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10 Practical Science-Backed Ways Leaders Can Support Their Employees’ Mental Health During Challenges

10 Practical Science-Backed Ways Leaders Can Support Their Employees’ Mental Health During Challenges

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Happier.com | BY NATALY KOGAN | Mental Health | Health Insurance

As a leader, your job is not to manage people or projects — it’s to manage mental health, including your own.

During this really challenging time (understatement of the year!) that can be really intense and since we don’t learn about emotional fitness skills in MBA or leadership development programs, you don’t always know what to do.

The first thing you can do is make your and your team’s emotional and mental health your number one priority. You can’t give what you don’t have and your team members can’t give what they don’t have. If everyone is depleted and overwhelmed, it doesn’t matter how many motivating talks you give. As mountains of research show, we can’t do great work unless we fuel our well-being first.

Since the pandemic broke out, I’ve done 100+ virtual sessions on emotional fitness skills for teams and leaders and have led 3 virtual leadership development groups, to help leaders bring their full capacity to the challenges they are facing right now — and help people they lead do the same. 

Here are my 10 favorite science-backed tips to help you strengthen the emotional and mental health of people you lead — starting with your own.

10 Practical Science-Backed Ways Leaders Can Support Their Employees’ Mental Health During Challenges

1. Practice emotional awareness and openness

Whether you like it or not, as a leader, your emotions have an amplified effect on everyone else. So begin by practicing emotional awareness: Check in with yourself by asking “How am I feeling? What is my energy like?” (Do this first thing in the morning and before meetings.)

When your emotions vary from the norm (upset, stressed, more tense than usual) acknowledge them openly by telling people a little bit about why you feel that way. You don’t need to write a novel about your feelings — just share enough so the other person knows what’s up. This reduces stress and wasted energy for people trying to guess why you’re acting differently and gives them permission to share their emotions more openly.

2. Check-in and listen


Be intentional about checking in with your colleagues one on one to ask them how they are doing. This practice has 2 steps: (1) Ask them how they are and then (2) listen, giving them your full attention, without multi-tasking or trying to fix or give advice. During this challenging time when everyone feels more isolated, checking in with others is a powerful way to create moments of genuine human connection. (And no, you don’t always need to do it on Zoom — scheduling a quick check-in call works great!)

3. Practice Gratitude


During challenges and difficulties, the human brain’s natural negativity bias — being more sensitive to what’s wrong or negative — is in overdrive, making it easy to become overwhelmed with negative thoughts and even hopelessness. Practicing gratitude openly is the best way to counter the negativity spiral. 

Add Gratitude Bookends to your meetings: Begin a meeting by sharing something specific you’re grateful for or expressing your gratitude for someone else and at the end of the meeting, ask someone to do the same. This simple practice elevates the importance of gratitude for your team, encourages people to practice it on their own, and makes meetings more productive and collaborative.

4. Create no-meeting days

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There's a shortage of vets to treat farm animals. Pandemic pets are partly to blame

There’s a shortage of vets to treat farm animals. Pandemic pets are partly to blame

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NPR.org | SCOTT NEUMAN | December 19, 20225:00 AM ET | Farm Animals | Farm & Ranch Insurance

One night last spring, Andy Berry, a livestock farmer in Mississippi, was working the phone. One of his cows was experiencing a life-threatening breech birth and his regular veterinarian, 40 minutes away, was unavailable.

Berry, who is also executive vice president of the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association, spent two hours calling around for help, finally reaching another vet, who immediately made the one-hour drive to his farm in rural Jefferson Davis County.

By the time she arrived, it was too late. “Ultimately, we ended up losing both the cow and the calf,” Berry, 48, says. “Between the time it took to get to the farm and the complications of the labor, it was too much.”

The death of the cow and calf cost him about $1,800, he says.

Experiences similar to Berry’s are becoming more common across the country. For decades, farmers have endured a shortage of rural veterinarians – the kind who specialize in care for animals like cows, pigs and sheep. But the problem is now at an all-time high – with 500 counties across 46 states reporting critical shortages this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Some counties have no vets to treat farm animals

“We are losing animals because we just have no one to come to the farm in time to save them,” said Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) in a Dec. 6 hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. “We have counties in Mississippi that don’t even have a large animal veterinarian.”

