Partner Spotlight: Leelanau Christian Neighbors

We all know that it takes a “village” to raise a child, and here at LIFT, we have the privilege of being a part of many of our local teens’ supportive networks. This privileged position also gives us a front row seat to see just how extensive these “villages” are within our region. 

That’s why we’re excited to introduce a “Partner Spotlight” series here on the blog where, monthly, we will showcase the work of one of our community partners working with us to help set LIFT kids up for success. This month? Leelanau Christian Neighbors (LCN). 

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Whenever a LIFT kid is asked what they love most about programming, “snacks” falls somewhere in their list nearly every time.  That is due in large part to our incredible partnership with LCN.

Each week, Coordinators from LIFT’s four school sites visit the LCN pantry in Lake Leelanau to select shelf-stable food and hygiene items for our participants.

"The LCN partnership has been wonderful! The kids love the snacks, as well as the take-home goods! This partnership has helped my budget and provided essential supplies to kids who may need them!" -Jesus Ledesma, Leland Middle School Program Coordinator

Each visit, we leave with carts full of pretzels, granola bars, fruit cups, jerky sticks, and just about everything in between. What does that mean for LIFT from a financial perspective? We decided to take our most recent Suttons Bay High School program pantry trip and tally the approximate retail value to help put it into perspective.

During that one visit, we picked out 332 individual snacks (granola bars, fruit snack packs, bags of chips, etc.) with an estimated value of more than $200.

A haul like that typically lasts around two weeks at our Suttons Bay High School program. This means that on the low end, this specific partnership is saving just one of our seven programs roughly $400 each month.

And those savings matter big time. 

Those dollars we’re no longer spending on snacks can instead go toward unique field trips that help our teens broaden their horizons. They can purchase games, supplies, and connection-building activities that help create welcoming spaces and encourage new students to get involved.

At its core, the savings from this partnership create more opportunities for connection, belonging, and growth for the young people we serve, while also increasing the number of snacks we can provide.

More recently, LCN has also partnered with LIFT through another initiative, offering teens a limited number of free items each time they visit their Samaritan’s Closet thrift store with a LIFT group.

Clothing plays such a big role in identity and self-expression, especially as we work to define who we are during our teen years. Having barrier-free

access to clothing, at a time in life when young people

are actively figuring out who they are, is both deeply practical and meaningful.

"This was by far our most popular high school LIFT event of the season! Kids were clamoring for a spot on the van--and when we arrived to Samaritans Closet, it did not disappoint. Students had so much fun selecting their pieces, comparing items with each other, and giving one another ideas and encouragement." -Emily Alt, Northport High School Program Coordinator

The work we do at LIFT is significantly amplified by the organizations that walk alongside us to support our area teens, and we’re excited to use this series to spotlight the people and programs helping to build a brighter future for the next generation in Leelanau County.