Financial Wellness

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Our Financial Wellness programming provides economic empowerment, rooted in relationships. Through one-on-one counseling and courses, our team empowers neighbors to take on their financial journey feeling more equipped and confident. Recently, Lupita and Mike took our Financial Capability courses taught by Financial Wellness Specialist, Bill, to learn more about managing their finances:

“Our experience could not have been better. Bill was compassionate, intuitive, flexible, kind, and always willing to share his knowledge with us. We learned so much from Bill and will forever be grateful to him for all he taught us. This community is blessed to have such dedicated people like Bill.”

Everyone we meet has a unique story and goals. It’s our team’s job to partner with guests to learn more, so that we can custom tailor resources and partnership to help them succeed! We’re so glad that Lupita and Mike found the knowledge and support they need to thrive.

Outreach

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Recently, a neighbor experiencing homelessness visited our Resale Store. Her bike, her primary form of transportation, was falling apart. Resale Store teammate, Sara, knew that we could help, and quickly called our Outreach Team. Working together, our Outreach Specialist, Leticia and the guest were able to contact other members of our team and our partners at the Holland Police Department, then come up with a plan to help her find greater stability.

Our Resale Store turns community donations into critical funding for our programs. It also supports our Outreach team efforts - when a neighbor transitions into housing, we’re able to equip them with a Moving Kit, the essential items needed to turn a house into a home. On occasions like this, the team at the store has the chance to provide even more hands-on support! We’re grateful to know that neighbors see the name “Community Action House,” they know that they can turn to us for support. It takes an entire community to make the Resale Store, and our services, possible!

Community Kitchen

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When they discovered that multiple staff and volunteers had birthdays in the same week, the team at the Community Kitchen decided to celebrate with “The Best Day Ever!” With posters, decorations, and a “Best Day Cake Buffet,” staff, volunteers, and guests gathered to celebrate.

We love that the Community Kitchen is a space where guests can experience moments of joy and togetherness, and find a break from the challenges that face them outside.

Shared meals are one of the oldest and truest forms of love and connection. Many of the neighbors that visit for breakfast and lunch struggle with unsafe or unstable housing, food insecurity, and financial instability. We get the opportunity to eat together, hear their stories, offer our support and resource navigation services, and build community.

Food Club

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At Community Action House, one of our values is “One Team” meaning that we serve, solve, and celebrate together! Nile, one of our Food Club Associates, shared about a recent experience with a Food Club member. While stocking the shelves, a guest approached him and began speaking to him in Spanish. After expressing he didn’t speak the language, she smiled and continued to chat, and Nile enjoyed listening as he continued working.

Nile turned around and realized that the member had begun stocking alongside him! They worked side-by-side until the shelf was full. Though it was a seemingly small moment, Nile shared that experiences like these can be one of the highlights of working at the Food Club. “The experience of not being an employee and customer, but fellow members of a community I find extremely rewarding.” We love that Food Club is a space where people from all walks of life can work as One Team to build a stronger, healthier community!

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Save-The-Date!

Happy National Volunteer Week!

April is National Volunteer Month! We are what our community chooses to do together, and none of our work would be possible without volunteers. We are so grateful for the time, support, and hard work from our selfless group of volunteers!

Read about some of our volunteers, and why they choose to support their community!

Stories of Compassion