October eNews

Program Updates

Financial Wellness

Recently, Julia* reached out to our Financial Wellness team for support. Despite Julia’s best efforts to pay off thousands of dollars in credit card debt through consistent monthly payments, high interest rates stacked up and her debt only grew. She felt overwhelmed and uncertain about how to move forward.

That’s when Julia connected with one of our Financial Wellness Specialists, Tabitha. Together, they explored different options, and Julia soon felt confident about her next steps. Just hours after speaking with Tabitha, Julia applied for a personal loan through a credit union and was able to pay off her credit card debt! Without the high interest rates through the credit card company, Julia felt equipped to pay off the personal loan with manageable, fixed monthly payments.

Reflecting on the experience, Tabitha shared, "We’re so thankful that we can provide guidance to our guests and encourage them to take steps toward a brighter financial future." Julia’s determination, combined with the right support, helped her overcome this complex challenge— empowering her to move ahead with confidence.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

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Food Club

Meet Sarah, one of our amazing volunteer Food Club Cashiers. For Sarah, volunteering isn’t just about scanning groceries—it’s about making connections and seeing the impact healthy food can have on our community!

Sarah’s favorite part about volunteering with us is watching the excitement on children’s faces when they get to choose fresh fruits to bring home. For many of our neighbors, it’s their first time having consistent access to fresh produce. At Food Club, kids are discovering how delicious and fun eating healthy can be—some have even told her that fresh fruits are their favorite food now! Sarah loves seeing the difference it makes, knowing that this access to nutritious food not only brings joy, but also equips the next generation with the tools needed to build healthier futures. 

Thank you, Sarah, for helping our neighbors find joy in nourishing foods and for the care you bring to every interaction!

Want to build a healthier community alongside volunteers like Sarah? 

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Outreach

At Community Action House, we know it’s crucial to have a targeted approach that helps remove barriers for guests as they work towards stability. That’s why in 2022, we launched a partnership with Community Mental Health, which allowed us to expand our Outreach Team with the addition of a Recovery Coach. 

Our Recovery Coach, Jess, plays a pivotal role in breaking down barriers and providing specialized support for neighbors seeking greater stability, while also offering essential connections to mental health and recovery support resources. Since we've added the role, our Recovery Coach has already worked with over 30 neighbors to maintain sobriety and connect them with the services they need to move forward on their journey toward stability.

Recently, Jess had the opportunity to represent us at Recovery Fest, a community event that honors and celebrates those overcoming mental health and substance use challenges. The event not only celebrates the incredible strength of our neighbors, but also increases awareness about the vital resources available to our community. 

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Community Kitchen

Richard* moved to our community a few months ago, living out of his car and feeling unsure of where to turn for support. With no way to store fresh, healthy food, Richard was looking for a way to access the nourishment he needed when he learned about the Community Kitchen.

Richard visited the Kitchen and immediately felt overwhelmed by the radically welcoming community he was met with. Though Richard initially went to the Kitchen to gain access to the nourishment he needed, he continued to come back for the friendships he built and the resources he was connected to. 

At the Kitchen, Richard began working with our Outreach Team and now has a stable source of income! With this in place, our Outreach Team connected Richard with a community partner who is working with him to secure safe, stable housing. 

Richard’s story is a reminder of the power of a welcoming community, where kindness and support nourish more than just the body—they empower people to move forward with hope and strength.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

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Program Highlight

36,000 pounds of potatoes donated through Lakeshore Food Rescue!

At Action House, one of the main ways we source food for our Food Club is through generous community donations. Earlier this month, our Lakeshore Food Rescue Team received a donation of 36,000 lbs of potatoes! Sheldon Weibe of Macgregor, Manitoba partnered with the Farmlink Project and shipped loads of potatoes all over the country. Through this donation, we were not only able to fully stock our Food Club with all the potatoes our guests could use, but were also able to share the wealth with our partner organizations Feeding America West Michigan, Hungry For Christ, Love in Action, and Jehovah Jireh! 

We are so grateful to Sheldon Weibe and Farmlink Project, for helping us build a stronger, healthier community! 

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Save the Date!

Voter Registration at First United Methodist Church

Stop by First United Methodist Church on Friday, October 11th from 9-11am and register to vote, or find out if you’re already registered. Thank you to the League of Women Voters for sponsoring this event and empowering all our neighbors to have their voices be heard. Remember to vote on November 5th!

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In Case You Missed It

Fox 17 Morning Mix: Hunger Action Month

CEO, Scott Rumpsa, shared on the Morning Mix last month about Hunger Action Month and opportunities for our community to get involved and help nourish our neighbors.

The Holland Sentinel: Hunger Action Month

Our friends at the Holland Sentinel highlighted opportunities for our community to get involved and help nourish our neighbors during Hunger Action Month.

WHTC's Talk of the Town

Director of Food Access, Chara Bouma-Prediger, shared on WHTC in September about Hunger Action Month and how our programs have grown in the past years.

Celebrating Compassion in Action - VolBASH 2024

Every day, across all of our programs, our work is made possible by hundreds of volunteers. Last month, we celebrated the incredible 2,300+ individuals who powered our service last year, turning their Compassion into Action to build a stronger, healthier community.

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Join The Movement

Volunteer

Volunteer time and talent powers our programs.

Champion

Host a Fundraiser or Donation Drive!

Give

Your support sustains and expands our service.

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September eNews

Dear friends,

September is Hunger Action Month. 

At Action House, we believe that nourishing our neighbors takes more than a meal, and we’re on a mission to ensure that all of our neighbors have the nourishing food and resources they need to build a stronger, healthier future. We know, and research shows, that health is built by more than biology - it's shaped by our access to healthy food, the safety of our homes, the stability of our jobs, the quality of our education, and the support of our community. Each of these factors impact our well-being and the opportunities we have to live a full and healthy life. 

