The Front Porch – A faith-based Community Café of Ellsworth, Antrim County

 

 

 

 

TYPE OF GRANT
Capacity Building Planning Grant

AWARDED
Fall 2010 – $5,000 grant (Fall, 2010)

TOTAL LEVERAGE
William (Bill) Everett wears several hats in the Ellsworth region, the village tucked among the hills and drumlins of northern Antrim County, and near the headwaters of the famed Chain of Lakes waterway.  He’s a  house painter, certified EMT with the Torch Lake Township EMS (Emergency Medical Services), and a volunteer with the Ellsworth Fire and Rescue Department.  He’s also director of a highly popular regional nonprofit organization called The Front Porch, staffed largely by volunteers, and the catalyst for some of the positive change in the village’s business complexion.

Four years ago the village’s only restaurant was closed.  A call for help to the then fledgling NorthSky Nonprofit Network triggered the sequence of fateful events that today is mirrored in the hustle and bustle of a busy restaurant serving breakfast and lunch.  Bill credits NorthSky and executive director Debbie McKeon with helping create the nonprofit organization that uses the restaurant as a place to train and develop staff, comfort and feed them, and when necessary—-refer them to other resources in the area.  The Front Porch has also  utilized NorthSky’s professional development services and SBTDC  (Small Business & Technology Development Center) to guide its operation and growth.

Having achieved creation of the charitable organization and establishment of ongoing operations,  it was awarded a Rotary Charities capacity building grant to work with Pam Evans, NorthSky consultant, to take it to the next level of organizational development.

Since then, The Front Porch has paid off a $100,000 mortgage, thanks to the efforts of tireless volunteers, support from the region, and several nameless benefactors.  And now it is focusing on the need to upgrade the restaurant with an eye on energy efficiency.  The striving doesn’t stop there.  Other goals include establishing a green house where organic herbs and vegetables will be grown to market to high-end restaurants.  It will be staffed by developmentally challenged people, the hard to employ, observes Bill.   Also planned is a computer resource center for Seniors; collaboration with area humanitarian service groups like the Good Samaritan; and reintroducing the restaurant’s once popular old fashioned soda fountain.

Leverage
The village of Ellsworth knows a thing or two about that.

SUMMARY
A volunteer staff of 30-40,  and of all ages, are responsible for the home cooked fare, fresh baked pies and cookies that attract a growing clientele from several counties.  Senior discounted lunches and a growing catering business are part of the mix.  Some 10,000 to 11,000 volunteer hours are logged annually, and only the cook is paid.

Meals are described as groupings.  There are no fixed prices.  Payment is by suggested donation only.

COMMUNITY NEED
The village of Ellsworth was on a downward spiral four years ago when The Front Porch opened, notes Bill Everett.  Several businesses had closed and there were plenty of boarded up business fronts.  “I’d like to think we had an impact on changing all that.  Today, business places here are occupied.”

He likens what happened in Ellsworth as a model for other communities.  “We did this in a village of 400 or so; in a township of 1,300 to 1,400 people; and in a county with a population of 25,000.  No one knew how it would turn out.  But sometimes if you dream big, you can accomplish big things.”

Bill Everett, Director of The Front Porch

 

 

 

 

 

“What I see….”

“NorthSky and their consultant, Pam Evans, took our volunteer board and operation to a place we initially didn’t want to go.  Our board had to change.  Pam led that process with grace and kindness, professional—yet firm.  I can’t say enough about NorthSky or Pam.  They were able to do what we couldn’t.  And at the end of the day, do what was best for our ministry…”