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Saturday, April 18

Located in a modest-sized house on North Sycamore Street, Loaves and Fishes Ministries has been offering Lansing’s homeless a place of hope and healing since 1982. With the help of volunteers and its small staff, Loaves and Fishes provides shelter, food and care to those with no place to go, while striving to create an environment free of discrimination. It’s a simple recipe that has proven successful for the ministry. While there are many other organizations that aid the homeless, Loaves and Fishes’ new director, Jenny Leaf, thinks it has one key ingredient that distinguishes it from many others.

“Its very important that those who stay with us are referred to as guests,” said Leaf. “It’s in line with making sure those who stay with us get the respect and dignity they deserve.”

Loaves and Fishes focuses on two programs in their efforts to help the homeless. First, they offer an overnight shelter. Guests can reserve a bed, and when they arrive in the evening they are treated to a home cooked dinner, as well as breakfast in the morning. Their stay also includes other important services, such as laundry and time with a Loaves and Fishes’ guest advocate, who helps form a problem solving plan to addresse guests’ housing concerns. Guests are welcome to stay for up to 14 nights.

In addition to their overnight service, Loaves and Fishes also offers a transitional housing program. Guests can stay up to two years, giving them time to sort out any solutions — such as education or job training — in order to get the permanent housing they need. And while the overnight stay is free, the transitional housing program does ask for a monthly fee and requires potential guests to either be in school, working or actively seeking employment.

Presumably, if the ministry had its way, they would accept everyone in need. But as it stands, the space for guests is limited. The overnight stay program has space for 10 adults. The transitional program, on the other hand, is divided into two classifications: Luke’s house, which can accommodate three men, and Zacchaeus’ House, which can accommodate three women with small families of two to three children. Loaves and Fishes has certainly been through eras when demand exceeded supply, but Leaf says its small size keeps it flexible and adaptable to changing situations.

“(Loaves and Fishes) has been able to look at what is happening in the world and adapt to it, but has always been able to stay true to what it was founded on,” said Leaf. “What we do works.”

Loaves and Fishes Ministries will hold an open house Saturday to celebrate its sustained work in the greater Lansing community. The open house will also honor the departure of former Loaves and Fishes director Erma Chastine and welcome Leaf into her new position.

After graduating from Wayne State University, Leaf worked as a legislative assistant for a city councilman, held a position at the Red Cross and served as director at a homeless shelter in Washtenaw County. While she was named director just two weeks ago, Leaf has worked for Loaves and Fishes since 2013. But her familiarity with the position reaches even further back.

“My father served as director for about five years, and even before that my mom would make dinners to donate to the ministry,” said Leaf. “I’ve always known about it.”

In her new position, Leaf is hoping to introduce new ideas and approaches to improve Loaves and Fishes’ services without abandoning practices that have served it well for over three decades.

“I want to look at different ways we can help people that are experiencing homelessness, assess what we’re doing and see where improvements can be made,” said Leaf. “But I also want to stick to what has made us work so far.”

To learn more about Loaves and Fishes Ministries or to volunteer, visit www. loavesandfishesoflansing.org.

Loaves and Fishes Ministries Open House

Saturday, April 18 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

FREE 831 N. Sycamore St., Lansing (517) 482-2099 loavesandfisheslansing.org


THURSDAY, APRIL 16 >> ASPEN SANTA FE BALLET AT WHARTON CENTER

The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet will pirouette into Lansing as a part of the Wharton Center’s dance series. The troupe’s performance will comprise three distinct pieces from Norbert de la Cruz III, Jiri Kylian and Nicolo Fonte. The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet is in its 17th year of bringing unique dance inspired by its dual hometowns to stages across the country. 7:30 p.m. $25. Wharton Center, Cobb Great Hall, 750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing. (517) 432- 2000, whartoncenter.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 17-19 & APRIL 22-26 >> ‘HAIR: THE MUSICAL’ AT MSU

