Community Health Services of U-M Health

03/20/2026

Finishing up our highlight of Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels (AAMOW), we’d like to spotlight one of their staff members: Lynne, AAMOW Volunteer Coordinator.

How long have you been working at AAMOW?
"I have been with Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels (AAMOW) for 3.5 years. When I saw this position posted, it immediately felt like the right fit and a meaningful way to return to the workforce after spending many years focused on raising my family."

What are some of your responsibilities?
"As the Volunteer Coordinator at AAMOW, I have the privilege of working with a remarkable community of people who show up every day with open hearts. My role is all about supporting them: training new volunteers, building their confidence in serving, and making sure volunteers have everything they need to bring meals and kindness to our clients. Behind the scenes, I spend time coordinating with staff, staying organized with schedules and records, and making sure we’re following Michigan Medicine guidelines and program policies. These tasks all serve one bigger purpose: making sure our clients feel cared for and our volunteers feel supported."

What is your favorite part about your work at your program?
"My favorite part of working in our program is being part of a large, dedicated team that makes a meaningful impact in the community. Every day, I get to connect with so many wonderful people - volunteers, staff, and clients-who bring their own kindness, energy, and stories. They inspire me constantly, and those relationships make my work not just meaningful, but genuinely joyful."

Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication, Lynne! To learn more about how to volunteer and give, click the link in the comments!

03/18/2026

Continuing our highlight of Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels (AAMOW), we'd like to spotlight their free personal car items pantry!

In the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, AAMOW launched a free personal care items pantry with support from CHS, Food Gatherers, and Washtenaw County Office of Community & Economic Development. The pantry provided critical access to household supplies and toiletries to keep clients safe at home and ensure they could do so with dignity and care. In the time that has followed since the pandemic, the need for these essential items has persisted, so AAMOW has continued to help fill the gaps with donations from community members and a recent grant from FRIENDS Gift Shops.

When asked what difference the pantry items have made in their life this year, clients shared the following.
“They make me feel safe and prepared for an emergency, ready to check for COVID.”
“They fill in for items I have to cut back on or go without.”
“It helps to not go without these items and/or sacrifice paying a bill.”

To support the pantry and find out more about how to volunteer and give, click the link in the comments!

03/18/2026

is here! Help the Adolescent Health Initiative reach their goal of raising $2,000 to help young people with financial need attend their 2026 Conference! Follow the link below to donate to a great cause!

How can you empower young people to take charge of their health and shape the future of adolescent care? Today, the answer is simple: join AHI’s campaign and donate to support youth participants in our 2026 Annual Conference on Adolescent Health. From a dedicated youth-led day to an exhibition of youth artists, we're doing everything we can to in health care—are you?

Even a few dollars will help us give opportunities to young people in need to share their experiences with health professionals and make their voices heard!

Our campaign deadline is midnight tonight! Learn more: https://michmed.org/AHIGiving2025

IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
A photo of a young artist painting on an easel in a sunny studio. The logo for Giving Blueday 2026.

03/16/2026

For this month, we'd like to highlight one of our programs: Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels (AAMOW).

AAMOW is a program of CHS that seeks to reduce hunger and food insecurity in a culturally responsive manner for those who are homebound in Ann Arbor area and are unable to shop and prepare complete, nutritious meals for themselves because of their health.

AAMOW delivers more than 120,000 meals each year along with various supportive services to 450+ unduplicated clients. This is only possible with the help of 200+ dedicated volunteers, and they are looking to grow their volunteer team to meet the increasing need for services!

To learn more and get involved, check out the comments!

Meals on Wheels America Michigan Medicine

03/13/2026

As a part of our CHS 60 campaign, we break down the various programs of Community Health Services in 60 seconds. First up is FRIENDS Gift Shops! Check out the video for more info on this awesome program!

03/11/2026

A HUGE congratulations to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Michigan (OLLI) for organizing their Inaugural Fundraising Gala last week!

The event was a complete success with the program featuring a wide assortment of food, a silent auction filled with art from local artists, a live band, and much more!

We want to give a heartfelt thank you to all of the staff, volunteers, and community members for putting on an absolutely outstanding event. You are all AMAZING!

