As President of the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries (DRMM), I depend heavily upon the assistance of the community with the work that we do for the homeless and disadvantaged. Frankly, we couldn’t perform our life-changing work without our volunteers, donors, and supporters. We are proud to count more than 50,000 donors and 120 faith-based institutions as our loyal friends.

Let me give you just a few examples of what happens when the community lends a hand to make a difference in the lives of others. Earlier this year, Starbucks employees from across the country volunteered at two DRMM facilities. They helped paint and sort hundreds of boxes of food and toiletry donations. The group assisted in demolition work at the site of our new teaching restaurant, the Cornerstone Bistro, which will be managed primarily by DRMM clients enrolled in our Culinary Arts School. A Starbucks representative says they helped us because giving back is a big part of the company’s culture.

Many other corporations reach out to DRMM. Cooper-Standard Automotive was the major reason we were able to establish a free health clinic in the Detroit-area for homeless children and their mothers. The S.A.Y. Detroit Family Health Clinic is the first of its kind in the nation — open around the clock and providing maintenance and preventative healthcare for the uninsured and underinsured. Cooper-Standard Automotive contributed money and hard work to get this project off the ground.

And, DRMM was able to give 800 families a brighter Christmas last year, thanks to the generous donations from the Michigan-based Beatrice and Reymont Paul Foundation and many other supporters.

Miracles really do happen. Especially when you can count on the community.