Musical fans and flower-covered-Volkswagen-Van enthusiasts will be thrilled to know that the MSU Theater Department is bringing “Hair: The Musical” to the Wharton Center. The classicl play about sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll tells the story of a group of Bohemians in New York during the 60s, at odds with the Vietnam War, their families and the rest of society. “Hair” is famous for spawning such notable songs as “Aquarius,” “Let the Sunshine In” and naturally the eponymously titled “Hair.” 8 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday; 7:30 p.m. Thursday. $20/$18 seniors and faculty/$15 students. Wharton Center, Pasant Theatre, 750 E. Shaw Ln., East Lansing. (517) 432-2000, whartoncenter.com.

FRIDAY, APRIL 17-19 >> ‘STEPPIN’ TO THE BAD SIDE’ AT LCC

This musical review takes place in a rough 1980s New York nightclub called the Bad Side. Bad luck and temptation plague the main characters, but they manage to look beyond the tough stuff to find community and a family in the Bad Side. “Steppin’ to the Bad Side” features songs from a variety of musicals, including “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” “Kinky Boots,” “Dream Girls” and more. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday. $5-15 suggested donation. Dart Auditorium, 500 N. Capitol Ave., Lansing. lcc.edu/showinfo, (517) 483-1488.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18 >> THE SCIENCE OF BEER BREWING

Learn about the tasty science behind booze-making at this event, part of MSU’s Science Festival. Matt Jason, CEO of Sleepwalker Spirits & Ale, will present the Science of Beer Brewing, explaining how yeasts, microorganisms and mold make our favorite beers and wines. 1 p.m. Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building, Room 1420, 567 Wilson Road, East Lansing. sciencefestival.msu.edu/Event/View/124.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18 >> EARTH DAY EXTRAVAGANZA

Earth Day isn’t until Wednesday, but Fenner Nature Center is getting a jump on the festivities with its Earth Day Extravaganza event. Guest can tour the verdant grounds and get the scientific scoop on all it has to offer. The event also serves as Fenner’s biggest day of stewardship for the year, with a myriad of volunteer projects for those looking to give a little back to the planet this Earth Day. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. FREE. Fenner Nature Center, 2020 E. Mount Hope Ave., Lansing. (517) 483-4224, mynaturecenter.org.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18 >> ARTRONICA 2015

Watch 12 local tattoo artists create unique paintings to live music at Artronica 2015. DJs McCoy and Patino will be providing the evenings electronic soundtrack. The artwork will be auctioned off at the end of the night, with all proceeds going to the Lansing Food Bank and the Lansing Humane Society. Michigan Shirt Works will do live shirt printings during the event, so attendees can grab a shirt hot off the press. 6 p.m. $5. The Avenue, 2021 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. localtattoo@gmail.com.

SUNDAY, APRIL 19 >> CHEERING FOR CHELSEA

Join the Zelenka family for a music- and fun-filled fundraiser, Cheering for Chelsea. Chelsea Zelenka suffered a misdiagnosed blood clot in her leg, which lead to a foot and partial leg amputation. Proceeds from the event go to the Zelenka family to help with medical bills and other expenses. Bands playing include the Hot Mess, the Rotations, Peggy & the Poor Boys, Lisa B & the Backbeats and the Pat Zelenka Band. This is a family friendly event. 2 p.m. $10. The Green Door Bar & Grill, 2005 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. facebook.com/events/640436496100467.

SUNDAY, APRIL 19 >> HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON AT WHARTON CENTER

Join Harold and his purple crayon as he jets to Mars, joins a circus and meets a princess in Enchantment Theatre Co.s production of “Harold and the Purple Crayon.” Lifesized puppets, masked actors and large-scale video animation will bring the Harold’s adventures to life. There will also be a free, interactive educational activity an hour before each performance. 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. $12. Wharton Center, 750 E. Shaw Lane, East Lansing. (517) 432-2000, whartoncenter.com.

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