New Events & New Connections: FACT’s February Journey!
Dear Partners,
As February comes to a close, I am grateful for your steadfast support. This month, FACT has continued to grow, connect, and serve our communities. I am excited to share what we have accomplished together.
Expanding Our Reach in Saginaw
We are finalizing a location for our Saginaw Community Service Hub. We are eager to send an official announcement very soon. This new space brings our vision for family-centered care to life.
Community engagement in Saginaw has already begun! On February 20th, we hosted our first Community Caregiver Dinner Event at Mid-Michigan Children's Museum. Families had a great time in the museum and shared a delicious meal together. More importantly, we talked with community members and gained some ideas to further build a strong, connected Saginaw community.
Additionally, on February 27th, from 11 am to 2 pm, we held our first "Loads of Love" Saginaw Community Laundry Day at Warwick Cleaners. Families came and washed up to three loads of laundry. We offered laundry supplies and a new laundry bag. More details to come.
Building Community in Flint
In Genesee County, we have ramped up our family-focused activities. On January 30th, our 'Rollin' Caregiver Dinner' brought families together for fun and featured mental health awareness resources for over 100 community members!
On February 13th, we hosted "Loads of Love" Laundry Day event at the Court St. ProClean Laundromat. Families braved the snowy conditions and school closings to attend.
The last week of February has been packed with positive community engagement. We held our first Food Distribution event in Genesee County on September 24th. We followed that success with our first-ever Calm & Connected Yoga & Caregiver Dinner. It was a great evening of exercise, relaxation, and connection.
New Connections and Collaborations
Our voice reached more families this month through a community spotlight on Kiss 107.1 FM. Additionally, on February 15th, we participated in the Women Empowering Women event at The Neighb in Saginaw, joining other leaders to uplift and inspire.
We are also expanding our reach into rural areas, recognizing the scarcity of resources in those communities. On February 28th, we will support our Clio partners with their food distribution. We are also scheduling meetings with St. Charles and Carleton schools to talk about advocacy and resources for students and families. Helping rural families is a key focus for us in 2025, and we are grateful for this opportunity to serve.
Inviting Conversation Through Parent Resource Cafés
Starting in March, we will host Community Coffee Chats
We will be at locally owned cafés to meet families, listen, and connect. We will provide the coffee, you help us with the conversation!
In Saginaw, we are partnering with Sarah’s Café, 216 Federal Ave. in Saginaw
In Flint, we will meet regularly at Biggby coffee shops across Genesee County.
Stay tuned for more community events. Check out photos from our events!
Thank you for your continued support, which makes this vital work possible. We could not do this without you.
Warm regards,
Bridgitt McCaughey
CEO, Families And Children Together (FACT)
LIVE on Community Connections on Kiss 107.1 FM!
New Connections and Collaborations
Our voice reached more families this month through a community spotlight on Kiss 107.1 FM. Additionally, on February 15th, we participated in the Women Empowering Women event at The Neighb in Saginaw, joining other leaders to uplift and inspire.
We are also expanding our reach into rural areas, recognizing the scarcity of resources in those communities. On February 28th, we will support our Clio partners with their food distribution. We are also connecting with educators and school social workers in St. Charles. Helping rural families is a key focus for us in 2025, and we are grateful for this opportunity to serve.
On January 30th, our 'Rollin' Caregiver Dinner' brought families together for fun and featured mental health awareness resources for over 100 community members! Dozens of people spent quality time with their families and many learned to skate for the first time! Special thanks to our key partners at Mothers of Joy for bringing families and Great Start Collaborative-GISD for providing the families resources to take home.
On February 13th, we hosted our "Loads of Love" Laundry Day event at the Court St. ProClean Laundromat, and despite the snowy conditions and school closings, families still showed up, proving once again the strength and resilience of our community.
Connection and conversation filled the space as parents and caregivers connected over shared experiences, and we were excited that we were able to meet some new friends along the way!
On February 20th, we had the privilege of hosting our first Community Caregiver Dinner at the Mid-Michigan Children's Museum. Families gathered for an evening of connection and conversation while sharing a meal in a fun, welcoming space. The evening began with hands-on learning and quality family time on the museum floor. Children played and explored while caregivers engaged in meaningful discussions about contributing to building a strong, connected Saginaw. These moments—where families can relax, children can laugh, and everyone feels a sense of belonging—are the foundation of positive childhood experiences.
On February 24th, FACT held its first Food Distribution Day in partnership with Catholic Charities of Genesee and Shiawassee Counties and the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. We supported 237 families! Through this collaboration, families received food staples to help meet their basic needs, reinforcing the power of community-driven care. We are deeply grateful for our strong partners who make events like this possible, allowing us to extend meaningful support to those who need it most.
On February 25th, we hosted Calm and Connected Yoga and Caregiver Dinner night at the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library, creating a space for relaxation, movement, and connection. Families gathered for a calming yoga session, giving both kids and caregivers a chance to unwind and focus on their well-being. In recognition of Dental Health Awareness Month, we also shared helpful information on how families can come together and wind down and relax at the end of the day. After the session, everyone enjoyed a meal together, reinforcing the importance of both self-care and community.
MARCH ENVISIONING GROUP
VIRTUAL COLLABORATIVE MEETING
We are calling a special meeting this March where both Envisioning Groups have an opportunity to connect and sync!
We would love to have your input so please attend! If you would like to go, email me at bridgitt@mi-fact.org to receive the calendar invite.
Tuesday - March 11th - 9am - 10:30am
Hosted Via Zoom, look for your updated invite
RESEARCH UPDATE
Our next project with Saginaw Valley State University School of Social Work is underway intending to learn more about the protective factors of families. Each focus group will last no more than two hours and each participant will be compensated with a $25 gift card to Walmart for their time. Results from this will further help with the coordination of our programming and ongoing initiatives in the community. We are happy to be working alongside SVSU again for our second project.
For more information about our Focus Groups please get in touch with Chad at chad@mi-fact.org.