RAOK: The Noah Project
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FunTranscript
00:00Stacey, Amy, how are you guys doing? You guys all right?
00:03We're doing great. I'm good.
00:05I know this is strange for us. I'm not going to lie.
00:09You know, doing these Zoom calls, you can never get used to this.
00:13But, you know, with the Random Acts of Kindness,
00:15we still want to continue to do the Random Acts of Kindness.
00:19And we want to learn how to adapt to a different world
00:21and still, you know, do our best to help our community as much as possible
00:25and get involved. So this is how we do it.
00:26And I'm excited to talk to you guys.
00:30Joanna's here, too. Say hi, Jo.
00:32Hi, guys. Thanks for having us.
00:34We're really looking forward to finding out about your organization.
00:37So before we jump into it, so this is called the NOAA Project Detroit, correct?
00:42Right.
00:43Is there more than one NOAA Project or is this the only one?
00:46No, well, so our name is the NOAA Project.
00:48Our website is the NOAA Project Detroit
00:50because by the time we went to a website,
00:52someone else had already used the NOAA Project somewhere else.
00:54Ah, okay.
00:55So that's our website. It's the NOAA Project Detroit.
00:59Okay. Did you track the person down who has the website URL
01:02and demanded they give it back?
01:04No, we're pretty nice, so we didn't do that.
01:06So, you know, we thought about it, but then we were like,
01:08no, that's not very nice.
01:09You want to hear a funny story real quick before we dive into it.
01:13So I used to do morning drive at a radio station in Phoenix a while back,
01:18and, you know, they had just switched over, switched the dial.
01:20It went from 92.3 to power 98.3.
01:24There was a young man in the internship program that he ended up getting in trouble,
01:30so they fired him.
01:31He went and bought five different URLs with the station's name in it,
01:36so they actually had to go back to him and pay him $50,000
01:39to get the URLs back from him.
01:42Oh, my God.
01:43I mean, that's smart.
01:48So we're a nonprofit, so we wouldn't be offering them any money.
01:52We would just be like, so because of the work that we do, could we,
01:57could you, could you, you know, like, no, no.
02:01So I just want to say thank you to our friends at Community Financial.
02:05Without them, we wouldn't be able to do the random acts of kindness,
02:08so thank you to them.
02:09And I'm going to let you guys jump into it and explain it,
02:12because this is going to be posted all over our social media,
02:16and I'm going to destroy it, okay?
02:17I'm not going to say what I'm supposed to say.
02:19So Amy or Stacey, which one of you would like to lead this
02:22and basically tell us about the programs you guys got going on?
02:26So I'll start us off, and then, Stacey, you'll jump in
02:28and fill in what I forget.
02:30So NOAA, which, because it happens.
02:34Stacey, I do a good job of tag teaming.
02:36Great. So NOAA stands for Networking, Organizing, and Advocating for the Homeless.
02:40And what we do is we provide a bag lunch and casework services
02:44to individuals who are experiencing homelessness in Detroit.
02:48And so our bag lunch is our engagement strategy.
02:51That's how most people come in.
02:52They are in need of food, and we want to take care of that basic need of food.
02:56And so meet with people to address that basic need of food.
02:59And then in addition to food, we also offer other services to help them move forward
03:04with whatever's going on in their lives.
03:06So whether it's they need to get into housing, that they're already connected to housing
03:09but need support to stay in that housing, that they need primary documentation,
03:14so getting their ID, things like that, whether it's that they're receiving,
03:19that they should be receiving benefits and they're not.
03:21And so what are we doing about that?
03:22Just lots of different basic services, really meeting people where they are
03:25and working with them to try to get into housing and trying to establish that.
03:29We also do, in addition to provide the casework services that we offer here,
03:33we also go out onto the streets two nights a week and meet with people where they are there
03:37and begin to get to know them and encourage them to come see us here at NOAA.
03:41And since the pandemic, our work has shifted a lot.
03:44We used to provide, we were a warming center and a place for people to be during the day
03:49and gather and had a big, huge second floor space,
03:53sort of like a fellowship hall at a church or someplace like that
03:57where people would eat with us and then hang out with us during the day.
04:00And because we're not able to gather indoors at this time, our work has shifted.
04:05We have not stopped operating services at all since the pandemic began.
04:08We just switched sort of what we were doing.
04:10We began to offer our lunch on a to-go basis
04:13and then still offer a lot of our other basic services that we have here.
04:17So we're also, in addition to some of the other things that we do,
04:19we are a mailing address for over 800 individuals.
04:22But you think about living place to place or not having a place that you're in,
04:26you need a place to get mail.
