Welcome to FedUp’s first newsletter of 2026! We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and start to the year. We are excited to continue working together to further FedUp’s mission into 2026!

In addition to Wednesdays, we will also be serving at both Ann Arbor and Ypsi warming centers for lunch on Tuesdays! Tuesday lunch for Ypsilanti has started since January 6th–for Ann Arbor, it will start on February 17th.

Elizabeth Meurer (she/her) is a registered dietitian. She has worked in a variety of nutrition positions over the years including clinical research, college residential dining services, WIC, and nutrition education. In all the varied roles Elizabeth enjoys the feeding of people most. She has followed FedUp since she learned of the ministry a few years ago and was excited to join the team and help with this very important mission in the community

Elizabeth has lived throughout the midwest and currently lives in Dexter MI with her husband, 4 children, and 4 cats. When not attending one of her kids' many activities, you can often find her cooking for family and friends or behind the scenes at a local community theater production.

My name is Jenyee (she/her), originally from Clovis, California moved here in 2009. Decided to come work for FedUp as their new head chef after hearing about their mission and love for the community. Its connects with me on my two favorite passions... cooking and helping people.

Hey there! My name is Jake (he/him) and I am currently an MSW student at the University of Michigan! I am studying in the policy pathway and I am passionate about making a difference in areas such as food insecurity, immigration, and health care equity. I’m very excited to work here at FedUp and make a difference in my community as well. I’m originally from the Baltimore area and I love golfing in my free time as well as collecting vinyl records.

Ale, Todd, and Doug are back on the team after some time off. We are so happy to have them back with us! Thank you for dedicating your time here with us.

On Christmas Eve, FedUp held dinner and worship at Growing Hope, celebrating the holiday in community. Thank you to everyone who joined us!

FedUp held our annual Leadership Retreat at the end of January, where we had various discussions and activities planning for the future of FedUp in the new year! We would love to get feedback from you all on our services. Respond to this email or send a message to info@fedupministries.org with any feedback you have for our services, what you’d like to see us do, or anything else you’d like us to know. Keep an eye out for future surveys over the next year! We hope you'll consider being a part of one of our very first focus groups in 2026!

FedUp just had our 5th birthday on February 1st! If you’d like to find ways to support us and celebrate this milestone, please consider gifting something to us from our wishlist, donating, or volunteering. Thank you to all our supporters; we could not have gotten this far without you all. Cheers to God's blessings as we continue to build community and show God's love for many more to come!

February got off to a wonderful start as Pastor Anna had the honor of leading a beautiful double baptism on Sunday, February 1st, with our FedUp worshipping community. Special shoutout to our beloved partners at First Presbyterian Church of Ypsilanti who allowed us to use their sanctuary for this holy occasion. Welcome to the church family, Ava and Peyton!

So many have been going through tremendously hard times, and have been asking for support to make it through. Starting February 3rd, join us at the First Presbyterian Church of Ypsilanti (300 N Washington St., Ypsilanti, MI) in our new GriefShare Support Group every Tuesday for six weeks. No registration is needed–come as you are to a safe space where you can find comfort with others in our community.

January 15th was the 97th birthday of civil rights icon and leader, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., followed by the 40th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 19th. On and surrounding these days were numerous events in our community celebrating his life and accomplishments through community service, special events and speakers, along with reflection on how we can continue to preserve the rights he and others fought for us to have amid these trying times in our country.

On January 13th, Civil Rights activist Claudette Colvin passed away at the age of 86. 

Her arrest in March of 1955 after refusing to give up her seat to white passengers in the segregated south at just 15-years-old served as inspiration for Rosa Parks and others to do the same just nine months later. This served as a catalyst for the Montgomery bus boycotts and the Civil Rights Movement as a whole. We thank Claudette Colvin for her bravery, and will continue to tell her story and the many other who often get overlooked in the telling of our nations history.

This February marks 100 years since the first national observance of Black History Month, started by Dr. Carter G. Woodson as Negro History Week in 1926 before expanding into the Black History Month we know today in 1976. Learn more about the history of the celebration in the link below.

In the new year, there have been countless atrocities at the hands of ICE as they terrorize our community and communities across the country.

From the murders of Alex Peretti, Renée Good, Keith Porter and more at the hands of ICE to the detainment of four of those from our Ypsilanti community last week by ICE, it has left many feeling hopeless and disheartened. However, it is more important now than ever, as seen from the civil rights figures and movements throughout history, to fight back, unite, and know your rights. Linked below are some tools you can use to support resistance efforts and to protect both yourself and others around you.

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The Migrant and Immigrant Rights Advocacy (MIRA) Emergency Hotline to Report ICE Sightings: (734) 224-3852

Guide on how to correctly report ICE using the S.A.L.U.T.E Method.

Donate or volunteer with the Washtenaw Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights (WICIR), a local, grassroots organization providing emergency response, know-your-rights education, and community advocacy. 

The Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC) provides free legal services and policy advocacy for immigrant communities across Michigan.

As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:10-11

SNAP Volunteer/Service Hour Requirement Eligible!

If you are seeking volunteer hours–whether by choice or required for school, community service, SNAP, or other programs–we’re here to help you meet those requirements in a supportive, welcoming environment!

Sign up for our Volunteer Newsletter below to get updates on upcoming opportunities where you can help FedUp continue the work we do. 

Every donation allows us to serve more delicious meals, provide free shower and laundry services, and continue to support our community. Thank you all for your contributions to FedUp.