The Observer newspapers in western Wayne County ran two nice articles about the Wayne County Family Center last Sunday, one about Angela Pilarski and her goals as the center’s new director and the other about a homeless family living at the center.

Angela Pilarski of Farmington Hills has joined the staff of Lutheran Social Services of Michigan as director of the Wayne County Family Center, a shelter for homeless families in Westland, MI. Pilarski previously worked at The Guidance Center in Southgate, MI, where she managed the Head Start program. She holds a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Science in Administration degree from Central Michigan University. The Wayne County Family Center provides temporary housing for 24 homeless families. It is one of only a few Michigan shelters where family members can stay together in a single room. Families can live at the center for up to two years. Residents receive meals; counseling to help with financial management, job search and housing; child care and transportation assistance. The center is funded by Wayne County and managed by Lutheran Social Services of Michigan.

The Wayne County Family Center in Westland has been chosen to participate in a program called Color Care Across America, designed to brighten the lives of the homeless. The program, a collaboration of The U.S. Conference of Mayors, Benjamin Moore Paints, and the Paint and Decorating Contractors of America, will transform 51 shelters in 50 days. Using paint from Benjamin Moore, volunteer painting contractors will paint up to 10,000 square feet at the centers – one each in every state and Washington, D.C. – between September 19 and Thanksgiving. They’ll also leave enough paint for the centers themselves to freshen up other areas. At Wayne County Family Center, volunteers will paint the hallways, continuing a year-long redecorating project that has updated the look of the family rooms and common areas. Westland’s mayor, William Wild, nominated the center for the program. “We were very pleased when Mayor Wild’s office contacted us and asked if we wanted to apply,” said Carol Eddy, center director. “This was in early spring, and I had actually forgotten about it, so I was thrilled to receive notification that we had been selected as the only shelter in Michigan for this program.”

The Wayne County Family Center in Westland provides a temporary home for 24 families. Lutheran Social Services plans to replace the worn furniture in each room with new items that are durable, practical, safe and attractive. New floor coverings, window treatments, fresh paint and pictures for the walls will make this a real, livable home. We seek donors who will give $3,600 to $5,400 to fully renovate each of the 24 rooms. Smaller donations will help renovate the common spaces, including the dining room, TV room and library. A gift of $300 will buy a new round dining table. A gift of $100 will purchase a highchair that meets current safety standards. Visit the center and see a model room. The center is located at 30600 Michigan Avenue, Westland. Contact Director Carol Eddy at (734)721-0590 or ceddy@lssm.org to arrange a visit. If you think you can help, call Jennifer Richard, director of Major Gifts for Lutheran Social Services, at (248)763-7914, and tell her how you or your congregation can help.

Project H, a free health clinic at the Wayne County Family Center in Westland, has received a grant of $13,000 from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. The grant is part of their Strengthening the Safety Net Free Clinic program.

Project H is supported by donations of in-kind services and supplies by faculty, medical students and the community. The clinic is managed by Amy Cortis, M.D. with help from Michael Stellini, M.D., assistant professor of Internal Medicine, and Stephen Knazik, M.D., clinical associate professor of Pediatrics.

Project H began in 2000, and WSU students began volunteering at the clinic in 2001. Student volunteers and Wayne State faculty physicians provide medical services once a week to homeless adults and children living in the shelter. Medical students also tutor children at the center and provide health education seminars and recreational activities for families. Project H is working to team with other departments and schools at Wayne State University to provide additional services for the families.

Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano recently delivered a supply of donated coats for the children living at the Wayne County Family Center in Westland. The March 11 issue of the Westland Observer had a nice story about the event, quoting Center Director Carol Eddy. Read it here.