Two churches create center to assist neighborhoods

The First Baptist Institutional Church (FBIC) Resource Center has been created as of Friday, thanks to a partnership between two Metro Detroit churches.

Christ Church Cranbrook, located at 470 Church Road in Bloomfield Hills, and FBIC, located at 17101 West Seven Mile Road in Detroit, created the outreach center to support Detroit neighborhoods affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The center will be located at First Baptist and will specifically focus on providing outreach for the residents of the 48235 zip code, which is located in northwestern Wayne County near Southfield and Royal Oak.

Both congregations will work together to administer the center, utilizing members to run workshops and provide for those most in need of the center’s services.

Trained outreach coordinators will work with clients on an individual basis to evaluate their needs and determine what support is available to them.

They will also identify other resources that might be available from other non-profits.

Services offered include:

• operation of a food pantry

• stipends to forestall utility shutoffs, evictions or foreclosures

• workforce development

• workshops for reading fluency, math and financial literacy

• programs for youth, seniors and veterans

While buildout of the space and hiring are still in progress, a virtual ribboncutting and grand opening ceremony, as well as a tour of the facility, is scheduled at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31 on YouTube.

A grant from the Douglas F. Allison Foundation, donations from the Deacon Karl Sturdivant Memorial Fund and an additional grant from the Christ Church Cranbrook COVID-19 relief fund are initially funding the project.

Both churches can be found online and on social media.

FBIC can be found on their website or at @FirstBaptistInstitutionalChurch on Facebook and @FBICDetroit on Twitter.

Christ Church Cranbrook can be found on their website or at @christchurchcranbrook on Facebook.