Nearly four in 10 Michiganders struggle to afford basic necessities and one in five Michigan children faces hunger. Vibe Credit Union is working to change that by teaming up with Southeast Michigan nonprofits that serve neighbors who need it most. This fall, Vibe’s charitable arm, the Good Vibes Foundation, awarded $10,000 grants to six local organizations in its first-ever grant cycle. Vibe then stepped up to meet each grant request in full, bringing the overall investment to $160,000.
“When the cost of living continues to increase, the needs in our communities are impossible to ignore,” said Stephanie Leahy, Executive Director of the Good Vibes Foundation and Vice President of Community Impact at Vibe Credit Union. “These six organizations are meeting that need every day, whether it’s food on the table, a plan for a family’s finances or a safe, furnished home. By matching grant dollars, Vibe Credit Union is ensuring the Foundation’s investment extends even further”
Here’s how each organization is putting their grants to work:
Hospitality House Food Pantry will use $50,000 to support food rescue, transportation, storage and distribution, helping keep its client-choice pantry stocked with fresh produce, dairy and meat for thousands of local families, seniors and children.
Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency will use $25,000 to support its Pathways to Homeownership Program, which helps more than 800 Metro Detroit families each year prepare for and achieve homeownership.
Lighthouse will use $20,000 to sustain financial coaches in its Center for Working Families, who provide one-on-one guidance on budgeting, savings, credit and homeownership.
Detroit Friendship House will use $20,000 to provide fresh and culturally familiar foods through its Hamtramck client-choice pantry and expand job-readiness services through its Pathways to Growth program.
Make Food Not Waste will use $25,000 to support its Upcycling Kitchen, which transforms surplus food into chef-prepared meals for Metro Detroit residents facing food insecurity while diverting edible food from landfills.
Humble Design Detroit will use $20,000 to fully furnish two homes for single mothers and their children transitioning out of homelessness, providing approximately $10,000 in furniture and household essentials per home.
The Foundation launched earlier this year with three focus areas: financial education, community betterment, financial inclusion and empowerment. These pillars back the building blocks of a stable life: food on the table, a safe place to live and confidence with money. The work of the Foundation also builds on Vibe Credit Union’s track record of more than $1.5 million and 21,000 volunteer hours invested in Southeast Michigan since 2022.
Vibe Credit Union has called Southeast Michigan home since 1936. Today, the Novi-headquartered credit union serves 75,000 members across 15 branches, including one here in Clarkston located at 6580 Dixie Highway. With its first grant cycle complete, the Good Vibes Foundation is already looking ahead toward opening applications for its next grant cycle this fall. Organizations and community partners interested in applying can learn more on the Good Vibes Foundation website.
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