At its May 20 meeting, Rochester Rotary Charities President Tom Townsend presented a $10,000 check to Neighborhood House to support the organization’s Food Pantry and Sustainability Services.

Neighborhood House is a nonprofit is dedicated to helping neighbors in need achieve self-sufficiency during times of hardship. The organization serves individuals and families in serving Addison Township, Auburn Hills, Oakland Township, Rochester, and Rochester Hills experiencing poverty or classified as ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed).

Although only about 5.5% of the area’s population lives in poverty—well below state and national averages—this still represents approximately 8,000 people. Life events such as a medical emergency, job loss, divorce, or car trouble can quickly push financially vulnerable families into crisis. Neighborhood House works to empower clients with the resources they need for long-term stability.

In 2024, Neighborhood House made a significant impact:

• Food Pantry: Provided 436,068 meals to 601 households and assisted 6,183 unhoused individuals with emergency aid and meals. The pantry operates like a grocery store, with volunteers shopping for clients who use a drive-up service. Home delivery is available in special cases. Every Thursday, fresh food donated by local grocery stores and businesses is distributed.

• Sustainability Services: Offered $105,664 in financial assistance, helped 25 clients find employment, and prevented 70 evictions.

• Clothes Closet: Distributed 28,276 clothing items to 365 households.

• Community Events: Served 1,052 families, benefitting 1,334 children.

• Transportation Services: Provided 463 rides to medical appointments, job interviews, and food pickups. Nearly 60 bicycles were also distributed to both children and adults for transportation and recreation.

Founded more than 50 years ago by a coalition of eight local churches, Neighborhood House continues to receive strong support from the faith community. One such effort, the Plus 1 Food Donation program, encourages parishioners to donate one nonperishable food item each week. To date, the program has generated more than 35,000 pounds of food for Neighborhood House clients.

Neighborhood House welcomes volunteers to assist in the Food Pantry, Clothes Closet, and Main Office. Donations of gently used clothing, shelf-stable food items, and financial contributions are always needed and deeply appreciated. More information on Neighborhood House is available at their website www.ranh.org.

During a recent visit, Rochester Rotarians toured the Food Pantry and helped sort and label food donations. The visit was both eye-opening and rewarding, offering firsthand insight into the generosity of the community and the ongoing need for essential items.

All Rochester Rotarians are members of Rochester Rotary Charities. The Club raises funds, while the Charities—recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization—distributes them. Together, they have nearly 100 members who live or work in Rochester, Rochester Hills, or Oakland Township. The Club meets weekly for lunch at the Rochester Community House.

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