Identify the Need
Family referrals, schools, churches, community partners, and direct outreach help identify households and elders who may need support.
Community service hub · Year-round care
One program.
One program.
A full circle of care.
The Brother Dr. Thomas A. Bass Caring & Sharing Food Basket Delivery Program strengthens families, honors elders, uplifts children, and builds healthier communities through consistent, dignity-centered service.
170families supported during Thanksgiving 2025
50families supported during Christmas 2025
40+families served during Easter 2026
Service in actionFood support, family essentials, senior care, and community partnerships.
Program operations
Community Calendar
Open upcoming service projects, seasonal activities, and program dates.
Open calendar → Family supportFamily Referral
Submit a request for food basket delivery or other community support.
Open referral form → Invest in serviceDonate or Sponsor
Support food baskets, essentials, family sponsorships, senior care, and more.
Open Ways to Give → Official overviewInformation Packet
Review the mission, initiatives, impact, sponsorship opportunities, and contacts.
View packet →
Mission and vision
Service that restores dignity, comfort, and hope.
For decades, this initiative has provided food baskets during Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas to families in need and honored widows of deceased fraternity brothers with fruit baskets and flowers across Washtenaw County and surrounding communities.
Caring & Sharing extends that tradition through coordinated family support, senior connection, winter assistance, community partnerships, and year-round follow-through.
Program mission
To strengthen families, honor elders, uplift children, and build healthier, more resilient communities through consistent service, dignity-centered assistance, and meaningful partnerships.
Caring & Sharing program overview
Helping families. Empowering communities. Restoring hope.
View the full Caring & Sharing community-service overview, including year-round family support initiatives and referral information.
How Caring & Sharing serves
A connected journey from need to lasting support.
Families and community partners experience one coordinated service model built around respectful outreach, reliable preparation, direct assistance, and continued connection.
Prepare with Care
Volunteers collect, purchase, organize, and pack food, hygiene products, clothing, toys, school supplies, and other essentials.
Serve with Dignity
Assistance is delivered respectfully, with attention to family needs, privacy, safety, and the importance of restoring hope.
Connect Generations
Senior calls, visits, care packages, widow support, and youth service create meaningful relationships across generations.
Build Partnerships
Community organizations, donors, sponsors, schools, and volunteers expand the reach and strength of every initiative.
Follow Through
Year-round referrals, seasonal planning, impact tracking, and continued contact turn individual projects into sustained community care.
Core program initiatives
A year-round model for community care.
Caring & Sharing extends beyond food baskets to provide family essentials, senior connection, winter support, family sponsorship, and community safety education.
Food Basket Delivery
Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas food basket distributions for families experiencing hardship, plus fruit baskets and flowers for widows.
Family Essentials Drive
Hygiene kits, cleaning supplies, baby items, and school supplies distributed through churches, barbershops, and community centers.
Senior Connection Program
Wellness calls, visits, technology support, and care packages that honor elders and combat isolation.
Winter Attire & Toys
Coats, hats, scarves, gloves, boots, and brand-new toys to keep families warm and bring joy during the holidays.
Christmas Family Sponsorship
In partnership with YoungLives, the program fulfills wish lists and provides holiday support for single mothers and children.
CPR & AED Training
Community safety sessions that equip youth and adults with lifesaving emergency preparedness skills.
Monthly volunteer opportunity
YCMS Healthy School Pantry
The Brother Dr. Thomas A. Bass Caring & Sharing Food Basket Delivery Program is partnering with Ypsilanti Community Middle School and Food Gatherers to support the YCMS Healthy School Pantry. This monthly service opportunity expands Caring & Sharing's commitment beyond seasonal food basket delivery by helping families access nutritious food and essential support throughout the year.
Volunteers help unload, organize, pack, serve, and distribute food and other essentials in a welcoming, dignity-centered environment. Adults and students are invited to serve together and help strengthen a reliable community resource for Ypsilanti-area families.
This partnership strengthens year-round food access and creates an ongoing pathway for Caring & Sharing families to connect with the YCMS Healthy School Pantry for continued support.
Upcoming food basket delivery events
Seasonal service. Year-round commitment.
