STATUS: Open

SERVICE AREA: Wayne County, Michigan

CLIENTS SERVED: Veterans, older adults, and low-income homeowners

DESCRIPTION: The Makana Foundation is a volunteer-driven nonprofit that provides food assistance and essential home repairs to Wayne County residents experiencing hardship. The organization partners with local food suppliers, community volunteers, and licensed contractors to address food insecurity, unsafe housing conditions, and accessibility barriers. Its programs focus on helping families meet basic needs and remain safe in their homes.

PROGRAMS/SERVICES:

• Home Repair Assistance: Coordinates essential home repairs through licensed and insured volunteer contractors, including plumbing repairs, leak repairs, structural safety improvements, weatherproofing, insulation, and general safety-related repairs.
• Accessibility Modifications: Installation of wheelchair ramps, handrails, grab bars, cabinet lowering, and other modifications that improve accessibility and mobility within the home.
• Electrical Safety: Electrical safety assessments to identify potentially hazardous conditions.
• Food Rescue & Delivery: Collects surplus food from farms, grocery stores, and distributors and delivers it to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.
• Community Food Pantry: Operates a free, year-round community pantry in the Belleville area where residents can obtain donated food without completing an application.

RAMPS:

• Types: Residential wheelchair accessibility ramps installed to provide safe access to and from the home. Construction materials and configurations are not specified.
• Availability: For eligible veterans, older adults, and low-income homeowners in Wayne County. Requests are accepted through a waitlist, with installation dependent on volunteer contractor availability and program resources.
• Cost: The organization relies on donated contractor labor but does not publish whether ramp materials or installation are provided entirely free or require a homeowner contribution.

HOW TO APPLY:

• Home Repairs & Accessibility Modifications: To request assistance and placement on the home repair waitlist, email homerepairs@themakanafoundation.org
• Food Assistance: Email needfood@themakanafoundation.org to request food assistance or delivery. No paperwork is required.