04:27You know, you're going to try and get your ID, try and get other things.
04:30You need a place to get mail.
04:31And so we are that for a lot of people.
04:32We also have people who use our phone because they,
04:36while they might have a phone, it's probably a minute phone.
04:38And so you don't want to be stuck on hold with someone for a long time.
04:42And so they use, people use our phone for that.
04:43We are an intake site for the Coordinated Assessment Model in Detroit,
04:48which is how people access shelter.
04:50And so that happens at our location.
04:52And that has still been going on since the pandemic began.
04:55They switched a little bit to a phone intake,
04:56but then they also have an in-person intake with us.
04:59And we're still offering the ability for people to meet with caseworkers,
05:03just with masks and socially distanced and things like that.
05:06So our operations just have shifted as this time has gone on right now.
05:10The other thing that we do a lot of is giving away a lot of basic needs.
05:13So socks and hygiene items and things like that.
05:17You think about socks are the number one preventer of frostbite.
05:21And so we give out a lot of socks in the winter because we live in Michigan
05:25where it's cold.
05:26Unfortunately, it's going to get cold again.
05:27And so we do a lot of socks.
05:30Today is our, we're wrapping up what we do, Sock It To Me September.
05:34So we collect socks during the month of September.
05:36We usually get between 6,000 to 8,000 pairs of socks that sort of help last us
05:41throughout the year.
05:41Because most people, when they come in to NOAA,
05:44one of the things that they need in addition to a lunch is some socks.
05:46And so hands out, hand out those.
05:49Stacey, what have I missed?
05:51Well, real quick.
05:52We also serve at, I'm sorry.
05:55No, go ahead, Stacey.
05:56I'm sorry.
05:56I just, I think I want people to recognize what's happening.
06:00You know, we're, of course, it's going to be all over social media.
06:02And we're talking to the ladies of the NOAA Project Detroit.
06:06But it's so important.
06:08I don't think people realize how important basic needs like mail and socks are.
06:15Like things like that we take for granted every day.
06:17Or using a phone.
06:18Yes.
06:19We just grab our phone and we're on it.
06:21And yep.
06:22We take it for granted.
06:23And I, you know, there was a time in my life when I was homeless at the age of 14.
06:27And I didn't have a NOAA Project to help me.
06:31And I commend you ladies on what you're doing, man.
06:33And, you know, this is the whole reason we decided to do the Random Acts of Kindness.
06:38Because not only do we want to be in the community, but we want to expose, you know, folks like you that are really trying to help.
06:45And it's nonprofit.
06:47You're not doing this for money.
06:48You're really trying to help people.
06:51And I'm going to try not to get emotional.
06:52But every time I go through this, I do.
06:55But just, I'm sorry.
06:56Thank you, ladies, for what you're doing.
06:57Stacey, go ahead.
06:58Yes.
06:58So, one of the things that Amy left out is we actually serve as a storage place for people.
07:07Because when you're on the street, you have everything you own is on, you're carrying it with you.
07:12So, how would you feel with carrying everything that you own on your back every day or in your arms?
07:18And we have clients that come in and they have something in each hand and something on their back.
07:23And they're weighed down.
07:24So, we have a storage, a small storage space where we can keep up to, I don't know how many, is it?
07:31Eighteen.
07:32It's 18 with the huge storage bins.
07:35And they can come in and put in what they need to put in and take out what they need to take out.
07:39So, then that way, at least when they're out there, they're not weighed down.
07:43We also have reading eyeglasses.
07:46You don't think about that when you start to lose your vision or it starts to change.
07:50They're clients that come in and they can't read something.
07:52So, it's like last week I was able to come to my office and pull out some reading glasses for a gentleman.
07:57And it was just, it just meant the world to him.
08:00We also, we used to have pre-COVID every quarter, Covenant Dental Care would come in.
08:06And our clients would get free dental services.
08:09So, every three months or so, they'll come in for a whole week.
08:12And they get free dental services.
08:15We are also partnered with Wayne State School of Medicine with the street medicine team, as well as Covenant Care medical team.
08:23They come over and see our clients periodically, at least once a week.
08:28We also have volunteer retired nurses on staff where we offer wellness services to our clients.
08:34And they're able to connect with our nurses because our agency is all about rebuilding trusting relationships.
08:41Because a lot of people are homeless because a lot of people think homelessness and drugs.
08:47And those two seem to connect all the time.
08:49And that's not always it.
08:51Sometimes someone is homeless because they're running from a violent situation or unhealthy situation.
08:56And they'd rather be out on the street than in that situation.