Our upcoming Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter Food Basket Delivery Program dates bring volunteers, families, schools, and community partners together to provide food, essentials, and hope. This work is strengthened through our partnership with Food Gatherers and Ypsilanti Community Middle School (YCMS), helping us expand access to nutritious food and connect families with year-round support.
Thanksgiving 2026
Food Basket Delivery Program
Saturday, November 21, 2026
9:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Ypsilanti Community Middle School
Christmas 2026
Food Basket Delivery Program
Saturday, December 19, 2026
9:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Ypsilanti Community Middle School
Easter 2027
Food Basket Delivery Program
Saturday, March 27, 2027
9:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Ypsilanti Community Middle School
Community impact
Measurable service. Meaningful outcomes.
Each number represents direct support, coordinated volunteers, trusted partnerships, and families served with dignity.
170
Thanksgiving 2025
Families supported through gift cards and more than 60 assembled food baskets delivered directly to local families.
50
Christmas 2025
Families supported, including two YoungLives family sponsorships and winter attire support through the ΘΖΛ / Agape coat drive.
40+
Easter 2026
Families served with food baskets, with four additional families supported through gift cards.
Annual calendar
Seasonal service with year-round follow-through.
Each season has a clear purpose, while referrals, partnerships, senior support, and program planning continue throughout the year.
September–December
Family Essentials Drive, Thanksgiving baskets, Winter Attire Drive, Christmas baskets, Toys for Tots, and family sponsorships.
January–April
Senior Connection calls and visits, care packages, Easter Food Basket Delivery, and restocking family essentials.
May–August
Back-to-school drives, senior wellness support, sponsor outreach, and volunteer appreciation.
Year-Round
Family referrals, community partnerships, sponsorship engagement, wellness care, and impact reporting.
Community gallery
Service in action.
A look at Caring & Sharing food basket delivery, family support, volunteer service, and community partnership efforts throughout the year.
Program leadership
Consistency, compassion, and accountability.
The leadership team coordinates outreach, volunteers, partnerships, seasonal service, family support, program communications, and year-round follow-through.
Bro. Marion Hoey
Lead Advisor
Bro. Jermel Ray
Co-Program Director
Bro. Matthew Coats
Co-Program Director
Donate, sponsor, or volunteer
Invest in practical care across the full program year.
Your generosity directly funds food baskets, supplies, family sponsorships, senior support, winter attire, toys, hygiene kits, and year-round community care.
Financial Contributions
Fund food baskets, supplies, family sponsorships, and coordinated program operations.
In-Kind Donations
Provide coats, toys, hygiene products, baby items, school supplies, and other essentials.
Volunteer Service
Deliver baskets, make wellness calls, pack supplies, and serve during community events.
Annual sponsorship opportunities
Choose a level of community impact.
Legacy Partner
$5,000+
Presenting sponsor recognition across initiatives, prominent logo placement, event recognition, and on-site branding opportunities.
Community Champion
$2,500
Sponsors approximately 100 Family Essentials Kits or supports 25 seniors for one year.
Family Advocate
$1,000
Sponsors approximately 10 families through the Christmas Family Sponsorship initiative.
Basket Builder
$500
Provides food baskets for approximately 10 families and includes supporting sponsor recognition.
Friend of Caring & Sharing
$250
Supports hygiene kits, toys, clothing, and essential household supplies for families in need.
Individual Impact
$25–$100+
Sponsor-a-Kit, Adopt-a-Senior, or Sponsor-a-Family through a personal contribution.
Family support
Submit Family Referral
Need support or know a family in need?
Submit a family referral so the Caring & Sharing team can review needs for food basket delivery and community support.
Contact
Connect with Caring & Sharing.
Contact the leadership team to donate, sponsor, volunteer, discuss a community partnership, or learn more about program service.
Program contact
Brother Dr. Thomas A. Bass Caring & Sharing Program
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Theta Zeta Lambda Chapter
Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, Michigan
Email
a2caringsharing@gmail.com
Tax ID
81-1257797
Jermel Ray
Co-Program Director
Matthew Coats
Co-Program Director
Marion Hoey
Lead Advisor