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Back to School Blitz 2022

On September 10th, Detroit Refinery held a Back to School Blitz to celebrate the new school year.  This was the biggest “Fueling Detroit” event yet – with over 700 residents in attendance.  School supplies were passed out until we ran out, around 100 kids were able to receive free haircuts and hairstyles, over 500 free meals were served, over 200 feminine care kits were distributed, and 10 laptops were given out to residents (thanks to Human IT!!) and countless resources were distributed through our many nonprofit partners that were in attendance! We also had some fun with carnival rides, dessert trucks, games, and music.

Most importantly, this event was to kick off our new partnership with the Detroit Police Athletic League, which will be bringing its programming to Kemeny Recreation through one of our community investment grants.  We currently have over 300 local youth from 48217, Ecorse and River Rouge signed up with interest in one of the many programs that will be coming to the local recreation center this school year (including computer coding, EcoTek science, & a wide array of sports offerings).

Marathon Petroleum hosts financial empowerment event for Detroit community

Marathon Petroleum hosted the Show Me the Money Financial Empowerment Day for community members in Detroit. The event, in partnership with Wayne Metro Community Action Agency, brought together financial experts to help people in the community understand their finances, offered free tax preparation assistance, and provided tips to lower their energy bills. Visitors also received free health screenings from the St. Patrick Senior Center.

“I am a senior over 65 years old, and these days, financial struggle is very evident with the cost-of-living increasing,” said Vickie Cook, a Detroit community member. “After this event, I feel less stressed and more comfortable. I truly appreciate the assistance and information I received at this event. I cannot wait for the next one! Marathon is very much appreciated in this community.”

Financial wellness was listed as one of the top five major needs by Detroit residents in the Wayne Metro 2019 Community Needs Assessment Report. This event is the first of the Fueling Detroit Event Series for 2022, which aims to support the community surrounding the Marathon Petroleum Detroit refinery, specifically the people living in the 48217 zip code.

The next Fueling Detroit event will be a community market featuring small businesses from Southwest Detroit on April 9. To learn more, visit our Detroit refinery’s community website.

 

2021 Boynton Project Update and Look Forward to 2022

Last year, Marathon Petroleum committed to a second round of property purchases in Detroit’s Boynton neighborhood.   The Boynton Property Purchase Program began in 2021 with a goal to create a green space in the neighborhood while providing Boynton residents with a buffer zone between the north end of the community, the freeway, and industrial operations. The new green space is being created by giving eligible Boynton residents an opportunity to sell their houses.

The initial phase of the program included  forty two eligible houses along Edsel and Patricia Streets.  Twenty-four homeowners signed up for the purchase program Some purchases remain in negotiation and MPC will work with residents engaged in the program until sales have closed. In Fall 2021, MPC expanded the boundaries of the program to include parts of Liebold Street. To date, thirty-three homeowners are enrolled in the program.  Work on purchased properties from Phase 1 began with the contracting of by Detroit-based minority-owned contractor, Gayanga Co Have a great track record for doing quality demolition work safely and efficiently.

Residents who decided to sell are pleased with the program.  One resident on Patricia Street is now planning to move to a retirement complex with no more worries about shoveling snow or cutting grass.  Another Patricia Street resident is happy with the price she received for her house, saying she never thought she would see that much money in her life. Residents currently residing in the Boynton neighborhood will enjoy the  new, green buffer zone that will, no doubt, will improve the neighborhood. We are currently working with the non-profit Wildlife Habitat Council on the tree planting program to begin to create the buffer along I-75, as homes are removed.

 

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Fueling Detroit: Health and Harvest Fair

We are bringing our “Fueling Detroit” series to a close this year with our last Kemeny event of the year – the Health and Harvest Fest!  On Saturday, October 9th we’re excited to bring multiple health care providers to the neighborhood, in one spot! With our many partners, this event will have free health screenings, COVID 19 testing, vaccinations, immunizations for kids,  and mental and behavioral health resources. We will also have two adult work-out sessions beginning at 12:00 PM.  Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL) is also partnering with us to host soccer and cheerleading conditioning on-site.  They will also have drone and ecoTek tutorials for kids of all ages – a great way to introduce youth to the world of tech!  Families will be able to sign their kids up for these after-school programs for free at the event!

If you’re interested, sign up here!

 

National Pollinator Week

Did you know June 21 – June 27 is National Pollinator Week? National Pollinator Week is an annual event celebrated internationally in support of pollinator health.  The Detroit refinery celebrated on June 23 by participating in the Pollinator Pledge Event hosted at the Fort River Bridge.  Partnering with Motorcities National Heritage Area, Bees in the D, FRoG, and other organizations, the event was a great success, bringing the community together to learn about the importance of pollinators and participating in the planting of pollinator flowers! A member of the Marathon family, Janine Bertucci, delivered a fantastic speech at the event that highlighted our Wildlife Habitat Area gold conservation certification, as well as our North American Butterfly Association-certified sustainability garden in Oakwood Heights!  She also hosted a table at the event, giving away free pollinator plants and seeds to those that attended the event.

The event was featured on Local 4 news. Click the link to learn more!

Introducing Fueling Detroit Event Series at Kemeny Recreation Center

The Detroit refinery is excited to announce Fueling Detroit, a series of community events at the Kemeny Recreation Center. Programs will focus on bringing both family fun and needed resources to the community at monthly events from July to October. All events will include free food from local vendors, PPE at the door (while supplies last) and entertainment. The series begins on Friday, July 9 with a walk-up “drive-in” movie, featuring Spider-man: Into the Spider-Versse. Doors open at 8 PM, and the first 50 in-line will receive a free lawn chair for the event!

Looking for Local Vendors

The Detroit refinery is dedicated to supporting local vendors throughout the event series to help stimulate the local economy and provide a space to showcase small businesses. We’re seeking food trucks for each of our upcoming events and a variety of vendors (clothing, jewelry, fresh fruit/vegetables, etc.) for an upcoming community farmers market on August 14. Space at this event will be free for the vendor and will offer great exposure for local products and services. If you’re interested in participating as a vendor, email the refinery’s community relations representative BreAnna Lockhart at blockhart@marathonpetroleum.com.