The shortage is mirrored by a growth in the number of veterinarians that Americans are much more familiar with – those who take care of the family pet. Since at least the early 2000s, more veterinarians have chosen the better pay and more reasonable work hours that go with a practice that focuses primarily or exclusively on “companion” animals. With the COVID-19 pandemic-driven spike in pet ownership, demand – and salaries – for companion animal veterinarians have increased rapidly, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, or AVMA.

The implications of this shortfall go beyond the farm. Some farmers and the AVMA warn that without enough vets on the front line, the food supply chain is vulnerable to diseases such as foot and mouth and swine flu.

“Food-animal veterinarians are a front-line defense in the surveillance, prevention, treatment, and control of animal diseases,” AVMA President Dr. Lori Teller wrote in an email to NPR. “Veterinarians help to protect the health and welfare of animals that produce eggs, milk, meat, wool, and other protein and fiber products,” she says.

Teller says that among veterinary school graduates, nearly half are choosing to work exclusively with companion animals, with another 8% selecting mixed practices, where they might treat a dog and cat one day and a cow the next. Fewer than 3% of recent graduates choose to work exclusively with food animals, with others deciding to pursue advanced degrees or go into specialties, such as horse care.

The burnout problem

Despite the clear need, many who start out working with food animals find that the grueling and sometimes dangerous work leads to burnout.

Dr. Remington Pettit, 37, has seen both sides of the profession. She grew up in rural Oklahoma, and attended veterinary school at Oklahoma State University. When Pettit graduated, she chose to work in mixed practices, focusing on the treatment of horses and cattle in her native state.

“I worked the sale barn,” Pettit says, referring to cattle auctions. “I did spay-neuter. I did farm calls. I did emergencies. It was all hours of the day, 365 days a year.” In the rural area she covered, a considerable amount of driving to appointments made the days even longer.

About five years ago, she hit a breaking point. Pettit, 37, was still carrying university debt, and just starting a family. For her, it was mainly exhaustion and the physical toll of working with large animals that prompted a switch to companion animals – where she says she makes double the money she did just a few years ago. But the physical demands of the job and its inherent dangers were also factors in her decision, she says.

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Wearable Devices: Tech’s Real-Time Ergonomic Data Is a Workers’ Comp Game Changer

Wearable Devices: Tech’s Real-Time Ergonomic Data Is a Workers’ Comp Game Changer

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RiskInsurance.com | By: Abi Potter Clough | November 1, 2022 | Business Insurance | Wearable Devices

Technology is changing the scope of treatment plans and helping to keep employees safer by stopping injuries before they happen.

Carriers and risk managers share a vested interest in helping workers avoid injuries, but until now, many of the available interventions have suffered timing issues.

Training workers in advance, showing them safety demonstrations, and teaching ergonomics are all interventions before employees start working. And corrections or reprimands from management after an incident are too late to stop an injury from occurring and are quickly forgotten before the next incident.

Technology solves some of these challenges with real-time interventions, better data collection and analysis designed to influence patient outcomes over time.

Wearable devices equipped with artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) are one way to help keep workers safe by reducing and preventing injuries through behavior modification.

Mike Rhine, SVP, chief operating officer at Onsites at Concentra, and Sean Petterson, founder and CEO at StrongArm Tech, tackled this topic at the 2022 National Comp conference, in the session “How Wearables, AI and IoT are Informing Injury Treatment and Protecting Employee Health.”

As Petterson commented in the session, “Injuries happen fast, and we need to be faster.”

Wearable Devices Help Create a Culture of Safety

Wearables are changing the timing game by providing in-the-moment alerts, notifications and corrections designed to alter human behavior before an injury happens.

When a worker is wearing an IoT-enabled device, they can receive immediate feedback based on their actual movements — critical information designed to stop risky behaviors and teach safer ones.

