Executive Summary

By Zeke Fleet
Central United Methodist Church Missions Team

Safe Harbor celebrates its twenty-year anniversary in 2023, providing two full decades of extraordinary and essential assistance to our homeless neighbors and others in need. This major help organization saves lives and continues to be true to its mission:

“Supporting the physical and spiritual welfare of people experiencing homelessness by providing emergency shelter and food and hope.”

During the 2022 – 2023 season, Safe Harbor gave shelter to 12,052 overnight guests, (93 percent are from the Grand Traverse area), and provided 12,900 meals. Individuals over 18 from all backgrounds were served with dignity and without judgment. Safe Harbor is supported by donations and volunteers from twenty area churches, plus other groups and individual supporters.

Operations require staffing by more than 2,100 annual volunteers. The facility is open during the cold-weather season - October 15 through April 30.

 

2022 – 2023 Executive Board Members

• Christopher Ellalasingham –  Chair
• Donna Olendorf – Vice Chair, Steering Committee & Communications Chair
• John Daniels – Secretary
• Wayne Sterenberg – Treasurer
• Susan Arnold – Operations Committee
• Joshua Brandt – Spokesperson/Fundraising Chair
• Rich Duell – Member at large
• Patrick Livingston – Member at large
• Lynn Swan – Medical Director
• Goodwill Community Engagement Officer – Ryan Hannon, ex officio member

Other Committees

• Operations Committee Chair - Rich Faller
• Facilities Manager Chair - Becky Lanham
• Kitchen Committee Chair - Mary Ellen Sanok
• Supplies Committee Chair - Nan Niewiadomski

Staff

• Brad Gerlach – Volunteer Manager
• Jaclyn Dugan-Roof – Staff Supervisor