Meet our Vice President of Development, Renee!

Renee Rivard is a dedicated educator and community advocate with a passion for fostering positive change. Holding a Bachelor of Science in Biology & Psychology and working professionally in the development field for twenty years, Renee brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new role as Vice President of Development at Community Action House in Holland, MI.

Beginning with a strong foundation in secondary education and community outreach, Renee spent several years developing and implementing programs aimed at reducing food insecurity and providing essential services to youth and marginalized populations. Her early work with families provided her with deep insights into the systemic barriers that perpetuate poverty and social inequity. With a background in teaching, Renee is adept at communicating complex ideas and inspiring others to action. Her commitment to empowering individuals and strengthening communities has been evident throughout her career.

Moving into fundraising and development was a natural progression for Renee, driven by the realization of how critical sustained funding is for nonprofit success. At Community Action House, she uses her understanding of community dynamics and needs to effectively engage with donors and stakeholders. This aspect of her role involves advocating for the resources that allow the organization to maintain and expand its programs. By cultivating meaningful relationships, Renee helps ensure that Community Action House has the support needed to continue its mission of nourishing, equipping, and empowering the community. This work not only meets the organization's financial objectives but also bolsters its community-driven approach, encouraging widespread involvement in their shared goals.

In her free time, Renee enjoys cooking & collecting Polish Pottery, outdoor adventures, and time with her golden retriever, Dutch. She is deeply committed to the ongoing success of Community Action House.

Low-income housing projects in Holland combine to secure approval: The Holland Sentinel

Addressing the growing housing affordability crisis will take all of us, working boldly and creatively together. For our part, we’re proud to be expanding our work by creating new affordable housing solutions. In partnership with Dwelling Place, we’re pursuing a multi-site affordable housing development in Holland.

The project is moving along, with plans to add 61 affordable housing units with groundbreaking anticipated before the end of 2024. Read more about recent updates from the Holland Sentinel.

Tune in on Fox17: Share more than a meal this Thanksgiving!

Tune in on the FOX 17 Morning Mix to hear Scott Rumpsa, Action House CEO, share about our work to build a stronger, healthier community!

For over 50 years, we've expanded our efforts during the Thanksgiving season to take pressure off of families - increasing access to the healthy food, hope, and connection they need to find moments of holiday joy. This year, we're expecting 1,900+ families to turn to us for support. We're ready to provide the warm welcome, food, and resource connection they need to more forward - but we need your help to do it! Partner with us to share more than a meal this Thanksgiving:

- Give a financial gift: Every $37 donation provides healthy Thanksgiving groceries for a family in our community! Donate online at communityactionhouse.org/morethanameal.

- Host a donation drive or collect items with your family: Help stock-the-shelves at Food Club to ensure our neighbors find the food they need. Learn more at communityactionhouse.org/stocktheshelves!

September Enews

Dear friends,

September is Hunger Action Month! At Community Action House, we believe that fighting hunger takes more than a meal - families struggling with food insecurity face a complex web of challenges, and complex problems require holistic solutions. That’s why we combine healthy food access, resource navigation, financial empowerment, and street outreach - all in the context of relationships - to nourish, equip, and empower our neighbors.

In Ottawa County, 22,000+ neighbors struggle with food insecurity. At Community Action House, we’re working to build a community where all of our neighbors have what they need to thrive, and no one faces challenges alone. No matter the initial reason for meeting our guests–groceries, housing, or a hot meal at the Community Kitchen–we are primed to facilitate momentum toward stability and financial prosperity.

Our work is possible because hundreds of our neighbors choose to say “yes” to building a stronger, healthier community. As our service grows, we need neighbors like you to act with Action House and help fight hunger in our community!

Join us in action this month by:

• Volunteering

• Giving a gift

• Becoming a Food Club member

• Hosting a donation 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

Program Updates

Financial Wellness
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In 2021, Ron (name and photo changed for privacy) joined our Homebuyer Education class. After attending, Ron realized that he wanted to improve his credit and savings. For over a year Ron worked with our team on Pre-Purchase counseling, increased his credit score from the mid 500s to the mid 600s, and paid off debt. After two years of hard work, Ron was able to set aside money for the down payment on a home! Our team celebrates Ron’s success, and will continue to provide support as he begins a new chapter.

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Food Club
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One day at Food Club, Sean and his daughter Amy (name and photo changed for privacy) were waiting in line, and struck up conversation with our Food Club Membership Specialist, Paula. Amy and Paula talked all about school starting soon, her class, and her nervousness about making new friends.

A few weeks later, Paula ran into the same father-daughter duo while sharing about our services at a school open house! Amy was so excited to tell Paula that she loved her teacher and was making friends. Sean shared how much he appreciates Food Club – not only is it an affordable, flexible, resource for his immediate family, but he's able to share groceries with his sister who has a difficult time getting out of the house. We are so grateful that Food Club provides the healthy food access that families need, while providing a space that builds community in the process.

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Outreach
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Meet Chris! Chris began working with our team in 2018 after moving here from California. He regularly uses our Community Kitchen and Refresh Programs, but what really keeps him coming back is the human connection and opportunity to share about his achievements with peers.

As of last week, Chris is 8 weeks sober! After 47 years of drinking, he woke up one day and decided he was ready for a change. Since then, he has started attending our recovery meetings, and has appreciated the support and acknowledgement of his hard work. We’re proud to see Chris take his recovery day-by-day, and glad that our team can provide a community of belief and support.

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Community Kitchen
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Last month, Community Kitchen guest Eric (name and photo changed for privacy) had a very frightening health scare. With a difficult outlook, Eric chose to change his lifestyle to improve his current health and take control of his future. The meals served at the Community Kitchen have helped him work towards his goals, providing food options that are “delicious but also healthy.” The Kitchen recently received wild caught salmon from a community partner, and Eric was thrilled, sharing “you can’t find fresh salmon like that anywhere, even some restaurants don’t have that!”

We’re proud that the Community Kitchen can share more than a meal, helping guests find the healthy food and community that they need to move forward!

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In Case You Missed It!

CAH News and Updates

The Holland Sentinel: Dwelling Place Housing Development

Read updates about our affordable housing initiative with Dwelling Place - a multi site development to bring 60+ units of affordable housing to Holland.

Second Wave Media: Food Club Highlight

The Lakeshore WM shares about food club models (like ours!) and a new approach to food access.

The Lakeshore WM: Lakeshore Food Rescue

Lakeshore Food Rescue recently launched the Food Rescue Hero app, allowing neighbors like you to help recue thousands of pounds of food.

Habitat For Humanity Announcement

Our partners at Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity and GDK Construction Company recently celebrated the ribbon cutting of their new townhomes, designed for adults with disabilities!

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Action House awarded UnitedHealthcare Grant for "Fresh Express" Mobile Market

Community Action House was recently awarded funds through UnitedHealthcare’s Empowering Health Program. One of six recipients in Michigan, Action House will use the grant to expand healthy food and nutrition access through a “Fresh Express” Mobile Market, designed to reach rural areas where transportation is a barrier to food access.

In addition to fresh produce, meal kits, and nutrition education, the Fresh Express will also act as an extension of Community Action House’s other resource navigation and connection services. Over the next year, Action House will further develop plans for the initiative, while a new truck for the mobile market is built.

The grant is part of UnitedHealthcare’s work to support local organizations across the country, to address social factors that impact the health and wellness of residents. Read more about the Empowering Health Program and grant recipients here.