Hunger doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Families who struggle to access the food they need often face other challenges, and a setback in one area creates a ripple effect across systems: education, childcare, employment, housing, healthcare, food, finances, and transportation. Complex problems require holistic solutions - that’s why we combine healthy food access, resource navigation, financial empowerment, and street outreach to build a community where all of our neighbors have what they need to thrive, and no one faces challenges alone.

When someone comes to us—whether for groceries, housing support, or a hot meal at the Community Kitchen—we see it as an opportunity to offer more than just immediate help. We meet guests in the pivotal moment between a challenge and a crisis to find solutions that lead to lasting change.

In Ottawa County, over 32,000 neighbors struggle to access the nourishment they need. Our impact is only possible because thousands of our neighbors say “yes” to powering our services. As more and more families turn to us for support, we need neighbors like you to Act with Action House!

Join us in action this month by:

• Volunteering

• Giving a gift

• Hosting a Food Drive

So many of you are already so pivotal in this work - thank you, for volunteering, donating, supporting, and showing up for our neighbors in so many ways.

Gratefully,

Scott Rumpsa | Chief Executive Officer

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Program Updates

Financial Wellness

Recently, Food Club member, Amy*, reached out to our Financial Wellness team for support. With thousands of dollars in debt, Amy was unsure of how to move forward to pay it off. 

Amy began working closely with one of our Financial Wellness Specialists, Bill, and together they were able to negotiate with the banks and settle Amy’s debt, saving her 48%!

Reflecting on her experience, Amy expressed “I’m so thankful for your team’s help. It has made such a difference in my life!” We’re proud to provide the individualized, highly relational financial empowerment that our neighbors deserve, and we’re lucky to celebrate alongside them as they work towards a brighter future.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

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Food Club

Last month our Healthy@Home program partnered with our friends from Corewell Health to host a Make & Take Popsicle Workshop! In this workshop, families came together to make their own flavors of homemade popsicles using fresh, healthy ingredients. 

Kids also had the opportunity to become “Sugar Detectives” for the afternoon– learning how to spot and avoid added sugars and fun ways to eat more of the good stuff.

One guest shared “it’s so important to go to Healthy@Home classes with my kids because I get to see the joy on their faces when they learn that healthy eating can be tasty too!” We love to see families equipping the next generation with the tools and knowledge needed to enjoy healthy (but tasty!) treats!

Interested in attending a Healthy@Home class? Visit communityactionhouse.org/events

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Outreach

New to the area, Henry* reached out to our team when he found himself without a safe place to call home. With no birth certificate, no social security card, no ID, and physical disabilities that limited his work opportunities, Henry faced a difficult journey. 

Working together, step-by-step, Henry and our team navigated the complex web of resources that could help him find safe, stable housing. After acquiring his birth certificate from out of state, Henry was able to obtain a Michigan driver’s license and find a stable source of income. With these key pieces in place, and with the help of our partners at a local transitional housing agency, Henry was able to move into safe, stable housing! Henry shared that he was so grateful to be able to connect with our team and that these resources helped him feel empowered to continue pursuing stability.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

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Community Kitchen

Over the past few months, our team at the Community Kitchen has felt so encouraged - several guests have reached out to Chef Heidi, asking how they can become more involved at the Kitchen. Guests offer to help prepare meals, wash dishes, clean up after service, and more. One neighbor noted “It feels good to contribute and really be part of something.” We love seeing guests jump in to continue building a stronger community for all of our neighbors! 

At the Community Kitchen, many of our guests struggle with unsafe or unstable housing, food insecurity, and financial instability. When our neighbors visit the Community Kitchen, they find healthy meals, a place to rest, and so much more. Shared meals are one of the oldest and truest forms of love and connection, and as guests gather and eat together, they get to know each other and build a community of support.

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Save the Date!

September 10 is Hunger Action Day!

Nourishing our neighbors takes more than a meal, and we're challenging the community to think about hunger differently. Learn how you can take action with Action House at communityactionhouse.org/actwithactionhouse!

September is Hispanic Heritage Month!

Throughout each year, our Resale Store partners with nonprofit organizations at the forefront of DEI work in our community. This month, we’re glad to partner our friends at Latin Americans United for Progress in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month!

Join us from September 15th-October 15th, and 10% of store profits will support LAUP’s efforts to empower Latinos to participate in creating a better community for all. Learn more about their efforts at laup.org.

At Action House, we're proud to serve and celebrate all of our neighbors. We strive to build a culture, within our organization and our broader community, where all of our neighbors experience a profound sense of belonging. Our vision of a stronger, healthier community is one that supports, celebrates, and equally values all of its members.

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In Case You Missed It

Hunger Action Month: Nourishing our neighbors takes more than a meal

Health is built by more than biology. Learn more about the factors that help us build a full, healthy life!

How 'Fresh Fridges' are expanding access to nutritious foods

Our Lakeshore Food Rescue team recently added two more locations to our Fresh Fridges initiative! Fresh Fridges bring fresh food options to our neighbors who need it most.

WHTC's Talk of the Town

Senior Manager of Lakeshore Food Rescue, Krista Burgett, shared on WHTC about the opportunities community members have to host food and winter gear drives to help build a stronger, healthier community.

MiSustainableHolland: Hope College Students Collaborate with Lakeshore Food Rescue

Learn about Hope College students who are helping turn excess food into food access with Action House's Lakeshore Food Rescue initiative.

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Join The Movement

Volunteer

Volunteer time and talent powers our programs.

Champion

Host a Fundraiser or Donation Drive!

Give

Your support sustains and expands our service.

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