Program Updates

Financial Wellness

Mary* has worked with Financial Wellness Specialist, Tabitha, since June of 2022 after being referred by our partners at Resilience. Mary had recently moved into a new home, but her air conditioner and furnace were completely broken. Mary removed the non-functioning system, and began working with Tabitha to explore options to cover the cost of a new unit. The process was long - during the winter, Mary heated her house with electric heaters, which became expensive. In the summer, temperatures in her house climbed to 86 degrees.

Mary and Tabitha ran into barrier after barrier - because she removed the old unit, she was unable to qualify for replacement grants. Though they kept hearing “no”, Tabitha reassured Mary another door would open. “It was so discouraging, but she never gave up,” Mary shared. Finally, after months of work, Tabitha was able to find a grant through our friends at ChoiceOne Bank that would allow Mary to fully replace her HVAC system! As part of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, our local ChoiceOne Bank has the opportunity to give out homeownership and home improvement grants. “This work is important because we care about the community we serve, and the more we assist the community, the healthier it will be” shared Ana Peña, Assistant Vice President of Community Development program Manager at ChoiceOne (and former Action House team member!).

We’re incredibly grateful for partners like ChoiceOne, and for the determination of our team members - when generosity & creative collaboration combine with our team’s expertise & commitment, our neighbors can achieve healthier, happier lives. Now, Mary is connected with our Savings Club, our Resource Navigation team, shops with us as a Food Club member, and shared that she can finally sleep through the night again. She and Tabitha will continue to work together until Mary feels equipped, confident, and hopeful about a healthy financial future.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Outreach

Sarah has been working with our Outreach Team for several years. At a young age, Sarah began battling addiction, and found herself living in a car and without a stable home. When Sarah met our Outreach Specialist Shelley, she got connected to our team and a community of support at the Community Kitchen. Shelley and Sarah worked together to verify that she was experiencing homelessness (a critical step in securing access to other forms of support), then embarked on the complicated process of trying to find safe, stable housing. 

After the lengthy process of securing a housing voucher, Sarah was able to find her own home! Now living in a safe, stable place, Sarah is able to focus on progressing in her sobriety journey. Her ultimate goal is to bring her son home to her apartment and start a new life with him, while making a difference in the community. We’re celebrating alongside Sarah as she continues to take steps toward a happier, healthier future!

Community Kitchen

The Community Kitchen offers a gathering place for creating connections, and nourishing meals everyday. The Kitchen team works flexibly, creating menus that utilize the fresh, donated food we receive each week. The creativity of the team goes beyond cooking, but also collaborating on innovative ways to get more fresh produce. 

Regular volunteer, Brian, maintains a produce garden right outside the Community Kitchen during the summer! This started back when Chef Heidi found starter seeds at our Resale Store, and from there Brian and Heidi came up with the idea, with support from Western Theological Seminary, and starter plants donated from Eighth Day Farm, Brian and Chef Heidi were able to bring this idea to life, and can continue to plant a new Garden every summer! 

Food Club

One Monday night, a father and his young infant visited the Food Club for groceries. It was raining, and while he carried bags out to his car, another member offered to hold the baby for him. He seemed relieved, and she held and snuggled the baby happily while he loaded his groceries. It was a brief moment - but a simple reminder that over the years, Food Club has become more than a place for families to access food: it’s a growing community where neighbors care for one another. Across all of our programs, we work to provide a place for connection to resources, to solutions, and to each other. It’s a joy to see this in action!

In Case You Missed It

Affordable Housing Update!

We’re so grateful to share that our Affordable Housing Project received a key award from Michigan State Housing Development Authority! Learn more about the upcoming development! 

Electric Forest Collaboration!

Shoutout to our friends at Electric Forest! Their team organized a Camp Gear Donation program - minimizing waste left over after their event, and providing items like tents, sleeping bags, etc., for our outreach team!

WHTC Talk of The Town

Food Rescue Manager Aubree joined WHTC's Talk of The Town to share updates on our Lakeshore Food Rescue program! Listen in below.

Everyone deserves a safe home

June 28, the Supreme Court ruled that people experiencing homelessness can be arrested for sleeping in public spaces, even when no other shelter options are locally available. Read more about our commitment to pursuing solutions for our community.

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