These small devices can tell if a worker is moving in ways that will cause repetition-based injuries over time or if an employee is about to get hurt through their actions.

A haptic notification alerts the worker in real time of any dangers so they can modify their actions. The sensors also provide a safety score to each worker at the end of each day, then the worker sees customized tips at the start of their next shift to help them improve their score.

Wearables can help develop a safety culture through these real-time alerts and daily interventions.

“There is nothing more potent than a positive safety culture. But it has been impossible to manage in the past. Now, we can measure the impacts and the effects of a safety program, like injury reduction, and attach ROI to different training programs, IoT, wearables and so on. Wearables are bringing a new way to look at problems,” Petterson said.

Wearable devices are often small sensors that fit in a pocket or can be clipped to a worker’s collar or belt.

They aim to prevent injuries and see what happens to employees over time so measures can be introduced to keep people safer at work and reduce claims.

By understanding how injuries occur, they can be prevented.

Petterson said, “We want to make it simple. We don’t need to measure every single movement, but we want enough data to meet the needs of operations and to create a baseline for understanding how real-time risk changes can impact operations, like how pushing a workforce too far can lead to injury. This correlation wasn’t always seen. Humans were once viewed as a cost of doing business, but that’s no longer an option.”

“It’s about keeping employees healthy, not watching their every move,” Rhine added.

Wearable Devices Change the Landscape of Injury Prevention

Rhine described how small wearable sensors could change the landscape of injury prevention.

With wearables, employers can observe how employees’ behavior changes throughout their shift due to fatigue or other issues. And the wearable device allows employers to see exactly when and how an injury occurred — helpful both for investigating the injury and preventing similar incidents in the future.

“With wearables, we know what happened when they got hurt, so we can clinically intervene and incorporate some training, job rotation, more conditioning, to allow us to impact health outcomes. Without wearable data, we rely on clinicians being on site and observing workers. They may spend a half hour watching an individual employee but miss fatigue issues at hour six, for example,” Rhine elaborated.

“The sensor feeds data right to an onsite clinician. In addition to using the data, we can apply clinical learning and an ergonomic eye to the workstation.”

This best-of-both-worlds approach combines data that wasn’t readily available in the past with the clinical observations only a human can bring to the table, with an end goal of fewer employee injuries and healthier workers.

Broad Impacts of Wearable Devices

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How to Turn Holiday Shoppers into Year-Round Customers

How to Turn Holiday Shoppers into Year-Round Customers

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ZenBusiness.com | By Elizabeth FelsNovember 1, 2022 | Holiday Shoppers | Auto Insurance

Right now your holiday shoppers are visiting your website, social media pages, and store. In just a few short weeks, though, the holiday shopping will be over, but you can get those holiday shoppers back and turn them into loyal, year-round customers with these tips.

For many retail and specialty shops, the mad shopping scramble that erupts in November shortly before Black Friday and continues throughout the holiday season leaves the business owner little time to focus on anything other than managing employee schedules, keeping the shelves stocked and neat, and helping customers find and buy the things they want. The objective, of course, is to do as much business as possible while customers are in the mood to spend and have a deadline to complete their purchases.

But if your only focus during the holidays is on getting customers to buy now, you’re missing an opportunity to make your business more profitable throughout the entire year. In addition to encouraging people to buy now, your holiday efforts should include strategies to get those shoppers to come back repeatedly after the holidays are over. Here are several tips for accomplishing that goal.

Show holiday shoppers you care

Although the pandemic appears to be waning, it has changed consumer habits, possibly forever. Virus-related health concerns have caused a large number of people to be concerned about shopping indoors at retail establishments and eating indoors — even when stores and restaurants aren’t operating under mandated restrictions.

