Hello Friends and Helllooooooo Fall!

Isn't fall the best season of the year? School has begun, fall sports are starting, and we can pull out our cozy sweaters and find our favorite mugs for hot cider and donuts. And of course, we get to go apple picking and eat pumpkin pie!

Okay- maybe fall isn't  everyone's  favorite season, but there are so many good things to celebrate!

We here at CAN are already so full of gratitude for such a great start to the year. Thanks especially to community partners who ensured our 200+ children and youth were able to begin the school year with brand new backpacks and school supplies:

The Rotary Club North Ann Arbor
First Congregational Church of Ann Arbor
First Baptist Church of Ann Arbor
Wacker
IBM 
FUMC
Zingermans
Georgetown Country Club 
Proquest
Internet2
Kris Denzin
Huron Hills Church 
& so many other wonderful individual donors who donated school supplies & backpacks for each CAN school-aged participant. 

See pictures below!

We also can't wait to partner again with groups like UM Athletes, the College of Pharmacy, Project Outreach, Books for a Benefit, the Kids' Kitchen, International Neighbors, Street Law, SWE, SLIP, AADL, SLATE, and Ready! Set! Start!

2019-2020 is going to be an incredible year -- we can just feel it in the crisp, fall air...

Have a great day!
Your friends at CAN

What Is Happening at CAN?
Back-to-School BBQs
Every year, CAN celebrates the start of the new school year with Back-to-School BBQs. Community members eat delicious home-made food, students might see their principals or teachers, hang with CAN staff, and each child gets to pick out a new backpack with new school supplies to start the school year off right!

CAN Art & Design-- "Favorite Memories"
In the first few weeks of kicking off CAN's After School Program, the CAN Art & Design team has been traveling to CAN's various locations to get the students started on some fabulous art & design-inspired enrichment activities.

One of the first community-building prompts was for the students to share one of their favorite memories at their community centers. We were thrilled when Mara shared that her favorite memory at Arrowwood Hills Community Center was "getting [her] new blue backpack" at the Back-to-School BBQ.

Mitchell Meet N'Greet
Before the Mitchell After School Program began, families and staff gathered for a Meet n'Greet. Did someone say there would be cake?!
Fun at CAN After School Programs
At Bryant, Kalia, Marika, and Alizabeth eat a dinner of scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, and grapes outside in the fresh fall air.
Ariel and Alisaia help each other with homework. Kalia is on the right next to a snack of pickles, which is a must during homework time for the Bryant kids!
At Brick, it was spirit week at school and the theme was 'Superhero Day', but ended up being 'Twin Day' in the center! One set of intentional (actual) twins, and one set of accidental twins!
Star Student
At Hikone, Deante came home from school with not one, but two letters commending his behavior at school: for helping a kindergartner who was sad and crying on the bus, and for going above and beyond helping out his teachers. Way to go, Deante!
CAN Spotlight
Thanks, Thomson Reuters!

Headed by Rosie Teribery, this summer Thomson Reuters provided a grant and volunteers to help clean up the Bryant Neighborhood. They are also donating contributions from an upcoming 5k fundraiser.

Thank you for your dedication to CAN's families!
Another successful CAN Golf Outing
is in the books--
we can't wait to see you next year!
Upcoming Events
CAN's Annual Turkey Drive Has Begun!
Hikone Haunted House
Calling all ghouls and goblins!

Hikone is hosting CAN's annual Haunted House and we are looking for help with "snacks n'scares."

If you like to celebrate a "PG" Halloween with the best of 'em, please reach out to Hikone Director, Danielle Dicks, who can let you know where help is needed!

The Haunted House will take place October 24 from 6-8pm.


*****


Just remember, you might check-in...but you might not check-out!

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA *thunder crashes and lightning flashes*
CAN is Hiring!
AmeriCorps VISTA:
Make a Difference

Work with CAN for one year building capacity to help our organization dig deeper within the communities we serve and make an impact on more families in Washtenaw County.

Next VISTA Year at CAN starts January 2020.

Learn more at: www.canwashtenaw.org/jobs
Looking for Ways to Get Involved?
CAN could not be successful without the help of committed volunteers like you!

Click the images or button below to learn more about CAN's ongoing volunteer opportunities or email volunteers@canannarbor.org to learn more.
Community Action Network
PO Box 130076, Ann Arbor, MI 48113
Community Action Network partners with children, youth, and families from under-resourced Washtenaw County neighborhoods to create better futures for themselves and improve the communities in which they live.
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