Working Together: Updates from MCUM

Dear Katie,

Happy October! I hope you have been enjoying the crisp autumn weather as much as I have lately and are looking forward to the busy, but fun season ahead. My children are eagerly preparing for Halloween. Hazel is especially interested in big cats right now, so each of us in our household has been assigned a big cat this year and we will prowl our neighborhood together as a terrifying pack of exotic felines. How exciting!

As the seasons change from fall to winter, please consider supporting MCUM during the holidays by ordering our Merry Merch by October 27. We are also looking for more food drive hosts and a few more family gift program sponsors. Please visit the holiday page of our website to learn more and sign up - mcum.org/holiday.

As you have hopefully heard by now, our Compass Early Learning Center received a Level 4 Paths to Quality rating earlier this month, concluding our quality goals on our current strategic plan. I am so proud of our team!

Finally, we have many new faces at MCUM. Compass has hired 4 new classroom team members ahead of our Sea Turtle class opening in January. The Self-Sufficiency Center is welcoming Gio, our Social Services Coordinator. The next time you're here for a meeting or dropping off groceries, be sure to say hello!

Wishing you a wonderful rest of the month!

Katie Broadfoot, MPA

Executive Director

Monroe County United Ministries

[email protected]

812-339-3429 ext.11

REMC Grant Supports Early Learning

Monroe County United Ministries would like to express its gratitude to South Central Indiana REMC for its generous grant of $2000 to go towards providing diapers for our young children at Compass Early Learning Center.

Founded the same year as MCUM, SCI REMC has provided rural communities in the area with owner-operated utility service since 1939. SCI REMC gives back to the community in a variety of ways, including Operation RoundUp, where members can opt to round up their utility bill to support local charitable causes. Since its inception in 1995, Operation RoundUp has given out $3.8 million in support, including $2000 of funding to help remove the financial barrier of paying for diapers from our Compass families.

According to research from the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis, a similar program providing diapers to low-income families increased both childcare and work attendance and decreased the incidence of diaper rash.

Thank you, SCI REMC, for supporting MCUM’s mission and our Compass families!

New Your Path Module: Career Navigation

This 4-6 week program will walk you through everything you need to be set up for success in your career path and job search.

Apply Here <-- Click here to apply today!

Purchase your Merry Merch Today!

Check out our long and short sleeve merry maker apparel as well as our greenery!

We are partnering this year with Abell Nursery for all of your holiday greenery purchases. Choose from a 6.5' gold foil wrapped poinsettia pot or a fresh cut Frasier Fir wreath!

Orders are DUE BY October 27th!

Click HERE to purchase your merch!

Support for MCCSC's Ballot Referendum

Be on the lookout this November for Monroe County Community School Corporation’s (MCCSC’s) Family-Centered, Community-Focused ballot referendum. If passed, this referendum will help finance unfunded needs for MCCSC children, including affordable early childhood education, instructional materials, and technology and testing fees. Katie Broadfoot commented that this referendum is in alignment with our mission and "A lack of childcare is a huge barrier to a caregiver's ability to obtain and maintain employment, contributing to the household's overall financial stability and self-sufficiency. Children who attend high-quality early learning programs like what we offer at Compass are more likely to thrive by age 5 years old, setting them up for a lifetime of more positive outcomes."

The referendum’s positive impact would be widespread, and the cost to the community would be minimal. Our community has a long-standing history of supporting educational funding initiatives, and it is critical that we continue this tradition. By supporting the referendum, we can ensure that the next generation of children have the social, developmental, educational, and financial resources to succeed. If the referendum is passed we will continue adapting to the changing needs of our community.

Dine & Donate: Huge Success

Thank you to everyone who came out to Culver's to share a meal with friends and family in support of ending generational poverty in Monroe County! It was so inspiring seeing our staff, board, and friends of MCUM show up in droves!

We reached our goal and earned 15% of the total revenue during our 5-8pm Dine and Donate shift, equating to $779.21!

Welcome: Social Services Coach

We are thrilled to welcome Giovanni Perez to the Monroe County United Ministries family as our new Social Services Coordinator. Gio is proud of his Mexican-American heritage. Gio's altruistic and outgoing personality shines through with each client that he greets. Gio was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana. While from South Bend, Gio has been an IU Hoosier for the past 4 years, having received his bachelor's degree in social work from Indiana University in May. In his free time, Gio enjoys going to the gym, spending time with friends, meditating, volunteering, and watching soccer!

MCUM's Client-Choice Pantry Amazon Wishlist

Thank you for your support.

Leave a legacy. Ask us about our planned giving or donate today!

Monroe County United Ministries

827 West 14th Court,

Bloomington, IN 47404

812-339-3429