So, one of the most important ways to show shoppers you care about them is to let them know what precautions you’re taking to ensure their safety. The steps you take now will help them remember you as a safe and worthwhile place to shop after the holidays (and after the pandemic passes). Here are several things you can do:

  • Follow CDC safety guidelines regarding store capacity and mask-wearing.
  • Be sure your employees are wearing their masks properly. If they don’t, one or more customers might complain on local social media sites like NextDoor and tell people to stay away from your store or restaurant. (Yes, people really do that. They’ll also post comments if your store or restaurant looks dirty, your employees were rude, and other things they don’t like.)
  • Reassure customers that you care about their safety by posting signage with the steps you are taking to keep them and your staff safe this year.
  • Take employees’ temperatures every day and remind them not to come into work if they’re sick or have been in contact recently with someone who’s been sick.
  • Post masking, capacity, and social distancing notices at the doors. If your store gets a lot of foot traffic, assign employees to keep track of the number of people entering and leaving to prevent going over capacity.
  • Have hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, and extra masks available at the door for customers who want them.
  • Offer online ordering if possible, with curbside pickup or delivery options for consumers and patrons who don’t want to come into your facility.
  • Consider hiring extra part-time employees to help with curbside delivery, door checks, and filling in for staff who call in sick.

First impressions are important

Aside from health-related issues, it’s crucial to make sure your business does everything it can to maximize shoppers’ first impressions in other ways, too.

Train employees to greet your customers with a smile and ask if they need help finding anything. If you have an online store or take orders on the phone, be sure the people who answer your phone are pleasant and polite with all callers. It’s always easier to get a shopper back to your store if they’re able to find exactly what they need quickly, particularly if you have friendly, helpful staff ready to assist them.

Work hard to ensure that your business is staffed appropriately at all times and has enough stock to ensure a good experience.

Train your employees to help keep the store looking as neat and clean as possible throughout the day. Hurried (and inconsiderate) shoppers can mess up counters and displays and move merchandise to places other shoppers would never look for it. Be sure merchandise is folded or hanging neatly, and that sizes and colors are where they should be.

Make it easy for new customers to navigate your store or your online storefront. In your physical location, make sure that all of your displays are well-organized and logically grouped together. If you have specific items that you know customers will be looking for during this time of year, make sure they stand out and are easily accessible. If you sell online, feature hot-selling items on the homepage, and have a navigation menu that makes it easy for customers to find what they’re looking for by category and, if possible, by price.

Don’t forget how important it is to follow through with new shoppers. If you tell a customer to expect a product to ship in a few days, do your best to get it to them early or at least on time; if it’s going to be later, make sure to contact them. Following through on your word can lead to repeat business and possibly even a good review. As important as a product may be, remember that your customers can probably find it, or something like it, anywhere. However, a good experience can stand out in their mind for a long time.

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Infrared thermography utilizes special cameras to detect heat that cannot be seen by the human eye. This heat is typically produced through an increase in resistance in electrical equipment. Increased temperatures indicate a potential trouble spot that could lead to failure of the component and/or arcing. This can result in a shutdown in operations and personnel injury.

Infrared Thermography

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Liberty Mutual | Published 10/24/2022 | Business Insurance | Infrared Thermography

An often-forgotten utility

Electrical distribution can often go forgotten, leading to lax or inconsistent maintenance and inspection. When electrical equipment fails it often leads to high equipment replacement costs, lengthy downtimes, and interruptions in production or operations. One form of maintenance that can provide a huge benefit, with limited interruption in operation, is infrared thermography.

Infrared thermography

Often referred to as an infrared scan, infrared thermography utilizes special cameras to detect heat that cannot be seen by the human eye. This heat is typically produced through an increase in resistance in electrical equipment. Increased temperatures indicate a potential trouble spot that could lead to failure of the component and/or arcing. This can result in a shutdown in operations and personnel injury.

Because of this consideration, both the International Electrical Testing Association (NETA) and the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) recommend periodic infrared testing of critical equipment.

Benefits of a thermographic predictive maintenance program include:

  • Minimized failures. Thermographic surveys help minimize maintenance costs and unscheduled outages.
  • Increased safety. Detection of hot spots could prevent fire or arcing events. 
  • Minimal production interruption. Infrared thermography has to be completed when the equipment is at load; therefore, the maintenance activity will have minimal impact on production.

