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Matrix Human Services Impact Report 2020
Our 2020 Impact Report Video highlights the challenges and successes we experienced during an unprecedented year. We moved over 500 employees to virtual services, purchased over 800 tablets so children and youth could learn from home, expanded our food distribution...
Matrix Human Services is Helping Detroiters Amid the Pandemic
New Detroit Resident Receives Critical Health Services During COVID-19 Pandemic
When Kelly was 16 years old, she began a relationship with a man she knew for a long time. Eventually, they were engaged but by the time Kelly found out her partner was HIV positive, it was too late. She felt that he attempted to trap her, but the relationship still...
Family of 4 Receives Angel Tree Holiday Gift Boxes For the Whole Family
Jasmine discovered Matrix Human Services in late 2018, when her then 1-year-old daughter began attending our Head Start Birth-to-5 Program at our Plymouth location, one of 16 Head Start Centers exclusively operated by Matrix Human Services in the city of Detroit. As a...
Mother of 4 Receives a ‘Hand Up’ From Matrix During COVID-19 Pandemic
Ms. Shannon is a mother of 4 who has been through an especially challenging year. Before 2020, Shannon was working at General Motors in Detroit but suddenly found herself laid-off, while she was pregnant. After she gave birth to two healthy baby twins, she enrolled...
10 Year Old Thrives in Matrix Youth Services Program
Brooklyn Fordham resides with her grandmother in the Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects and has been working with Matrix staff since our Youth Assistance Program (YAP) was hosted at the Peter Claver Building. As Brooklyn's grandmother, Ms. Fordham, describes, Brooklyn...
Family In Need Receives Heat and Hope From Matrix
Ms. Thelma and her daughter Janlissa have faced difficult circumstances ever since they were forced to relocate from a rental property that was being torn out 4 years ago. However, the new rental home that they share together has been plagued with issues. "The people...
Long-Time Matrix Supporter Continues Annual Donations During Coronavirus
Mrs. Shirley Patterson has been donating brand new clothes, toys, and other valuables to Matrix Human Services for more than 15 years. Director of The Matrix Center, Mr. Ken Brown, remembers meeting Ms. Patterson in 2005 when she began donating around the holidays to...
Matrix Human Services Receives Award for Outstanding Commitment to Advancing Energy Efficiency in the Community
Matrix Human Services was recently honored with the Supporting the Cause Award during the virtual DTE/SEEL Community Appreciation Awards. The award was given to the community partner who demonstrated outstanding performance and exceptional...
Matrix Provides Extra Food Distributions to Head Start Families During Pandemic
In November, Matrix Human Services partnered with Atlas Wholesale Food Company, Wayne Metro Community Action Agency, and Renaissance Head Start to fill a need that many of our Head Start families were missing - food. Our Head Start families used to count on the...
Matrix Human Services Distributes Thanksgiving Meals Before The Holiday
On November 23rd, the Monday before Thanksgiving, Matrix Human Services joined forces with Higher Hopes to provide Thanksgiving meals to some of our Head Start families that have expressed significant need. Higher Hopes is a non-profit that serves families with...
Matrix Supporters Featured for National Philanthropy Day 2020 – Greater Detroit Chapter
"Every November, the Association of Fundraising Professionals celebrates National Philanthropy Day, recognizing the generous contributions of individuals and organizations to worthy causes large and small. The Greater Detroit Chapter throws one of the nation’s largest...
Matrix Distributes Book-Bags and Face Masks to 3 Detroit Schools
Every year, Matrix Human Services hosts a bookbag drive with Ford Motor Company Fund where bookbags and school supplies are distributed to children in our summer camp. However, this year was different. Due to Coronavirus, our summer camp and bookbag drive did not...
The Matrix Center Provides a Polling Place on the East Side of Detroit
On November 3rd, 2020, The Matrix Center on the East side of Detroit once again hosted voters as a polling place at Gratiot and E. McNichols (13560 E. McNichols rd). During Coronavirus, many voters had already cast absentee ballots and voted by mail or drop boxes....
Grandmother In Need Receives Donated Bed and Dresser Set
On Tuesday, October 27th, Angela was at The Matrix Center on Gratiot and McNichols to receive food at our bi-weekly food distribution with Forgotten Harvest, as well as complete paperwork to receive a replacement furnace and refrigerator thanks to our partner...
L.A.C.C. Child Care Academy Transforms After Renovations
In May, we talked to Ms. Laurie Clark-Horton, owner of L.A.C.C. Child Care Academy on the West Side of Detroit about the renovations she was excited to begin in preparation for re-opening her Early Child Care facility with a new COVID-19 "friendly" interior as well as...
Ford Motor Company Fund Donates A Smart Bench To The Matrix Center
Thanks to the Ford Motor Company Fund, a new Smart Bench was just installed in front of The Matrix Center complete with free Wi-Fi and phone charging stations powered by solar panels! Come see for yourself at 13560 E. McNichols rd., Detroit, on the corner of Gratiot...
Matrix Hosts Another Diaper Distribution for Head Start Families
On October 16th, 2020, we provided another diaper distribution for our Head Start families and kids from birth to 5+ years old at our downtown office location. With the challenges that this year has brought including financial insecurity for so many, we know every...
Matrix Secures Replacement Furnace For Woman In Need Before Winter
Jackie was living in Alabama when her husband passed and she decided she wanted to move back home to Detroit to be closer to friends and family. That was right before Christmas in 2018 and Jackie had just moved into a house she purchased through a land contract. She...
Amazon Gives $33,000 to Matrix Human Services For Community Coronavirus Support
On October 6th, 2020, Amazon employees from distribution and fulfillment centers in Hazel Park and Livonia visited The Matrix Center during our bi-weekly Food Tuesday distributions to present Matrix Human Services with a check for $33,000! We are beyond grateful to...
Mom Gets Approved for Placement in New Affordable Housing Apartments
Erricka is a mother of one, raising her son who will soon be 2 years old and will be attending our Head Start - Pathways location this school year. Erricka currently lives with her mother while she works as a self-employed babysitter, but she has been considering...
Woman in Need of a Refrigerator Receives Assistance From Matrix
In early September we spoke to Elaine whose refrigerator had gone out 2 weeks before. After being referred by DTE Energy to contact The Matrix Center, that is where she learned more about our Adult Resource Center program by talking to Matrix Center Director, Mr. Ken...
Matrix Human Services Head Start Child Care Partners Receive Welcome Back Gift Baskets For New School Year
On September 9th, 2020, Matrix Early Head Start Child Care Partnership (EHS/CCP) wanted to show appreciation to the teachers and center managers who provide their own Head Start services with support from Matrix. After lengthy preparations to re-open safely during...
14-Year-Old Joins Virtual Detroit Children’s Choir Via Matrix Youth Assistance Program
14-year-old Jakkar is currently enrolled and actively participating in The Matrix Human Services Youth Assistance Program using the free Samsung tablet provided by Matrix to help specialists stay in touch with youth who are staying safe at home. Of the many activities...
Matrix Human Services Back-To-School Rally Gives 2 Books to Every Child
On September 2nd 2020, Matrix Human Services hosted a Back-To-School rally at our downtown office location, giving parents the opportunity to drive through our parking lot and receive back-to-school care packages complete with books, dental care kits, masks, diapers,...