NORTH MUSKEGON, Mich. — When Rob Mathis first moved from Detroit to Muskegon, everybody called him "City Boy." He tells the story of how the nickname has followed him over the years, with the smile of someone whose friends have given him a good-natured hard time. But it's safe to say, Rob never knew a version of that moniker would end up on a logo for an organization inspiring hope on the lakeshore.
The Citi Boi Corporation, intentionally misspelled as a conversation starter, is a nonprofit organization that found its unexpected beginnings back in 2020.
"It started during the pandemic when the schools closed. My wife and I was sitting on the couch, and I thought to myself, all these kids are going to be home. What can we do to help the parents?" Rob said.
"Talking to our friends on Facebook, we came up with idea of getting some food together, donating food, and we made lunches for about three months on the donations that we got."
Rob's wife Reyna would prepare the meals with family members and hand them out at parks and neighborhoods throughout the area.
"The need started growing as far as parents losing their jobs, restaurants closing down, and these people are hungry now too. It went from just doing the sack lunches to making more meals to give to whole families. It just grew and grew as the time went on," Reyna said.
Before long, people needed more than food. They needed clothes, furniture, appliances, hygiene products, and other household items they could no longer afford.
"It just kept growing and growing and growing. And I just was motivated to do more for my community, to help my community. So, Citi Boi was born," Rob said.
The Mathis family is connected with people who have the means and the desire to make a difference in the community. One of Citi Boi's primary functions today is serving as a link between those who want to help and those who need help. The organization serves people in a variety of different situations including people who are struggling to get by, people who have been affected by disasters like house fires, and people who are unhoused.
"We do 'blessing bags.' That comes with deodorant, socks, blankets, and we take them to different parts of the area where we hear that there are homeless communities, and we disperse them there," Reyna said.
"We do a lot. People can make an appointment, come in, and let us know what they need. Whatever we can help them with, we provide it. If we can't, we reach out to other resources to see if they have it."
Citi Boi primarily serves people in the Muskegon community, but they've helped people from as far north as Shelby and as far south as Holland. No matter where people come from, Citi Boi wants to help them.
"Sometimes people come in and they've given up because other organizations turned them away, but we're not going to turn them away. We're going to make sure that they have what they need, even if I have to go out and buy it myself and give it to them," Rob said.
Angela Ferrier serves as a marketing volunteer for Citi Boi, and she said it's gratifying to see what a difference you can make in someone's life.
"It really rebuilds your faith in humanity. We're just kind of putting the resources together where they need to be, but the looks on people's faces when you're able to provide them something that they've been without or begging for help, the tears in their eyes, the hugs they give you - these people really appreciate it," she said.
"It's almost like they look at you with love in their eyes. They're just so appreciative. You're giving them love, and then they're going to turn around and spread that in their community and with their own families. It's just super huge."
Citi Boi has a number of ways people can get involved with their mission. On Friday, July 12 they'll be teaming up with Feeding America West Michigan for a food distribution event at 4 p.m. at the Community United Methodist Church located at 1614 Ruddiman Drive in North Muskegon. Volunteers will gather at 1 p.m. to help set up.
They also rely on monetary donations to keep the lights on at Citi Boi, and to keep food distribution events happening. There will be two fundraisers coming up. The Northside Summer Jam is coming up in August at Walker Park in North Muskegon. The "Bad Mom Prom" formal gala on October 19 will be held at the Greater Muskegon Women's Club. Citi Boi is looking for volunteer artists who want to perform at either of those events.
Citi Boi is located at 318 Center Street, Suite A9 in North Muskegon. If you'd like to contact them, call 231-375-0067 or follow their Facebook page.
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