03/09/2026

For this month, CHS's Program for Multicultural Health would like to highlight their dietetic interns, Ting Ying Su and Yinzhi Ying (Sandra), both graduate students at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

Ting’s interests include making practical, evidence-based nutrition information more accessible to diverse populations. Sandra’s interests include nutrition and its relationship to aging and inflammation. The students recently led an engaging and successful workshop for older adults at Carpenter Place Apartments.

One resident shared, “I liked how the(y) had the presentation in both languages (Chinese and English) to help the residents understand.”

03/06/2026

Wrapping up our highlight on University of Michigan Adaptive Sports and Fitness, we’d like to spotlight three of their programs: ASIRI, RX to Play, and the Equipment Loan Program.

ASIRI embeds Adaptive Sports into the general physical education curricula of middle schools and high schools. They believe that sport should be accessible for all people and these are opportunities for youth to get early exposure and try something new that they may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience.

RX To Play seeks to bridge the gap between health professionals and overall awareness, benefits and availability of adaptive Sports. Through discussion panels, participating and observing adaptive sports, and educational presentations, they provide resources to current and developing health professionals for use within their respective careers. Adaptive sports are ways that all people can be active. Disabled or not.

Finally, the Equipment Loan Program provides adaptive recreation equipment to community members free of cost. Reducing the barrier of financial stress and providing opportunity to remain active under their own initiatives or to participate on teams where equipment is a barrier. This is also an opportunity to try it before you buy it, allowing people to get acquainted with equipment for what suits them best before going out and making a purchase.

03/04/2026

Continuing our highlight of University of Michigan Adaptive Sports and Fitness, we’d like to spotlight one of their staff members: Brian Elliott. Brian is the Community Program Coordinator has been working there for 2+ years. His responsibilities include working with the schools for the Adaptive Sports and Inclusive Recreation Initiative(ASIRI) program and providing adaptive sport opportunities for the community to experience.

“One of the most meaningful parts of working in this program is recognizing that disability is a natural part of the human experience, and the moments created here leave lasting impressions for all ages. Even if someone doesn’t personally identify as having a disability today, at some point in their life they will know someone who does—or they may acquire one themselves.

I want them to understand that adaptive sports are for everyone and that the benefits—physical, social, emotional, and beyond—are far greater than I could ever fully capture in words. Plus, there are full days where I just get to play and share adaptive sports with people. I literally have to remind myself that I am doing this for work.”

03/02/2026

For this month, CHS’s Community Benefit and Community Health Needs Assessment would like to highlight one of their grantees: University of Michigan Adaptive Sports and Fitness. They aim to increase awareness about, knowledge of, access to, and participation in adaptive sports and fitness among people with and without disabilities at the University of Michigan and in the greater Ann Arbor community.

Adaptive Sports & Fitness provide competitive, recreational and community-based opportunities for people to participate and learn about adaptive sports. Their core competitive sports include adaptive track and field, para powerlifting, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis. However, their programming expands far beyond competitive sport. Through community outreach, educational, and recreational programs like the “Adaptive Sports & Inclusive Recreation Initiative”, “Prescription to Play”, Equipment Loan Program, drop-in programming, and clinics they serve the broader community through adaptive sports.

02/27/2026

FRIENDS UH Gift Shop will be undergoing exciting renovations over the next few months, closing today to conduct a full-scale remodel! It is expected to last 3-4 months, and, to help bridge the gap, FRIENDS is planning on operating a pop-up location at the former Java Spot Cafe in Taubman Center. They anticipate opening this location on March 9, and they look forward to serving patients and families in the temporary shop and ultimately in the re-imagined Main shop!

02/25/2026

In honor of Black History Month, this week IHN at Alpha House will be elevating and celebrating the voice of Alfreda Rooks, IHN Alpha House Board President and also our very own Director of Community Health Services at U-M Health.

"There is always going to be somebody who thinks that you are not enough but I'm here to tell you, and you take these words with you, you are more than enough. Because you are in this space, in this time, in this world, there is a gift within you...we hope that you find what those gifts are and walk into your greatness, because we all have it inside us. It's not limited to people who have housing or education. We all have greatness within us. Walk towards it."

Alfreda also reminds us that a setback could be an opportunity to sit down and catch our breaths and that everybody should come together to speak for those who don't have a voice.

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