Chet Decker

Michigan Nightlight: What does being a leader mean to you?
WW Community Connections, Inc. Executive Director Chet Decker: I do not take the responsibility of leadership lightly. With the responsibility of leadership also comes greater accountability: to our clients, to my staff, to my board of directors, and to God who has led me into this ministry. I am not one to shrink back from the responsibility, but at times it can become a heavy load.  Fortunately, I have a great staff to share the leadership load.
 
What is your dream for kids?
That they don’t have to go to bed hungry. The 2010 census indicated that there was an increase in those in poverty in

Nationwide statistics indicate that 75 percent of those in poverty suffer from food insecurity, which is the inability to have consistent access to nutritious meals through a given month.

Macomb County from 87,000 to 133,000 with approximately 40 percent of those in poverty being children under 18 years of age. Nationwide statistics indicate that 75 percent of those in poverty suffer from food insecurity, which is the inability to have consistent access to nutritious meals through a given month.
Hope Center distributes food to a monthly average of 4,912 people, 34.8 percent or 1,710 of which are children under 19 years of age. A visit to the Hope Center pantry will give a family food for approximately one month. The Hope Center food coupled with a family’s Bridge card should provide nutritious meals throughout the month.
 
What is one concrete thing that could be done to improve the environment for social sector work in Michigan?
Increase funding. In 2010, EFSP [Emergency Food and Shelter Program] funding for Macomb County was $2,100,000; in 2011, EFSP decreased to $504,000, a 75 percent decrease; 2012 EFSP allocation has not yet been made, but I understand it will be an additional 14 percent decrease.
 
How do you know you’re making progress?
We measure output of the pantry and outcomes of our clients. We are on track to host 22,500 client/family visits serving 59,000 people and distributing 2.1 million pounds of food in 2012.
 
Also, if our client’s well-being increases, we are successful. We measure our success through an exit survey of our clients and receive feedback on our client service, food selection, and what they will be able to purchase with money saved by

We emphasize to our volunteers that we want them to treat our clients like they would want to be treated if this was their first visit to the pantry.

coming to the pantry.
 
What are you most proud of?
Our client service. We emphasize to our volunteers that we want them to treat our clients like they would want to be treated if this was their first visit to the pantry. Our volunteers have responded in a big way, as measured by our exit survey of our clients.
 
What keeps you awake at night?
Funding for Hope Center. We are getting squeezed at both ends; we are experiencing higher costs for food received from Gleaners. Funding from government sources and foundations is being cut and what funding remains is being accessed by more and more nonprofits.