08:59And a lot of our clients have loss, have trust issues.
09:03So, we are very low barrier.
09:05You don't have to do anything special to come to the NOAA Project Detroit.
09:08You just have to walk in the door, get a meal, see what we're about, and maybe connect with our casework services if you need to connect with us.
09:17But we want to, first and foremost, start rebuilding those trusting relationships.
09:23We want our clients to rebuild those trusting relationships with the community.
09:26Because that's where they're going to get that help from and that leg up, you know.
09:34So, yeah.
09:36We also had to earn a bike program where they can fix a bike.
09:39They break the bike down.
09:40They repair it.
09:41So, then that way, if something happens to it, then they know how to fix their transportation.
09:45Oh, you teach them how to fix the bikes?
09:48Yes.
09:49Man, what is going on here?
09:53What is going on?
09:54And we also, and I also forgot that before the buses were free, we gave out bus tickets as well.
10:01You know, we were one of the agencies that, you know, give out bus tickets, you know.
10:07So, yeah, we help them with transportation in that aspect.
10:12And, yeah, I want to clarify something Amy said and correct me if I'm wrong.
10:15We don't help with housing.
10:17If they're already in housing, we help them to navigate that process.
10:22If they are getting section in and they need help contacting their housing manager or something like that or they're having problems, that's where we advocate for them.
10:34Yeah.
10:35So, yeah.
10:36Bring in some expertise.
10:38Yeah.
10:39Yeah.
10:39Yeah.
10:39Because we're not a housing agency, but do a lot of connecting of the dots for clients and a lot of making sure that people don't fall through the cracks.
10:47Because if you're homeless and moving from place to place, your cell phone number might change.
10:52The caseworker that you get assigned to work with might not know how to contact you.
10:55And so we try and do a lot of connecting those dots and keeping people, you know, connected with whoever they need to to get into housing and things like that.
11:03Now, I know you guys need a lot of help or volunteer people.
11:08And I know with COVID, how has that changed?
11:09Can people still help with the bag lunch program?
11:12I know I was on your website and I look, you have an Amazon wish list.
11:15Are you still accepting gifts on the Amazon wish list and stuff like that?
11:20Yeah.
11:20So, for sure, any of the basic needs items that we just talked about, like socks and hygiene items, we definitely need any of those.
11:28And we try and give out travel size items because you think about, like, if you're carrying the shampoo around with you, you don't want to carry a big bottle of shampoo.
11:35You just have that tiny bottle.
11:36And so, like, travel size items are what we need.
11:39So, any of those items, definitely.
11:42So, like, razors, deodorant, socks, soap, shampoo, any of those items.
11:48Hand warmers as we're going into the winter.
11:49That's what I've just put into my cart.
11:52They have hand warmers.
11:54Yeah.
11:54So, things like that because it's going to, you know, unfortunately, we do live in Michigan.
11:58We wish that, you know, we could, like, move everyone to Florida for the winter, but that doesn't quite work for anyone.
12:02So, you know, it's going to get cold.
12:04So, any of that.
12:05We also, so we provide the bag lunch that we do and the social services four days a week, Monday through Thursday.
12:10And we are always in need of people to help to make lunches for us.
12:15And so, there's instructions on our website about how to do that.
12:17And so, we've figured out during this time of COVID that a lot of times there are neighborhood groups that do it.
12:22And so, they sign up for a neighborhood to do it.
12:24And you get, like, six people in your neighborhood.
12:26Each of you make 50 sandwiches and then get somebody to bring it down to us or something like that.
12:30Because 300 sandwiches, we realize, sounds a little overwhelming for one person or one family to make.
12:35And so, I figured out sort of, like, divide it up amongst a couple people and get involved.
12:39And so, there's a way to sign up to do that.
12:40And then, also, if you're able to come and volunteer with us, we welcome that right now.
12:45So, we have spots where we will come and help serve our bag lunch Monday through Thursday from 10 until about 1230.
12:52And so, that is interacting with people.
12:55But our clients are wearing masks and that kind of stuff.
12:58And then, you are socially distanced from them and that kind of stuff.
13:01But if you are interested in giving back at this time, we welcome that.
13:04And so, that's also on our website, which is all at noahprojectdetroit.org.
13:09Feel free to share that and have people sign up and contact our bag lunch coordinator, Jenny F, for that.
13:14So, it's Noah.
13:16Wait, say it.
13:16So, noahprojectdetroit.org is the website.
13:20Right.
13:20We have Amazon wish list, which is genius, on the website because that's going to make it extremely easy.
13:25But I do want to point out really quick.
