Extend the Branch Capital Campaign

Capacity Building and Shelter Expansion Project

Every day, we have to turn women and their children away because our beds are full. Help us “extend the branch” and double the number of families we serve by donating to our capacity building and shelter expansion project. The Extend the Branch campaign will fund a 3,500-square-foot addition and renovations to our current facility as well as create a building preservation fund for maintenance and repairs once the project is complete.

Visit the R.C. Hendrick Plan Room to download plans and specs.

Campaign Goals and Progress

We are aiming to raise $1 million to fund the capacity building and shelter expansion project, as well as create a building preservation fund for maintenance and repairs once the project is complete.

$960,000 of $1,000,000

Last updated: September 15, 2020

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Project Overview

Once the capacity building and shelter expansion project is complete, our Shelter will include the following elements:

Ten new single guest bedrooms, including a handicap-accessible suite
Guest bedrooms designed to accommodate families
24-hour staffing suites (for volunteer, staff or social work/nursing intern)
New and upgraded bathrooms for guests, staff and visitors
Private intake and counseling office
Conference room
Expanded kitchen, dining and living room areas
Two spacious laundry rooms
Children’s playroom
Exercise room/meditation space
Food and supply storage areas
Renovated office space
“Enviro-closet,” to prevent bedbug infestation from newly arriving guests
Updates and upgrades to existing building to improve energy efficiency, safety and comfort
Additional parking

“The pieces of my life came together at Mustard Seed Shelter. I was able to build my life, and it was the love I found there that made all the difference.”

– Tammy Baker, former guest

The seeds of our Extend the Branch capacity building and shelter expansion project were planted in 2015 following a backyard barbecue and the efforts of a grateful former guest.

Read Tammy’s Story »

Project Timeline

2015

Mustard Seed Shelter celebrates 20 years in the community. Former guest Tammy helps plan celebration event and Saginaw News article attracts attention of investors Dave and Lori Pendleton, whose encouragement led to exploring various options to expand shelter capacity.

2016

Board of directors explores numerous renovation and expansion scenarios to accommodate more women and children in need. R.C. Hendrick & Son engaged as general contractor for the project.

2017

Board unanimously approves the project and capital campaign. Initial architectural drawings are completed by R.C. Hendrick and approved by the City of Saginaw. More than $120,000 is raised or committed toward the project.

2018

$40,000 challenge matched through Mother’s Day appeal and Facebook campaign. Charlie Wargel becomes project manager. Wall framing completed by Herb Spence Jr. Residential Building Program at Delta College in collaboration with Saginaw-Shiawassee Habitat for Humanity and walls are moved to winter storage. Patty Shaheen becomes honorary chair of fundraising effort. Pledges/donations exceed $400,000 and in-kind donations and pledges exceed $100,000 by year-end.

2019

Fundraising continues and nears completion … Building and construction phase kicks off with groundbreaking June 13. Excavation begins September 19 and by mid-November we are ready for Delta College students to erect the walls (weather permitting). We are in the home stretch for hitting our funding target!

2020

January-March: The view changes daily at our home on Cherry Street! Drive by and check out our progress (you can even don a hard hat and take a tour) and watch Facebook for regular updates. Our expansion is now fully enclosed and interior work is moving along. Exterior brickwork and siding are nearly complete. We’ve also begun some of the renovations and updates in the current building and we are working with our design partners to select paint colors, flooring and finishes. Meanwhile, our house remains full of women and children seeking a warm, safe place during the cold winter months. We look forward to the day – soon – when we have enough beds for all who come to us seeking help.

April-May: While we needed to suspend our volunteer program due to the COVID-19 pandemic, work was able to continue on the building project throughout the Governor’s stay-at-home order because sheltering those experiencing homelessness is necessary to sustain and protect life and provides safety for the economically disadvantaged. We are so grateful to see all the progress daily and a late spring/early summer ribbon cutting and move is in sight!

June-July: As the construction crew marks every item off the punch list for the new building, volunteers are painting and beginning many updates to our current building. A ribbon cutting and open house/tour are held July 22 and guests will begin moving into their new rooms soon after. Renovations and updates to the existing building will continue as a final push for funding moves us closer to our $1 million target.

