November is Homelessness Awareness Month. We invite you to read guest stories, learn about housing insecurity in our own community, and help meet urgent needs while our team works one-on-one with guests to build stability.
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!
Celebrating Two Years at the Food Club & Opportunity Hub!
On October 25, we’ll celebrate two years of service at the Food Club & Opportunity Hub! In 2021, our community stepped up with us to reimagine what healthy food access could look like. Thousands of families served, connections made, and meals provided later, we’re reflecting with gratitude on the stories of hope, health, and happiness that neighbors like you make possible.
All people deserve dignified access to the support they need to lead healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives. In other communities, food is either free at a pantry or full price at the grocery store. In our community, we’ve chosen a different option - sustainable, empowering, and welcoming service so that all of our neighbors can thrive. We couldn’t be more grateful for a community that believes in and powers our efforts by volunteering, donating, and championing our work.
Over the coming year, we’ll continue to grow and refine our service for those in our community who need it most. From expanding our nutrition education programming, to recruiting neighbors who could benefit from membership, to strengthening healthcare partnerships to provide medically-tailored offerings for our guests - we’re looking ahead with hope and excitement for all that we can accomplish together.
Community Collaborations With GROW Café + Bistro
Chef Lindsay Payleitner of GROW Café + Bistro worked as a kitchen specialist at the Community Kitchen last winter. This year, she and her co-owner/husband, Alec, volunteered at the Food Club. Those experiences inspired them to spearhead a new pilot program for our Food Club guests!
Each week this past February and March, their team strategically chose a few hundred pounds of rescued food and, like culinary magic, brought it back a few days later as meals packaged in oven-ready tins. By the end of the pilot run, they’d prepared over 300 meals for more than 1,000 neighbors! It takes outside-the-box thinking of community members like Lindsay and Alec to sustain and expand our impact at Food Club. We’re so grateful for their support! Read more about their creative meals and inspiration here.
“The Difference Between Eating and Not Eating”
The mother of a Food Club member stopped by our front desk last month. Almost in tears, she told our team that without Food Club, her daughter’s family wouldn’t be able to afford food - “Food Club means the difference between eating and not eating.” She loved that healthy options were fewer points, and after her tour, said, “Food Club is beautiful.”
When budgets are pushed past the breaking point, healthy food is often the first thing families have to cut - prioritizing shelter, healthcare, transportation, and other critical needs. While traditional food access models solve emergencies, few solutions exist to meet ongoing needs in a sustainable, empowering way. Food is either free at a pantry or full price at the grocery store. Food Club fills that gaping hole in the middle, provides connection and support, and helps families prevent a challenge from becoming a crisis.
John’s Story
John* had long relied on our former food pantry and is now a Food Club member. On a recent visit, a volunteer noticed that John, who struggled to walk unassisted, was walking and pushing his own cart! John was proud to share that in his five months of Food Club membership, he was getting around more easily, feeling healthier, and had lost 50 lbs. He said he’s “never eaten as many fruits and vegetables” as he is now. John was excited to share about his health, and encouraged that our team noticed his presence and his progress.
Turning Around a Diagnosis
Our team recently visited a local organization to speak about Food Club. One attendee, Alice (name changed for privacy) shared that she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes that morning. Hearing about the fresh food available, and the different cooking classes offered, Alice felt hopeful that a Food Club membership could help her manage her new diagnosis.
Alice signed up for a membership then shopped with Jenn, our Healthy Eating Coordinator, to find foods that fit her new diet. During her first visit, she shouted across the room, “Jenn, I’m so excited!” She told Jenn that at Food Club, she could find fresh, healthy items she wouldn’t be able to afford at the grocery store. Since joining three months ago, Alice has attended every cooking class she could, learning different recipes and techniques. Earlier this month, Alice visited her doctor, and her blood work showed that she was no longer diabetic! Alice said this was only possible because of the skills she learned from cooking classes, and the healthy foods she was able to find at Food Club.
“A flexible resource for our family”
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.
October eNews
Program Updates
Financial Wellness
Our Financial Wellness team partners with guests through a wide range of financial challenges. In every instance, guests find a team of experts who are ready to listen, set goals together, and sharpen skills so that our neighbors have the financial tools they deserve.
In May, Jacob and Lydia approached our team as first time home buyers, hoping to learn more about the process. Our team connected them with Sherry at Fifth Third Bank and Linda at Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. After working with Sherry and Linda over the last few months, Lydia and Jacob closed on their first home! We are so happy that Lydia and Jacob can begin a new chapter, and grateful for partnerships like these, that make huge wins like homeownership possible for families on our community. Congratulations Jacob and Lydia!
Food Club
At Food Club, we ensure that guests have access to the food their families need alongside nutrition education and training so they can lead happier, healthier lives.
Our Healthy@Home classes provide a hands-on opportunity for members to learn about preparing new-to-them foods, hone their culinary skills, and cook for different health requirements. While guests love learning new techniques, they've also shared that classes give them a sense of community. Recently, one attendee told our team that her favorite part of the class was "making friendships while learning."
Outreach
Recently Joy, our Recovery Coach, was at the Holland Farmers Market when a man noticed her Community Action House badge and her AA 20 year coin. He asked her if she was in recovery, and after sharing about her journey, he asked if she could help a young man, Dave* who works for him.
Joy was happy to help, and shared her card with him. Later that same day, Dave called and asked for help getting into detox and a residential program. After making some calls, Joy was able to find a program with availability that day! When Joy last spoke with Dave, he was one week sober, and planned to stay in supportive housing. We’re so glad that Joy’s work as a recovery coach, a role created in partnership with Community Mental Health, is able to break down barriers for our guests as they work towards stability.