Infrared thermography can expand beyond electrical inspections to mechanical equipment. This is due to heat being generated when friction exists, or a lack of cooling medium being present. This allows the camera to see misalignment, bearing issues, clogged or obstructed cooling, and several other conditions which result in elevated heat.

What to expect with an Infrared Thermography Scan

Infrared scans do require some preparation and certain expectations should be made regarding a finished product. This will vary depending on the company completing the scan, as well as where the scan is completed.

The following items should be noted in preparation of a scan:

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What Is Financial Leverage?

What Is Financial Leverage?

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Experian.com | August 23, 2022 | By Marianne Hayes | Financial Leverage

Quick Answer

Financial leverage is when you borrow money to make an investment that will hopefully lead to greater returns. It’s built on the idea of spending money to make money. Examples of financial leverage can include: Buying a home, investing in a business and buying an investment property.

We’ve all heard the saying, “You’ve got to spend money to make money.” In finance, leverage is when you borrow money to make an investment that will hopefully lead to greater returns. No investment is ever a 100% guarantee—there’s always risk. Financial leverage leans into the idea that borrowing cash to cover a new investment has the potential to pay off in the long run.

Let’s look more closely at how financial leverage works, along with its potential benefits and drawbacks.

How Financial Leverage Works

What is leverage? It has to do with maximizing your advantage. Leverage in personal investing involves using borrowed funds to buy into an investment. It’s widely used in the corporate world as well. Lots of companies, especially startups, continually seek leverage in the form of investor capital they can use to grow their businesses and meet important milestones.

Individual consumers use financial leverage in a different way. Here the focus is on building personal wealth. If you’re an entrepreneur or business investor, that might involve putting money into growing businesses. Otherwise, financial leverage covers any personal investment that’s made with borrowed funds.

Examples of Financial Leverage

Borrowing Money to Buy an Investment Property

Buying an investment property is a prime example of financial leverage. That may be a rental property that you maintain and lease out to tenants, which can create a steady flow of passive income each month. Alternatively, you may fix and flip properties. In this case, the goal is to turn a profit after buying a property, sprucing it up and putting it back on the market.

Both options require upfront capital. In addition to making the purchase, rental properties require ongoing maintenance and repairs. There are also property taxes, homeowners insurance and other recurring expenses.

Flipping homes has its own financial demands. You’ll need funding to complete the purchase and all the necessary repairs and upgrades, which will determine your asking price when you’re ready to sell. Unless you’ve got cash on hand to cover the purchase, you’ll have to take out a loan to buy an investment property. It’s typically more complicated than buying a primary residence, and may require a larger down payment (usually 20% to 30%). Interest rates and credit score requirements are usually higher too.

Taking Out a Mortgage to Buy a New Home

Everyday folks who take out a mortgage to buy a new home are also flexing their financial leverage. That’s because the money you borrow through your home loan is being used to purchase an asset, which is part of your financial portfolio. Every monthly payment you make reduces your loan balance and increases your home equity. This is the amount of your home’s value you actually own. The more equity you have, the more money you’ll pocket when it comes time to sell.

You can also use home equity to unlock financing. This includes a home equity loan or line of credit, as well as a cash-out refinance. Each option allows you to trade equity for upfront cash. You might use it to cover home renovations, college costs, debt repayment or other major life expenses.

Learn more about Financial Leverage

Getting Student Loans for College

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3D printing and the construction industry

3D Printing and the Construction Industry

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Liberty Mutual | 10/24/2022 | 3D Printing | Business Insurance

3D printing and the construction industry: 4 risks to manage

Additive manufacturing (AM) — more commonly known as 3D printing — is the practice of constructing objects using computer-aided drawings (CADs) and 3D printers to create materials that can be used in constructing buildings. The technology for AM is improving every day, with more printing methods and materials being developed for these types of construction. Additionally, load-bearing structures for the civil construction sector may be one of the next innovations in the AM space.

Residential construction has paved the way in 3D printing, but commercial construction, while less common, seems to be gaining ground. For contractors interested in investing in 3D-printing technology, it’s important to understand the risks of this breakthrough innovation — and what you can do to help protect your company.

