Revamped Kitchen to Provide More than Food to Students
Providing nutritious food and teaching lifelong healthy habits has been a priority at the SAY Detroit Play Center from the start. Thanks to a donation from the A.A. Van Elslander Foundation, that commitment has expanded by 1,200 square feet with the addition of a new state-of-the-art kitchen.
The upgraded space includes commercial-grade cooking equipment, a walk-in refrigerator and freezer, a ConvoTherm dual oven, a dedicated dish room (no more paper plates!), and more — allowing us to better serve the 170 students and staff members we feed each day during the school year.
Beyond daily meals, SAY Play is developing a culinary curriculum that will offer hands-on cooking education and healthy eating classes, helping students build skills that last a lifetime.
Wellness Wednesday Discusses Diabetes
Healthy lifestyle goals set at the end of last year were put into action at the first Wellness Wednesdays support group meetup of 2026. The session focused on diabetes management and prevention. Did you know that 1 in 10 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with the disease, but 1 in 5 don’t even know they have it?
To further support our patients and community the SAY Clinic is launching a new diabetes prevention program in March. Details here.
A Time to Help Gives to our Community
Nearly a dozen A Time to Help volunteers rolled up their sleeves and served Detroit’s homeless at the Pope Francis Center this past Saturday, Feb. 21. ATTH volunteers served breakfast and lunch, cleaned showers, did laundry, and assisted in distributing hygiene and clothing items. By the end of the day, our volunteers had assisted more than 225 guests!
And don’t forget, we are always looking for volunteers to help out at SAY Play!
Dental Care Now Provided at the SAY Clinic!
This summer the SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic moved to a new, more modern facility that gave us the opportunity to expand our services and outreach in the community.
The SAY Clinic now offers dental care to our uninsured patients two Saturdays a month in collaboration with University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry.
Two of our three dental operatories are currently in use, with plans to open a third for pediatric exams in the future.
SAY Play Celebrates Black History Month
To celebrate Black History Month, SAY Play staff organized field trips and artistic projects that recognized Black leaders who worked and continue to work for equality.
Art Expression
The walls of SAY Play proudly display vibrant student-made posters, honoring those who paved the way, like Martin Luther King, Jr.
Henry Ford Museum Field Trip
SAY Play students visited the Henry Ford American Innovation Museum and engaged in the “Made in America” exhibit – a display of Black Heritage in America, including the Rosa Parks Bus.
Tuskegee Airmen Museum Learning Series
Students visited the Tuskegee Airmen National Museum at Coleman A. Young Airport every Friday for six weeks. They learned about the rich history of the Tuskegee Airmen and participated in a series of lessons based on Computer-Aided Design (CAD).