August-November: Guests move into the new wing in early August and within days, every bed is filled. The last family moves out of the old building and into their new apartment, allowing the renovation work to accelerate. Carpeting is ripped up, floors are sanded, new air handling units are installed, benches are built for the dining room, family suites are reconfigured with new walls, painting continues … and volunteers deep clean in preparation for welcoming new guests.

Our Supporters

Thank You to All of Our Donors and Partners!

The Extend the Branch Campaign is truly a community effort – nearly 200 individual donors have given to the project so far and we have formed countless new partnerships through the process. Each and every gift will make a difference and help us reach our goal.

Sponsorship Levels

Platinum $50,000+
Diamond $25,000-$49,999
Gold $10,000-$24,999
Silver $5,000-$9,999
Bronze $1,000-$4,999
Copper Up to $999

Interested in donor naming opportunities?
Download the sponsorship form »

Platinum

Herbert H. & Grace A. Dow Foundation

R.C. Hendrick & Son, Inc.

Dave & Lori Pendleton

Patricia A. Shaheen Family

Sunshine Lady Foundation

Harvey Randall Wickes Foundation

Diamond

Catholic Diocese of Saginaw

Richard J. Garber Foundation

Allen E. & Marie A. Nickless Foundation

Schaefer Family Foundation

SVSU Student Association BOV 2017

Wickson-Link Memorial Foundation

Gold

B+B Marketing Communications

John and Sharon Benson

Dow Chemical Foundation

Glastender

Jim Jaime

Mike’s Wrecker/Moving & Storage

Kraig & Sarah Pendleton

Saginaw Society for Crippled Children

SC Johnson

Charlie Wargel Project Manager

Wolohan Family Foundation

Silver

Ascension Lutheran

Builders First Source

Jeanne Murphy Causley

Diocese of Saginaw

St. Dominic Parish

Horizons Conference Center

Howard Structural Steel

Independent Bank

Richard A. Mansfield & Erlene Mansfield Charitable Trust

Vincente Martinez

Mercantile Bank

Michigan Pipe & Valve

Morley Companies

Harry A. & Margaret D. Towsley Foundation

Women in Leadership GLBR

Bronze

Gerry B. Bishop

Gloria Byrne

Blessed Trinity Catholic Church

Builders First Source

Case Funeral Home

Century 21

DML Management

Duperon

EZ Pro Delivery

Rev. James Falsey

Frankenmuth Insurance Charitable Foundation

Fullerton Tool

Future Insurance Agency

Garber Management Group

Graham Construction

Grapp Lerash

Hausbeck Pickle Company

Deborah Huntley

Independent Bank

Rev. Jack Johnson

Jolt Credit Union

Phyllis Meek

Carmen Mora

Michael & Kathryn Neuchterlein

Nacarato Family

Samuel Nacarato

Rittmueller Real Property LLC

Saginaw Community Foundation

Saginaw Leadership Cares

David Sawchuck

Ruth & Dick Schomaker

Laurie Shell

Duane Siler Inc.

Skorupski Family Funeral Home

SSP Associates Inc.

Laura Stoeckel

Patricia Stratton

Matthew & Cecelia Sullivan

Thieme Family Foundation

Tri-Star Trust Bank

Copper

Lynnette Albosta

Altrusa Club of Saginaw
Julaine Amman
Ronald & Joanne Barry
Raymond & Karen Bartels

Kathaleen Bauman

James & Susan Berghoff

Billy’s Contracting
Larry & Maureen Bishop
Jeremy Bockelman
Jeff & Kathy Bonn
James & Mildred Bourdow
Robert & Lonne Brown
Robert & Andrea Burditt
George Burrows
Gloria Byrne

Reid Calcott
Mary Lou & William Snyder Case
Bonnie & Nicole Cavendish
Sandra Cilek
Hon. Terry Clark
Julienne Coenis

COPOCO Credit Union

A.C. Coppolino Insurance Agency

Anthony & Geraldine D’Anna
Martha Daumas
David & Joyce Dekarske
James & Denise Dekett