As technology has improved, so too has demand. The market for 3D homes is expected to increase due to post-COVID-19 pandemic-related supply chain and labor shortages, which have increased timelines and costs for traditional construction. Meanwhile, factors such as increased rental prices and limited inventory have put housing demand on the rise.

Contractors are already starting on residential multistory 3D-printed homes , which could help test use cases for commercial work. One result could be multiuse structures, with retail and office spaces on the ground level and habitational units above. Additionally, the creation of 3D-printed infrastructure, such as  this 40-foot steel pedestrian bridge recently unveiled in Amsterdam, could become more common.

However, the increased prevalence of AM in construction also brings increased risk for contractors and builders. In this article, we’ll explain the risks of this breakthrough innovation — and what you can do to help protect your company.

1. Managing contract liability and insurance challenges due to 3D Printing

Projects that leverage 3D printing typically entail partnerships between construction companies, technology firms, and manufacturers specializing in this type of production.

These partnerships are often formalized through a joint venture (JV) agreement. In a joint venture, each party has “joint and several liability,” which means that each member is jointly and severally liable for any damages on the project, regardless of which party causes them. 

Projects that leverage 3D printing typically entail partnerships between construction companies, technology firms, and manufacturers. These partnerships are often formalized via a joint venture agreement, which can introduce contractual and insurance challenges.

Joint ventures can introduce contractual and insurance challenges, especially when leveraging a newer technology such as 3D printing, so it is important to understand the risk-management nuances of this type of arrangement.

For example, potential challenges to consider include:

  • What happens if 3D-printed work products don’t meet aesthetic and engineered expectations of the project owner? If 3D-printed work products cause harm to someone or damage property, how will the JV respond to injuries and claims?
  • How will the JV cover “rework” costs if the project owner does not approve of the 3D-printed aspects of the build?
  • As industry standards for 3D-printed building construction are in their infancy, who is responsible for ensuring that the 3D-printed building methods meet the standards outlined by the International Code Council?  
  • What happens if a claim is filed after the JV is terminated?

Ways to manage contract- and insurance-related challenges include:

  • Developing a formal JV contract that clearly outlines:
    • the purpose of the joint venture
    • the management structure and legal duties of each partner
    • the financial arrangements such as capital expenditures and profit distributions
    • the anticipated time frame and how and when the contract will terminate
  • Establishing how to insure the joint venture. There are different options to consider, which can vary based on cost and impact to each member’s individual policies.
  • Working with your legal department and insurance carrier and broker partners to review all contracts and insurance needs

2. Reducing the risk of occupational diseases and workers compensation claims

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How to Cut Home Heating Costs This Winter

How to Cut Home Heating Costs This Winter

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Consumer Reports | By Janet Siroto | November 3, 2022 | Home Heating | Home Insurance

These smart moves will keep your house toasty without blowing your home heating budget

For the typical American household, utility bills are about $2,000 a year, according to the most recent Department of Energy figures. Heating an average home accounts for about $900 of that. So you want to keep the warm air you pay for inside instead of flying out through drafty windows, wonky doors that don’t fit their frames, and under-insulated attics and basements. Weatherizing your home is job No. 1 and may whittle down heating and cooling costs by 20 percent annually (or about $220), the DOE says. Keeping your heat and hot water systems running smoothly and taking advantage of available rebates and tax credits may save you even more.

Schedule a Checkup

Professional servicing of your heating system (typically $150 to $500 for an entire heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system) will include everything from replacing dirty filters to checking for safety issues like potential carbon monoxide leaks. A heating system that’s running efficiently may save you money. For instance, the DOE says a well-maintained heat pump can use up to 25 percent less fuel than a neglected one. “Ideally, have this done in what’s known as the swing season, before the real cold kicks in,” says Larry Zarker, CEO of the Building Performance Institute, a nonprofit credentialing and standards-setting organization for the industry. Also check air filters from time to time for dust and dirt, and change them if they’re dirty.

