Help Restore SHARE Center After Water Damage

In late January 2025, the SHARE Center experienced water damage from a faulty fire suppression system, which resulted in damage to the building and displacement of its consumers. The SHARE Center is a Day facility for unhoused and under-housed people to receive community services, stay warm, eat, shower, and live. About 200 customers were impacted by the incident, and about 100 meals per day were served to consumers elsewhere in the community for that period of time. Find details about the SHARE Center here.

The sprinkler water mainly caused temporary mess. City inspections were needed to deem once again permit occupancy, which has happened. Some damage to walls and ceilings was caused, however, the deductible was barely exceeded. That means, if an insurance claim is made, the price of insurance for the building will likely increase. Therefore, the SHARE Center is asking the community to supply funding to repair drywall, etc. in an effort to keep the cost of insurance low.

A second crisis, the closing of the overnight shelter, has created a cost burden for the SHARE Center, which has transformed into an overnight shelter during the Polar Vortex and extreme cold events in January. Staffing costs have been $4000 and another $1000 has been spent to house families overnight (away from the general population to keep kids safe).

Please consider donating to this cause. Our community deserves sustainable, high quality care for our unhoused neighbors. Share your time, talent or treasure with the SHARE Center to help us reach that vision.

(This fundraiser is at the request of the SHARE Center and its Executive Director, and was created by community volunteer Jill Anderson. Any questions can be directed to the Share Center ED Robert Elchert at (269) [phone redacted]. Special shout outs to Jaimie Fales, First Congregational Church and the Battle Creek Community Foundation for leading the charge to support our unhoused friends these last few weeks.)