Dan & Michelle Drapp
Michael & Martha Ducham

Kathryn Foster Dupuis
James & Cheryl Dwyer
Fred & Lori Eberling

Emmaus House of Saginaw

Exchange Club of Saginaw
Sigrid Ewers
Gary & Nancy Fahndrich
First Presbyterian Church of Taymouth
Catherine Fobes
Fordney Club
Gerald & Rita Fortin
Christopher & Louis Furlo
Michele & Shirley Gadd
Lawrence & Rebecca Gallo
Librado & Christina Gayton
Ralph & Margaret Gonzales
Mark & Jane Grzegorczyk
James & Mary Grzesiak
Robert & Elizabeth Hare
Mike & Debbie Haremski
William & Kristine Hartl
Ruth Hatcher
Deborah & Lynn Hensley
C & R Hisson-Kruger

Gabriella Hoffman
Betty Horner
Michael & Georgette Howko
James & Barbara Jackson
Brian Jackson
Judy Jackson
James Jenkins
Frank & Mary Ann Johnson
Nancy Johnson

Lillian Jones-Thomas

Charles & Sue Kaltenbach
Frederick Kawka
Mary Kelly
Murel & Susan Kessler
David & Betty Kiefer

Dr. Nikolai & Dr. Lioudmila Kinachtchouk
Carl King
Terri Kohler
Mark & Carol Kraynak
Joseph & Sueann Kwaiser
Cynthia LaMarre
Linda Lewis
Ronald & Jean Lickly
Lawrence Lonsway
Robert & Cathryn Looby
Carol Lopez
Kathryn Macmillan
In honor of Margaret Mahoney McNew
Joseph & Ruth Malek
Nancy Martin
Barbara McDonald
Mavis McLean
Mary & Mary Beth Moeller
Donald & Helen Morse

John Nelson
Rose Nickodemus
Peter Nowosad
Larry & Karen Nuechterlein

Oracle Brewing Company LLC
Daniel & Dawn Ozark
Jessica Parrott

Peace Lutheran Church
Kay Pearson
Charles & Veronica Pelzer

Portraits by Gregg
David Potts
Ellen Redfield
John & Mary Riegle
Michael Roberts
William & Margaret Roberts
Leo & Maria Romo
Joseph & Elizabeth Rousseau
Thomas & Donna Rudy
John & Elinor Rudy
James Rummler

Saginaw Council 43

Saginaw Lawyers’ Auxiliary

St. Francis de Sales Parish
Dr. & Mrs. Galileo Sarmiento
David & Karen Schimmel
Joseph & Ann Marie Schoren

Scottish Inn
Joseph & Linda Sedlock
Jacob Shinner

Eve & Matthew Shuler

Shuler Automotive
Mary Siegreen
Kenneth & Kelly Siems
Jane Sills
Pari & Mark Sitarski
Gustave & Frances Skapek
DJ & CA Skolnik
Otto & Colette Sonefeld
Duane & Sue Ellen Spaedt
Edward Jr & Geralyn Stelzer
Ronald & Mary Stetler
Charles & Judith Stuart
Leona Sullivan

Megan Sullivan
Patrick & Sally Sullivan

Ryan Sullivan

Superior Vault Company
Robert & Margaret Susalla
Swan Valley United Methodist Church
Julie Swieczkowski
R & J Tanner
Dale & Mary Ellen Tithof
Bernard & Yvonne Topham
Gust & Martha Triantafillou
Rose Vallier
Gerry VanSickle
Pearl Vasher
L.P. Vescio
Kevin & Nancy Waier
Warner Norcross & Judd LLC

Bradley & Mary Kay Wiechelman
Ross & Kim Winchell
Everett & Patricia Woods
Joyce Zolinski

Downloads

March 2019 Leaflet: Capacity Building and Shelter Expansion Project Update

2019 Extend the Branch Project Details

Extend the Branch Donation Form

“The best part of my day is meeting Jesus in these women and walking alongside them as they rebuild their lives. The hardest part is the five or six calls a day we get from women we have to turn away.”

– Amy Bartels Roe, Director, Mustard Seed Shelter