Dear Friends of RIR,                                                                 This year remember HOME FIRST!

All of us at Redford Interfaith Relief (RIR) wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving! If you have volunteered your time, donated food, personal care items or clothing, attended our Cognizance 2010 community dinner September, or donated to Scouting for Food with the Boy Scouts, we thank you!! Especially this year when our grant money is down $12,000 from last year and we continue to provide the same services.

As we begin to receive letters and requests to give money to various charities, please be aware of the need right here at home. Each charity will express a compelling need. As you consider all of these requests, if you are a resident or business in the Redford area let me tell you what your support of Redford Interfaith Relief (RIR) does for our community.

RIR provides a Client Choice Emergency Food Pantry where people shop for their own food. We have commercial freezers and coolers for fresh meat, produce, dairy items, also bakery items along with canned goods. RIR is the only organization in Redford that provides this. RIR has been serving Redford since 1998, providing food, clothing and referrals to many other partner agencies. Our clients also receive TEFAP (government commodities), Senior Liquid Nutrition Ensure, income tax services and, now, weatherization of their homes from Wayne Metro to improve our neighborhoods and strive to prevent any more foreclosures. We also assist them to receive a Bridge Card to purchase food in Redford. This is Federal money coming to Redford that helps keep our stores open. RIR also connects with partner agencies that can help them with other non-food emergencies such as heating bills, medical needs and home foreclosures.

As we thank God for what we have this year, we encourage you to help us to spread the word to residents that may need our services. Please let them know that we are their local 501(c)3 non-profit and are able to help. With the pressures of the Holidays and winter months being upon us, let's make a difference in the lives of those who live in Redford by ensuring that RIR has the necessary funds to stock their shelves. If you are able to give, please remember Redford Interfaith Relief - HOME FIRST! Thanking you in advance! Happy Thanksgiving!

Sue Pherson
Executive Director