Charitable Union

Charitable Union contributes to human dignity. We provide clothing, bedding and small household items at no charge and connect people to resources in the community. We honor and respect the people we serve, collaborate and partner with stakeholders, respect diversity within our community, lead an exemplary organization, and use resources responsibly. The Charitable Union was founded in 1887. Our original mission was to clothe school children in Battle Creek, MI. Today, we offer any low-to-moderate income individual or family residing in Calhoun County, MI with seasonally appropriate clothing, small household items (linens, bedding, tables, lamps, dishes, coffee makers, etc.), baby formula an... read more Charitable Union contributes to human dignity. We provide clothing, bedding and small household items at no charge and connect people to resources in the community. We honor and respect the people we serve, collaborate and partner with stakeholders, respect diversity within our community, lead an exemplary organization, and use resources responsibly. The Charitable Union was founded in 1887. Our original mission was to clothe school children in Battle Creek, MI. Today, we offer any low-to-moderate income individual or family residing in Calhoun County, MI with seasonally appropriate clothing, small household items (linens, bedding, tables, lamps, dishes, coffee makers, etc.), baby formula and diapers, women's hygiene products, steel-toed boots, work-wear (suits, scrubs, hospitality-industry black and whites, etc.), homeless care kits (tents, cook stoves, sleeping blankets, etc.) and adult incontinence materials throughout the month from our Free Store located at 85 Calhoun St., Battle Creek, MI and through our mobile store that reaches outlying areas (for example, Albion which is 30 miles away from Battle Creek.) We serve nearly 10,500 people yearly and distribute over 376,000 items into the community with an economic value (according to auditors) of $2.42 million annually. In order to provide this service, we accept new and used items donated from the community. In addition, we grant write, solicit donations from individuals and churches, conduct fundraising events, and sell "cottage industry-type" items, such as quilts, household linens, decorative pillows, and hats, scarves, shawls, and gloves, made by a cadre of volunteer seamstresses and knitters in our Gift Shop and online at Etsy, etc. During this past year, Charitable Union successfully received a grant to support low-to-moderate income menstruating school girls receive free feminine hygiene products during the 2018-2019 school year and another grant to support women receiving the same. We continue to seek additional funding in order to expand this service to all low-to-moderate income women in Calhoun County. Charitable Union also successfully received funding from a variety of sources to support our work wear program: business suits, scrubs, hospitality industry, steel-toed work shoes, etc. And, we have obtained funding to support our supplemental baby formula program for Calhoun County babies.