services and advocacy for youth by helping children gain the developmental assets they need to become healthy, contributing members of our community.
Contact:
Gary Swaney, Program Director
Regional Office
521 S. Union Street
Traverse City, Michigan 49684
(231) 946-2447 ext203
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
CHOICES of Manistee County
CHOICES assists victims of domestic violence by providing support, counseling, shelter and educational and advocacy services. The sixteen-bed emergency shelter and the crisis line are available around the clock. In addition, this organization serves a homeless population without the element of violence. In order to increase public awareness of domestic violence, CHOICES also offers educational information and services to the community at large.
Contact:
Jacqueline Kiszelik
124 Washington Street
Manistee, MI 49660
(231) 723-6597
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore
In partnership with committed adult volunteers, Girl Scouts develop qualities that will serve them all their lives, like leadership, strong values, social conscience, and conviction about their own potential and self-worth.
Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore assists approximately 100 adults who in turn serve 300 school-age girls throughout Manistee County. The troops are organized in six age levels: Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors. This values-based, informal, educational program dedicates itself to building character in girls and providing the life skills necessary for success.
Contact:
Gloria Lara
Girl Scout Service Center
3275 Walker Ave. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49544
(866) 566-7434
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.gsmists.org
Manistee County Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC)
Striving to improve the quality of life for the developmentally disabled, Manistee Association for Retarded Citizens is an advocacy group comprised of parents and citizens. The organization sponsors advocacy programs, family support group, student assistance fund, social events and a summer enrichment program. Membership meetings are held monthly on the first Monday at 7:00 p.m. at the Manistee Intermediate School District, 225 Ninth Street.
Contact:
Leanne Witucki
P.O. Box 545
Manistee , MI 49660
(231) 723-4028
Manistee County 4-H
Manistee County 4-H offers youth, ages five through nineteen, an array of educational experiences. Operating under the direction of Michigan State University Extension, this developmental program provides positive and experiential opportunities in collaborative environments that build strong, healthy youth. Over 1800 youth participate annually in clubs, school programs, summer library programs, workshops, 4-H sponsored state events and the Manistee County Fair.
Contact:
Debra Laws
8840 Chippewa Highway, Bear Lake, MI 49614
(231) 889-4277
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.msue.msu.edu/manistee
Manistee Recreation Association (MRA)
Strategic Mission: What We Do
Our Mission is to provide a balance of recreation activities for persons of all ages and abilities to meet diverse interests of all community members in the greater Manistee Area while emphasizing health habits, respect, self importance and fun.
Contact:
Vicki Sheffield
50 Filer Street, Suite D
Manistee, MI 49660
(231) 723-9274
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a religious and charitable organization providing assistance to our neighbors in need. Assistance programs include emergency food, shelter and clothing. The organization also provides assistance with utilities, housing and medical biills. The Salvation Army offers seasonal assistance with winter coats through its annual Operation Warm-up, and provides hundreds of Christmas food baskets. The organization also sponsors meals at the Community Table.
Contact:
Captains Timothy & Camie McPherson
415 River Street
Manistee, MI 49660
(231) 723-6243 or (231-843-3711
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Boy Scouts of America, President Ford Council
The President Ford Council Boy Scouts of America has a mission to help prepare young men to make ethical choices over their lifetime by instilling in them the Scout Oath and Law. Local Scout leaders serve as role models and help Scouts practice citizenship. Cub Scout Packs for boys in grades one through five meet weekly, enjoying fun activities that are planned by their dedicated den leaders. Boy Scouts in grades six through twelve meet weekly to develop outdoors skills and plan camping trips. They learn leadership skills while making a difference in their community.
Contact:
Suzie Blake
(616) 785-2662
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
3213 Walker Ave. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49544
Staircase Youth Services
Available around the clock, Staircase Youth Services provides free, confidential short-term problem solving, supportive services and crisis intervention for at-risk youth, ages ten through seventeen. Programs for this age group include temporary foster care placement, youth advocacy, prevention programming and referrals. Staircase also offers a Transition to Adulthood (TAP) program for homeless youth ages seventeen through twenty-one. TAP provides safe shelter, life skills training and short term counseling with a goal of helping this population make a positive transition into adulthood.
Contact:
Cynthia Arneson, Executive Director
5880 West US 10
Ludington, MI 49431
(231) 843-3200
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Leshia Rybicki, Manistee County Outreach Youth Specialist
Crisis Contact: (888) 267-6086 (weekdays) or (800) 292-4517 (all other times)