September 1, 2011, Project 100: joseph soltesz, lincoln park

My name is Joe and last Fri I was at Lincoln Park Days..(its a local carnival for the city) and I was a little bummed out because my unemployment money didn't come in correctly and I couldn't really do to much for the weekend ... broke ppl usually can't...lol....anyways, two ppl walking down Gregory St stopped me and offered me $100... of course I thought it was a joke or there was some kind of catch...but they informed me otherwise. They asked me just to spend it and tell my story. Well, my girlfriend, two days pryor, got ripped off by one of her so called friends. She stole a hundred bucks from her... my girlfriend is one of the sweetest ppl on the planet....well anywho....I took her to get some food that Friday...the bill was 12$..it was just a Coney Island, and I tipped 8$...then I put oil and gas in her car because she was going to see her father in Flushing, Mi.... 7$ in gas...it filled her tank and 13$ in oil....(its a 91 Ford festiva ... leaking roughly 2 quarts daily:(...) and earlier when I was at the festival my buddy John Joe lost a $20 and was bummed out that he couldn't go golfing that he had planned for the evening... so me and him hit 9 holes at wyandotte shores that night...30$ I paid for the both of us... then I ran into a garage sale sausage stuff that my mom needed...27$..... when I took the stuff to my mother... and told her what happened and how I got 100 dollars, she ended up loaning me 160 dollars till I got my unemployment this Tuesday.... any which way you look at it those nice people and Gregory Street turned my weekend around and everybody else that was in my path...:).... in 2006 I lost my job when farmer jack went down... and 2009 I became a carpenter apprentice...luckily .... there's not much work in michigan but at least it's something... I work 3 to 7 months a year, and unemployment helps me make ends meet....... I was pretty down and out from 2006 to 2009 living all over the place and drinking way too much. I'm not sure how I would spend that money back then.... probably would've been in the wrong way..... either way.... what you guys are doing is great, and I hope that 100 dollars that you give away ends up in the right hands:)... thank you very much and god bless......Joe Soltesz

July 16, 2011, Project 100: Sabine Kouassi, Southgate, MI

I am very grateful to Project 100, even more when I heard that it was created by my bank Co-op Services Credit Union.
I was on my way to the Wyandotte Street fair on July 15th, 2001 when I was approached by Brian. I was overwhelmed, especially that I had decided that morning to declare it a "Day of Gratitude". When I came home with this blessing, I put the gift on our little family altar.
My first thoughts went to Gleaner's food bank and the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministry, since I was thinking of people who have much more severe circumstances than us. Also my thoughts went to Cooper Stone, the little boy in Texas who lost his Dad at a ball game they attended together. I wish I could be his Auntie and my family his extended family.
I have to admit that this morning after leaving the money on the altar throughout the night, I felt that my 3 family members each deserve $25. My husband had been overcharged by the car insurance who withdrew almost $600 from his account. My budget for the household had to help out to pay for necessary expenses. Our eldest son has been accepted at Michigan State. The part-time job at the airport is helpful, but he is always in need of cash. And the youngest son who will graduate from high school next year could not get a job this summer. He needs new clothes.
Dear Co-op Services Credit Union, not only do you strive to give excellent customer service, but you are also a leader in the community showing that the act of giving is a base for prosperity and well-being. Mrs Patti Johnson who is the Manager of our Branch is very helpful and I am always convinced that I can count on her advice. I am very proud to be a member, because I am not treated as a statistic, but a human being!
Heartfelt congratulation for creating this wonderful project!
May all your members and staff be extremely prosperous for the remaining 2011 and the future ahead! Sabine E.Kouassi

May 24, 2011, Project 100: chrystal ortiz, rialto

Why don't we take all leftover food from resturants and fast food and have a truck pick it up and donate it to the homeless instead of trashing it.