13:27You see that guy that's sitting there in the middle with the shirt on that says trust?
13:30Well, he's responsible for us not being able to go out and actually use our hands to volunteer, right?
13:37He basically is like the legal guy that says, no, you can't do this, you can't do that.
13:42Oh, I don't know why he paints me this way because that's definitely not the truth.
13:47But I understand.
13:48I understand.
13:49We're at a time where it's really complicated right now.
13:51And we get that.
13:52Thank you, Amy.
13:53Thank you, Amy.
13:54We'll make sure to come out there and make those sandwiches ourselves.
13:58Oh, yes.
13:59Oh, yes.
14:00And so could a neighborhood or someone volunteer and they make this, can they make the sandwiches in their home and they just bring them to you?
14:07Right.
14:07Yeah.
14:08That's, yeah.
14:08That's what we're encouraging people to do.
14:11Okay.
14:11Because reality right now is safer in your home than to probably, you know, come anywhere else to do anything else.
14:18Okay.
14:18So, yeah.
14:19I don't know if you can trust everybody making a sandwich though because Joanna uses way too much mayo.
14:23I don't know.
14:25No mayo.
14:28Right.
14:28Don't put any mayo or mustard on them.
14:30We get, we get on packets for that.
14:31So don't worry.
14:32Don't worry.
14:32We can trust you because we've taken that factor out.
14:36So real quick, ladies, because I know you got a lot going on and you're probably extremely busy.
14:41But so how did, how did the, the North Project Detroit get its start?
14:44Who's the co-founder?
14:46Who created the company?
14:47Who created the business?
14:48The model?
14:49All of that.
14:49So where we're housed, we're housed inside the Central United Methodist Church, which if you guys are familiar at all with downtown, you know exactly where it is.
14:56We're on the corner of Woodward and Adams, right in front of Comerica Park.
14:59Yeah.
14:59We have, this church has been a longstanding, has a longstanding history of fighting for peace and justice and people in our community who need a voice and need to be heard.
15:09And so they've been serving the bag lunch since 1976.
15:12And so they, yeah, exactly, for lots of years.
15:17And so really have been offering it for a long time and realized in the early 90s, while it was great that they were feeding people, that there needed to be other services that they could access to try and keep, try and address the needs beyond just food of coming in the door.
15:29And so that's where NOAA was created, as a group from the church formed with a couple of other, got together with some nonprofits that were downtown and sort of combined the lunch along with the casework services together.
15:42And so that's where NOAA came from.
15:43So if you're watching this on Facebook, maybe you caught it on Twitter, maybe you caught a snippet on Instagram, we're talking to the NOAA Project Detroit, what this company is doing for those that are in need and those that are homeless right now is imperative that you get involved and you help out.
15:59I hear a lot of people saying to me and Joanna all the time, how can I get involved?
16:03How can I volunteer with a random acts of kindness?
16:05This is how you do it, okay?
16:08NOAAProjectDetroit.org.
16:10Okay, again, I'm going to say it one more time.
16:11Look into my eyes.
16:12You see my eyes?
16:14NOAAProjectDetroit.org.
16:15Okay, if you can volunteer any amount of monetary donation, if you can donate sandwiches, just be easy on the mayonnaise, please go to NOAAProjectDetroit.org.
16:27Ladies, I'm so proud of you guys and what you're doing.
16:30I wish I could actually quit what I'm doing and come and work for you.
16:34Ultimately, that would be my goal.
16:36You know, I feel like that's my mission in life is to try to help and give back.
16:39So I just applaud you ladies and what you guys are doing.
16:42Yes.
16:43And the minute we can come physically, we are going to come physically and help you guys.
16:48Please do.
16:49We can always use the extra hands.
16:52And Jello, you can work for us by word of mouth.
16:55Spread the word.
16:57That's right.
16:57That's right.
16:58Spread the word about the NOAA Project Detroit.
17:01You know, we're a small fish doing big things and we can always use extra help.
17:08Absolutely.
17:08Absolutely.
17:10NOAAProjectDetroit.org.
17:11Please log on to volunteer.
17:13Log on to donate.
17:14Again, thank you to our friends at Community Financial.
17:17We wouldn't be able to do the random acts of kindness even on a Zoom call without you.
17:20So thank you.
17:21And ladies, we look forward to finally being able to get out there and help you guys and
17:25volunteer.
17:26Just hold on.
17:27I promise you we'll be there.
17:29We'll be there.
17:29We look forward to it.
17:31Thanks, Jello.
17:32Thanks, Jello.
17:32Bye, guys.
17:34Bye.