October 2024

We are all given a unique plan and purpose in life, and not every path is an easy one. Purchasing and renovating our new building has at times felt like a task too monumental for us to complete. We often feel undertrained and unprepared, but we are reminded in Hebrews 12:1 to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us". Our job is not to worry about what pace we are keeping or how far away the finish line is from where we are at. We are simply called to trust God and continue moving forward one step at a time. We are not promised an easy race, but when we are faithful in following the what has been set before us, and are willing to endure the hardships and challenges of the course, God will always show up and help us cross the finish line.

As with any major renovation project, especially one that involves an older building, we have encountered unexpected surprises. Although fixing them is taking more time and money than originally planned, it would be irresponsible for us to just ignore them. And as we persevere with our task of creating a space that will bless our community for decades to come, God continues to show us that He is present, He is in control, and He will help us finish this race. After spending the past 2 months tearing the building apart, it is exciting to finally start seeing things coming together again.

Much of the work we have been doing thus far has been on the interior, difficult to see as you drive by. Recently, however, there have been some exciting updates to the exterior, and by early next week, the entire building should have a fresh new coat of paint! Each of these milestones, as small as they seem, provide great encouragement to us, as we continue running forward with our eyes on the finish line, knowing that we will eventually get there!

NEW GARDEN

Thanks to a $9500 grant from Ford Motor Company, landscape plants donated by Milarch Nursery, and many volunteer hours, we now have a beautiful raised bed garden in front of the building.

NEW WINDOWS

Thanks to a crew of hardworking volunteers, three window holes have been cut out in an area that will become a private gathering room in our building. What a difference a bit of light makes!

NEW ENTRYWAY

Thanks to a wood donation from Northville Lumber and a crew of volunteers from the local Rotary Club, we now have a beautiful new entryway with freshly wrapped wooden pillars & beams.

Hobbs and Black, the architecture firm who has volunteered their time to help us transform the building has gone far above and beyond anything we could have ever dreamed or imagined. Not only did they create the blueprints and site plans needed for our building permits, their design team has come up with some beautiful ideas to make the space an extra unique and special one for our community. They also have also began reaching out to manufacturers and suppliers to get products donated to us donated or at little or no cost. Here's a preview of what's to come...

Thanks to the incredible generosity of so many in our community, in just 6 short months we have received over $850,000 in donations, enough to cover the entire purchase price of the building. With the unexpected repairs and upgrades needed on the walk in coolers, plumbing, electric, and heating and cooling systems, reno costs are now likely to cost nearly $500,000. With our expected completion date also pushed back to late December, we have been given extra time and an incredible opportunity to raise the remaining $450,000 needed to pay off the total project by the end of the year. This would give our ministry the ability to open the doors to our new space completely debt-free and the freedom to focus on what matters most...feeding faith, hope, and love to those around us.

Although this is a lofty goal, God has already performed many miracles to get us this far, and with the last quarter of the year typically accounting for 50% of a nonprofit's donations, we truly believe that it is totally possible. Although no donations is too small to make a difference, we do also have unique benefits and advertising opportunities available for larger gifts and corporate partnerships. Contact us directly for more information on these offerings. We would love to ask for your help in praying for us, helping spread the word about what we are creating for our community, and putting us in touch with others who may want to support our efforts.



Feel free to share our website and vision for the building www.theivytable.org/thebigdream

Don't miss this year's Tinsel & Tidings Gala on December 15

Last year's gala was such an incredible success, we can't wait to do it again, and this year is shaping up to be even better! We have confirmed that Chefs Gabriel and Gabriella Botezan will once again partner with Whisk and Ivy to provide incredible food. Scott Muhlvahille, a singer songwriter and world renowned upright bassist from Nashville will provide amazing entertainment. And we will once again have both silent and live auctions, which will now also include an online component, so that even those who are not able to attend the gala can participate. Reserve December 15 on your calendars and watch for ticket sales to begin in early November.

We are currently seeking event sponsors and auction donations. Can you help?



Corporate Matching

It is estimated that $4 to $7 Billion in corporate donation matching funds go unclaimed each year. Recently two of our donors, (who had written checks to The Ivy Table in the amounts of $1,000 and $5,000 a couple months ago) discovered that their companies will match donations to charitable organizations. After filling out simple forms through their respective employers, they were able to get their checks matched, resulting in another $6,000 for our ministry.

If you have already made a donation to The Ivy Table this year, please check your company's policy on matching funds. You may be able to double the impact of your gift with very little effort.

Continue praying for our ministry, all who have been working on the building, all who receive meals form us during the week. The work that we do isn't always easy, but it is always worth the effort! We look forward to sharing new and exciting updates with as we near closer to the finish line.

You can always learn more about our ministries at www.theivytable.org