OXFORD TWP. ? Armed with tools, paintbrushes and hearts filled with compassion, a sea of folks wearing red t-shirts descended upon the Crossroads for Youth campus last week to give one of the nonprofit agency’s main buildings a long-overdue facelift.
Approximately 65 employees of DTE Energy spent Thursday and Friday performing an extreme makeover on Kresge Hall.
Built sometime in the early-to-mid 1950s as part of Camp Oakland, the building houses the main kitchen for Crossroads and hosts a variety of gatherings and special events for the agency and outside groups.
‘It’s a multipurpose building,? said Dr. Janet McPeek, president of Crossroads for Youth. ‘It’s really a key building on campus. It’s one of the original buildings.?
The army of volunteers painted the building’s interior and exterior, fixed the boiler and heating system, removed a deteriorating drop ceiling, made landscaping improvements, repaired siding and soffits, and made plumbing and electrical repairs.
‘They were enthusiastic and really invested the entire time they were there,? McPeek said. ‘They really wanted to know (about the kids), so it was more than just doing a project . . . They were willing to get covered in paint and covered in dirt and sweat for those kids.?
McPeek said the volunteers? ‘hard, hard work? has now made Kresge Hall ‘a much more usable building? and ‘a much more attractive building.?
She couldn’t thank DTE Energy enough for all the time, effort and money it invested.
DTE Energy provided all the materials and labor. McPeek estimated that if Crossroads had paid to have all this done, it would have cost between $40,000 and $50,000. ‘It’s an absolutely phenomenal donation,? she said.
This donation is especially significant considering Crossroads has a ‘very modest? budget for repairs and capital improvements, and it must be spread across the entire 320-acre campus, not just spent on one building.
‘We have to rely on fund-raising, grants and outside groups like this (to get things done),? McPeek said.
Just having so many volunteers working so hard to help spruce up a piece of the Crossroads campus is ‘an inspiration to the kids and the staff,? according to McPeek.
‘To the kids, it says these people care enough to give of their time and invest in us,? she said. ‘We hope this will be a catalyst to inspire other groups to come out and help.?
Since 1953, Crossroads for Youth has provided education, support and counseling for at-risk children, teens and families in southeastern Michigan.
DTE Energy made this donation to Crossroads because one of its employees, Mark Johnson, director of fleet operations, proposed it. ‘We look for opportunities to serve together because it’s great for building teamwork,? he said.
Johnson has served on the Crossroads Board of Directors for the past three years, so it’s a cause that’s near and dear to his heart.
‘This helps people see what Crossroads does and how important it is to the community,? said the Rochester Hills resident. ‘When people get a chance to serve somewhere, they get more of a feeling of connection to the location and the mission of the organization. I’m really hoping some folks today (make) a deeper connection (with Crossroads) and want to continue their engagement with the organization.?
Johnson first encountered the agency while attending Michigan State University. He gave a college friend a ride home and his home turned out to be the Crossroads campus.
To him, the agency is important because ‘it serves kids that have no other chance? to forge a better life.
‘Without Crossroads, those kids have no other avenue to grow, to continue to develop,? Johnson said. ‘These are the kids that really no one else cares about. Without Crossroads, there’s no safety net.?