June Highlights: Empowering Our Community Through Food, Fitness & Wellness

June Highlights: Empowering Our Community

June was a month of meaningful progress, community connection, and shared impact.

From expanding food access to launching summer programs for youth and seniors, we’re proud to highlight the ways LAHC continues to serve and empower.

Food Distribution Spotlight: Forgotten Harvest Mobile Market

We’re proud to share the successful launch of our client-choice mobile food market in partnership with Forgotten Harvest. This new initiative is helping to improve food access in our community by providing fresh, nutritious food in a welcoming, dignified setting.

The market is held twice a month at LAHC’s headquarters (5275 Kenilworth St.)—every 2nd and 4th Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Unlike traditional models, this is a client-choice market, allowing individuals to select the food items that best meet their household’s needs. Appointment slots are limited to 48 per day, with three scheduled every 15 minutes to ensure a smooth, efficient, and respectful experience for all participants.

June Highlights:

  • June 13: 45 people received food; 2,787 pounds distributed
  • June 27: 67 people received food; 3,772 pounds distributed
  • 96 total appointments available each month

Feedback from Forgotten Harvest staff was overwhelmingly positive—our team was proud to hear that it was “one of the smoothest mobile markets” they’ve seen.

We’re grateful to all the staff, volunteers, and community members helping to make this possible, and we look forward to continuing to grow this effort in the months ahead.

If you or someone you know is in need of food assistance or would like to register for an upcoming distribution, please contact us by calling our main office!

Community Kitchen & Family Cook Along Highlights

Our Community Kitchen continues to be a hub for hands-on learning, healthy eating, and family connection this summer! We’ve had a busy and rewarding month filled with interactive cooking experiences for all ages.

We hosted two family cooking classes in June:

  • Pesto pasta
  • Grilled vegetables & lentil-quinoa street tacos with grilled corn

We hosted Family Cooking Workshops on July 10 and July 24, where parents and children cooked side by side, learning practical kitchen skills and exploring nutritious, budget-friendly recipes together.

Meanwhile, campers in the M&M Summer Camp (ages 8-13) have been joining our Cooking with Kids sessions led by Hannah and Jessica every Wednesday. These sessions are not only helping kids become more confident in the kitchen, but also sparking curiosity about healthy ingredients and balanced meals.

A major highlight this month was our Family Cook Along at the Redford Township Community Library, where 6 families (30 participants total) gathered for a fun, interactive cooking experience. A huge shout-out to Aislyn for planning and coordinating her very first cook along—it was a huge success!

Families prepared a colorful and delicious menu that included Lentil Quinoa Street Tacos, Cilantro Lime Salad, and Graham Cracker Delight.

These workshops are more than just cooking—they’re about building skills, boosting confidence, and bringing families together around healthy food. We’re excited to continue expanding these offerings and bringing the joy of cooking to more households across our community.

Summer Fitness Initiatives: Empowering Youth Through Movement

This summer, LAHC is proud to offer a variety of fitness-focused programs designed to get youth moving, build confidence, and introduce them to new and exciting physical activities.

Our Summer Girls Sports Sampler officially kicked off on July 7 and ran through August 13, taking place Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00–2:30 PM at the park near the Dearborn Performing Arts Center.

This six-week series was designed to expose girls to a variety of team sports in a fun, welcoming, and inclusive environment.

Each week features a different sport, helping participants discover new interests while developing teamwork, coordination, and confidence:

  • Week 1: Soccer & Team-Building Activities
  • Week 2: Volleyball
  • Week 3: Field Hockey
  • Week 4: Flag Football
  • Week 5: Track & Field
  • Week 6: Player Choice – the athletes vote on their favorite activity!

In addition to the Girls Sports Sampler, we’ve expanded our reach through Youth Sports Sampler events at both the Redford Township Community Library and Taylor Community Library.

These one-day events introduce children to new physical activities and promote the importance of staying active throughout the summer.

Through these summer fitness initiatives, LAHC continues to promote physical activity, health equity, and self-empowerment for youth and families across our communities. Stay tuned for more opportunities to get moving with us!

Health Promotions & Obesity Prevention Contact:

Kelly Citron

[email protected]

June Highlights – Substance Use Prevention & Recovery

Quick Response Teams Launched

LAHC launched Quick Response Teams (QRT) with the Inkster and Dearborn Heights Police Departments, pairing officers with our Recovery Advocate to respond post-overdose, conduct wellness visits, and connect individuals to recovery resources.

Harm Reduction Impact

  • 58 Narcan kits distributed via our Porch Box
  • 30 individuals trained at the Muslim Family Services Health Fair
  • Narcan newspaper stand installed at Michigan Veterans Foundation

Youth Gambling & Gaming Prevention on the Rise

We’re tackling the growing risks of online gaming and gambling with new youth presentations. We also hosted a breakout session on this topic at the DWIHN Interfaith-Based Conference on July 10 at Madonna University.

June Spotlight: Smoking Cessation Clinics for Seniors

LAHC officially launched smoking cessation classes at Sisson Manor, offering seniors personalized support to quit smoking and improve their long-term health.

Led by our Certified Tobacco Prevention Specialist, the sessions focus on:

  • Understanding nicotine addiction
  • Building personalized quit plans
  • Managing withdrawal and stress
  • Providing nicotine replacement therapy education

“Many of our seniors have smoked for decades—this program is giving them hope, tools, and a supportive environment to finally quit.

Plans are underway to expand to additional senior housing sites across Wayne County. Stay tuned for more updates!

If you’re interested in bringing smoking cessation support to your community site, contact our team at [email protected]

Summer Prevention Programming is Underway

Our SUD Prevention Team hit the ground running in June, launching interactive LifeSkills sessions at summer school and enrichment sites across Wayne County!

Topics Covered:

  • Coping skills and emotional regulation
  • Stress and anger management
  • Goal-setting and peer pressure
  • Assertiveness skills
  • Decision-making and communication

Our Prevention Specialists tailored each session to meet the needs of younger age groups using games, storytelling, movement activities, and visuals to boost engagement.

We’re proud to keep prevention education active and fun all summer long—empowering youth with tools to make healthier choices year-round!

Click Here for more information on our upcoming programs and activities.