Open Door Outreach Center, Inc.
Neighbor Helping Neighbor
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Open Door Outreach Center focuses on meeting the basic needs of those less fortunate in our local area. These basic needs include food and clothing. When funding permits, we also work to assist those facing an immediate financial crisis. In 2021 we expanded our pantry and thrift store. Our goal in 2022 is the enhance our administrative center to include a resource center for our clients. This resource center will provide access to computers, classes in budgeting and job search techniques.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Food Pantry
Open Door operates a food pantry. Each qualified family visits the pantry monthly and selects the food appropriate for their family. In 2022, there were 2,210 family visits providing 221,236 pounds of nourishing food. Making their first visit were 231 families. Sometimes a family needs assistance for only a month or two and sometimes they are clients for several years. We also provided 429 family holidays meals. Because of what we learned during COVID, rather than providing all of the meal fixings, we gave a holiday pie and a food only gift card, allowing clients to select their family favorites. This modification was greatly appreciated by our clients.
Free Clothing and Household Items
Open Door operates a resale store with proceeds helping support our operating expenses. Also, our clients are able to "shop" at no cost selecting clothing and small household items for their family. This is especially critical at the Back to School season and for those enduring crisis like a house fire. In 2022, over $34,458 worth of items were distributed to clients at no cost. We also collect new pj's, underwear, socks, coats, hats and mittens for distribution. The value of these new items was $14,985 in 2022.
Crisis Funding
When funding is available, Open Door provides emergency funds to prevent evictions, utility shut offs, fuel only cards, critical car repairs, medical needs, etc. In addition to funds that we provide directly, we collaborate with many other groups to secure needed funding. Often times the need may be $1,000 or more. Open Door may provide $200 and several other referral partners provide the balance.
In 2022, Open Door provided $21,933 of crisis funds. In addition, we secured over $20,000 from our collaborative partners. This assisted 59 families.
Back to School
The Back to School program has been a staple of the Open Door. We believe that every child needs to start the school year feeling good about themselves and having the needed school supplies.
The program has evolved over the years based on our resources as well as community need. In 2022, we provided 32 school age children with a back pack full of age appropriate school supplies valued at $3,200 and a shopping trip to buy new school clothes. We will also provide clothing from our thrift store at no cost.
Holiday Programs
Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas are special times for many and Open Door tries to make them extra special for those in need. In 2022, 429 families were provided a pie and a food gift card to purchase a meal for their family. This is the total number of families assisted for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
Covid made us rethink the holidays. Historically we provided a turkey and all the fixings. But the reduction in volunteers and food shortages forced us to adopt a new approach. A holiday pie with a food only gift card proved extremely warmly accepted by clients and much easier to administer for our staff and volunteers. This will be our process for the foreseeable future.
We also coordinate an Adopt a Family program for Christmas. Volunteers are provided a gift wish list for our neediest families with children and seniors. In 2022 gifts were donated and distributed at a value of over $ 5,250.
Where we work
Awards
Outstanding Nonprofit Award 2015
Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
Excellence in Service 2015
State of Michigan
Affiliations & memberships
Chamber of Commerce 2017
External reviews
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Average number of service recipients per month
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Food Pantry
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
This is the average number of individuals receiving items from our food pantry each month.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Open Door Outreach Center's primary goal is to be able to meet the critical needs of food and household basics for our clients. The need is critical as other resources for help through government programs are facing constraints. We also strive to assist our clients to access all sources of support. We do this by partnering with other agencies so together we can be a stronger safety net for those in need.
Our ultimate goal is to offer support and hope so that our clients can lift themselves up and become self-sufficient citizens.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Open Door evaluates each client to identify specific needs. If assistance is needed that we cannot directly supply, we will refer to a partner agency. Example - If a client needs to apply for "food stamps", we can arrange an appointment with our Gleaners rep who assists the client with filing.
We also focus on client education and empowerment. Our client services rep will identify areas of hope and help the client grow to achieve success. Example - A client is jobless. Our client services director will work with them to identify job possibilities; assist in resume preparation; coach in interviewing skills; obtain a new outfit if necessary; and follow up on the results. There is nothing more satisfying then having a client contact us with the good news of a new job!
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Open Door has a proven (over 40 years) track record of assisting the community. We have the staff to work with the client to identify needs. Through the support of our donors we have been able to meet those needs of providing food and basic clothing needs. Financial resources are constrained to meet financial needs but we work with our clients to find strategic partners (like churches, St. Vincent DePaul, etc.) to assist with critical financial needs.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Open Door has expanded its physical presence which is allowing us to expand our services. We have consolidated our food pantry which offers expanded option for our clients and a more efficient work environment for our volunteers. Our thrift store has expanded which offers more items at no cost to our clients and increased revenue is supporting our operations. We have freed up space to build out a client resource center where we will offer expanded services. We will offer classes in finance and budgeting, job search techniques and basic computer skills. Our clients will also have access to computers. We see this as a way to break the cycle of poverty.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is hard to come up with good questions to ask people, It is difficult to get honest feedback from the people we serve
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Open Door Outreach Center, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 06/07/2023
Mrs. Sylvia Ashton
no affiliation
Term: 2022 - 2024
JoAnn Bolek
no affiliation
Eric Andrzejak
no affiliation
Gene Gerard
no affiliation
Sylvia Ashton
no affiliation
Mary Seifert
no affiliation
Karen Politowicz
no affiliation
Patrick Mitchell
no affiliation
Cindy Mason
no affiliation
Micheal Harrison
no affiliation
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 06/07/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.