Choze Powell

If you haven’t registered to vote in the November election, there is still time to register in person at your local clerk’s office. Online registration is now close, so an in-person visit will be necessary to get your vote counted.

There won’t be a November election for Port Huron or Fort Gratiot voters this year, but many of the smaller townships are holding elections along with the cities of Richmond and St. Clair.

Voters who register in person at the local clerk’s office can also apply for an absentee ballot, vote their ballot, and return it in the same trip.

If you have already requested and received your absentee ballot, you must return it as soon as possible at your local clerk’s office or ballot drop box.

To find out what’s on the ballot in your area, visit Michigan.gove/vote

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

A Beautiful Me, a nonprofit that provides confidence building programs and workshops for girls, is holding its final Avant Garde Hair Show on November 7, 2021.

The hair show has served as the signature fundraiser for the organization for the last 10 years, and it showcases the artistry of Michigan hairstylists who transform human models into works of art with outrageous hairstyles and costumes.

This year’s theme is “Nature Rocks”, and models of all ages will confidently walk the runway to display the work of their stylists. Guests will have a chance to vote for their favorite model, and enjoy a dinner, raffle, and presentation showcasing the work of A Beautiful Me.

Tickets must be purchased in advance, and the cost is $75 per person or $700 for a table of 10.

A Beautiful Me Executive Director Karen Palka said, “How do you build confidence?  Do something you’ve never done before. It’s wonderful to witness everyday women, of all ages, do something they’ve never done before and build their confidence. This fundraising experience correlates with our vision to foster self-worth in all women of all ages.”

Get your tickets at https://www.abeautifulme.com/

Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand

The NASCAR Foundation has chosen a Michigan woman as one of its four finalists for the 11th annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. Finalist Jaeleen Davis of Midland has a chance to receive a $100,000 donation to Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan, the nonprofit she volunteers for.

The mission of Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids is personal for Jaeleen who was diagnosed with Alopecia Universalis when she was 8 years old. The auto-immune disorder caused her to lose almost all of her hair within two weeks.

“I went from an extroverted little girl who had just signed a contract to do a National Broadway Tour to a little girl who completely lost her sense of self, her confidence, and her place in this world,” said Jaeleen.

Her mother struggled to find resources to help her cope with the hair loss and had difficulty finding a wig or hair piece that fit correctly or made her feel like herself. When they discovered Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids, she finally had the help she needed.

Jaeleen has gone on to perform on television shows and share her story as a public speaker. ” As a child, I wholeheartedly believed that my hair loss would completely derail and prevent me from obtaining my dreams, when in actuality, with confidence and the amazing support system I have been given along the way, it is driving force behind what makes me unique and a commodity within the entertainment industry,” said Jaeleen.

You can help  Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids win the $100,000 donation by voting for Jaeleen online at NASCARfoundation.org/Award. Fans can vote once a day, every day through November 12th.

All Michigan families who are eligible for food assistance benefits are receiving an additional monthly payment in October in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 1.25 million Michiganders in close to 700,000 households will receive additional food assistance benefits.

Eligible clients will see additional food assistance benefits on their Bridge Card from Oct. 23 through Nov. 1. These benefits will be loaded onto Bridge Cards as a separate payment from the assistance that is provided earlier in the month.

Some Michiganders began receiving additional food assistance in April 2020 after the beginning of the pandemic that started the month before. In May 2021, all eligible households began getting extra monthly benefits. Federal approval is necessary every month.

All households eligible for SNAP receive an increase of at least $95 monthly, even if they are already receiving the maximum payment or are close to that amount. Households that received over $95 to bring them to the maximum payment for their group size will continue to receive that larger amount.

Below are the maximum allowable benefits for SNAP customers based on their respective household size:

• One Person: $250
• Two Persons: $459
• Three Persons: $658
• Four Persons: $835
• Five Persons: $992
• Six Persons: $1,190
• Seven Persons: $1,316
• Eight Persons: $1,504

The federal government is providing additional funding to states for food assistance under House Resolution 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

Eligible families do not need to re-apply to receive the additional benefits. People who receive food assistance can check their benefits balance on their Michigan Bridge Card by going online to www.michigan.gov/MIBridges or calling a consumer service representative toll-free at 888-678-8914. They can ask questions about the additional benefits by calling or emailing their caseworker.

Submitted by MDHHS