Tagged: Community

 Originally aired on March 12, 2013. 

Around the city of Lansing, grassroots volunteers are the lifeblood of neighborhood organizations trying to improve the quality of life.  

In January, the city of Lansing announced that the city had been awarded a $1.5 million Bloomberg Philanthropies grant to establish a Financial Empowerment Center. Lansing’s center opened yesterday.

The center is modeled after one in New York City. It will offer free, one-on-one financial counseling to low-income residents over the next three years.

Timebanks have been cropping up in cities  across the country. Very loosely, participants trade work hours in an effort to build a better community. Of course, there’s much more to it than that, and Edge Brussel, coordinator of the new Lansing Timebank, as well as Stephanie Rearick, co-director of the thriving Dane County Timebank in Madison, Wisc., tell us what’s involved.

WKAR's drive for the Greater Lansing Food Bank brought in a grand total of 880 pounds, which was picked up and weighed on December 19.The total packed three filled-to-the-brim laundry carts.

A large amount of this food came from the drop-off point at the MSU Library. Thanks to Ruth Ann Jones, Holly Flynn and student Adam for collecting it and then bringing it over here to add to the grand total. This is our second year partnering with the library and their collection really makes a difference.

WKAR Radio and Television are collecting food items for Greater Lansing Food Bank through December 15.