Decide Whether to Have an Energy Audit on Your Home Heating System

Think you’d benefit from details on your home’s energy performance? A trained energy assessor can evaluate it for issues like insufficient insulation or a heating system that might warrant replacement—and help develop a plan to improve efficiency and lower your energy bills. This can cost $210 to $670 but may uncover ways to lower your monthly energy bills by up to 30 percent, according to the DOE.

The Home Performance with Energy Star program, a collaboration between the DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency, matches consumers in 20 states with reputable home performance contractors for assessments.

Other options that you might want to consider include the Home Energy Score program, an auditor registered with the Residential Energy Services Network, and a local certified inspector from the Building Performance Institute, which sets standards for energy audits and certifies analysts. Utilities may offer free audits, but they’re not always thorough, Zarker says.

Insulate Your Hot-Water System

Slipping foam “sleeves” (about $11 each) around water pipes in or near exterior walls may save up to $80 per year and reduce the risk of pipes freezing if temperatures dip below zero. Wrap a heat jacket (about $30 to $45) around your hot-water heater (if your utility company allows it) and it won’t have to work as hard.

Sleuth Out Leaky Doors, Windows, and More

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The Consumers Energy Foundation announced today $500,000 in grant funding

Consumers Energy Foundation gives $500,000 in grant money

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Consumers Energy Foundation Announces $500,000 in Grants for Basic Needs Assistance to Food Bank Council of Michigan, Michigan Association of United Ways

NewsJournal.com | By Consumers Energy Foundation | Nov 2, 2022 | Contractors Insurance

JACKSON, Mich., Nov. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The Consumers Energy Foundation announced today $500,000 in grant funding to help two statewide organizations — the Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM) and the Michigan Association of United Ways (MAUW) — to provide direct assistance and necessities to Michiganders. The grant funding is part of the Consumers Energy Foundation’s commitment to investing in Michigan’s people and addressing critical and emergent needs in a meaningful way.

“As costs continue to rise in nearly every facet of our lives, we know many in our state are facing significant challenges to accessing basics like food and safe housing,” said Brandon Hofmeister, president of the Consumers Energy Foundation. “The Consumers Energy Foundation is committed to eliminating whatever barriers possible to those basics, and these grants will allow two organizations that are out in our communities every day to continue and expand the work they’re doing to connect people and families with the resources they need to thrive.”

The two $250,000 grants will allow both organizations to distribute the funding throughout the state where the need is greatest, with a focus on addressing immediate needs for residents within the Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed (ALICE) population. Specifically, the funding will provide:

  • $250,000 for FBCM to distribute to food banks for the purchase of food, which has become increasingly difficult due to increasing food prices and supply chain shortages; every $1 will support six meals, resulting in 1.5 million meals.
  • $250,000 for MAUW to distribute to local United Ways to provide direct assistance with basic needs, including housing repairs, gas and transportation assistance, rental assistance and other necessities.

Those in the ALICE population do not qualify for federal assistance yet are often one major expense — a car repair, broken water heater or unplanned medical expense — away from financial disaster.

“The Food Bank Council of Michigan is grateful, and very appreciative, for the support of the Consumers Energy Foundation to help fund the work of our food bank network to address food insecurity in Michigan,” said Food Bank Council of Michigan executive director Dr. Phil Knight. “For so many people in our state a daily meal has become an impossible choice between food and other crucial needs, such as electricity, childcare, or medicine.  Food banks across the state are seeing an uptick in the number of food insecure individuals due to inflation.  This generous donation from the Consumers Energy Foundation is very timely and impactful and will go a long way toward increasing food access for Michigan residents.”

“The Michigan Association of United Ways works together with Local United Ways across the state every day to help ALICE families thrive,” said Teresa Kmetz, Board Chair of the Michigan Association of United Ways. “With the generous and continued support of the Consumers Energy Foundation, the Michigan United Way Network is able to advance our work to help Michigan’s 1.5 million ALICE families meet their most basic needs – housing, child care, food, technology, health care, and transportation. We are grateful to have steadfast partners, like Consumers Energy Foundation, alongside us in this work.”

The Consumers Energy Foundation

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