*Name Changed For Privacy
Community Kitchen
*Photo Changed For Privacy
When someone first loses their home, it can be hard to know where to start. Recently, a newly unhoused neighbor and her husband came to our Community Kitchen. She shared that we were her “first call,” because she knew she would be able to find support.
The Community Kitchen provides hot, healthy meals, while building community and opening the door for connection to other resources. Our Outreach Team works at the Kitchen almost every day, and offers case management, help with government applications, and a partner and friend to walk with our neighbors through the difficult process of finding housing. No matter the initial reason for meeting our guests–groceries, housing, or a hot meal at the Community Kitchen–we are primed to facilitate further momentum toward stability and financial prosperity.
In Case You Missed It
Compassion In Action - Action House Volunteers
Watch our 2023 Volunteer Appreciation Video, and learn more about how volunteers are "Compassion in Action" in our community!
WoodTV: Affordable housing near the lake? Developers eye it in Holland
A proposed housing development would bring 61 affordable housing units to Holland.
Tune is as Scott Rumpsa, CEO, shares about our efforts on Fox17 in honor of Hunger Action Month in September.
MiSustainable: Lakeshore Food Rescue
Read an article from Lakeshore Food Rescue Manager, Krista, in honor of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste!
Join The Movement
Volunteer
Volunteer time and talent powers our programs.
Donate Monthly
Provide a stable foundation for our service each month.
Apply
Use your skills to make a difference.
MiSustainable: Lakeshore Food Rescue
Lakeshore Food Rescue Manager, Krista Burgett, recently wrote an article for the Holland Sentinel in honor of the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste! She shared about staggering food waste numbers in America, and our own local food rescue work in partnership with Ottawa Food.
Read the full article here, or learn more about how you can end food waste, fight hunger, and mobilize community at lakeshorefoodresuce.org.
Stories of hope that you make possible.
Alice’s Story
After her doctor told her that she was at risk for developing diabetes, Alice* felt hopeful that a Food Club membership could help her manage her new diagnosis. Three months after joining, and attending every cooking class she could, Alice’s blood work showed that she was no longer prediabetic! Alice shared that this was only possible because of the healthy food she could find at Food Club, that she couldn’t afford at the grocery store, and the skills she learned in Healthy@Home cooking classes.
John’s Story
John* had long relied on our former food pantry and is now a Food Club member. On a recent visit, a volunteer noticed that John, who struggled to walk unassisted, was walking and pushing his own cart! John was proud to share that in his five months of Food Club membership, he was getting around more easily, feeling healthier, and had lost 50 lbs. He said he’s “never eaten as many fruits and vegetables” as he is now. John was excited to share about his health, and encouraged that our team noticed his presence and his progress.
Hank’s Story
Hank* (name changed for privacy) was connected with our team through another local agency. In transitional housing, Hank was hopeful that our team could help him improve his credit score - one of the first steps towards home ownership. Over the past five months, Hank worked with Financial Wellness counselor, Tabitha, to pay off his bills and save over $3,000! After all of Hank’s hard work and dedication, he was able to raise his credit score from 483 to 659, giving him the financial foundation he needed to purchase a home!
Last year, our Financial Wellness team saw a 63% increase in their number of one-on-one counseling guests like Hank. 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.
*Names and photos changed for privacy.
These are transformative stories, and they’re only possible because of you. Everyone needs a community that believes in them - their worth, their dignity, and their potential. Your ongoing belief and partnership ensures that all of our neighbors - people like Alice, John, and Hank - have what they need to build brighter futures. Please consider a generous donation to help us share more than a meal this Thanksgiving season!
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:
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
• • • • • •
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.
Food Club
• • • • • •
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.
Outreach
• • • • •
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.
Community Kitchen
• • • • • •
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!
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!
Join the Movement
Volunteer
Volunteer time and talent powers our programs.
Donate Monthly
Provide a stable foundation for our service each month.
Apply
Use your skills to make a difference.
Fox 17: Hunger Action Month
Tune in on Fox 17 as Action House CEO, Scott Rumpsa, talks about our work to nourish, equip, and empower our neighbors.
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.
ACT with Action House this month:
Learn more about how you can fight hunger with more than a meal at communityactionhouse.org/actwithactionhouse
Habitat For Humanity Annoucement
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!
Creative community collaboration, that creates stability and opportunity for our neighbors, is something worth celebrating - and we're especially excited that one of our own guests was able to achieve her long time dream of owning a because of this partnership!
Read more about their exciting project, and the impact that it's making for out neighbors here: https://loom.ly/oca3adE
Dwelling Place Housing Development Updates!
Our friends at the Holland Sentinel recently shared an update on our affordable housing partnership with Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids!
This exciting project would bring much-needed affordable housing units to our community, with 75 new units across three different sites. There are still many steps in the process, but we're excited to work collaboratively with the City Of Holland and Dwelling Place to lean into solving our community's housing challenge.
To read more about this proposed development, visit: https://www.hollandsentinel.com/story/news/local/2023/08/15/proposed-plan-would-bring-75-housing-units-to-holland-area/70587461007
The Lakeshore WM: Lakeshore Food Rescue
Our friends at The Lakeshore WM recently shared about our Lakeshore Food Rescue initiative, in partnership with Ottawa Food!
Lakeshore Food Rescue recently launched use of the Food Rescue Hero app, which allows neighbors like you to volunteer during shifts that work best for your schedule. “The Food Rescue Hero app will be a huge step forward for Lakeshore Food Rescue. By inviting individuals to volunteer with us, we can dramatically expand our service and offer fresh, healthy food to more partners across the county.” - Krista Burgett, Lakeshore Food Rescue Manager.
In just over a month, volunteers using the app have rescued over 6,800 pounds of food, which translates to over 5,700 meals! Read the full article here!
Second Wave Media: Food Club Highlight
Our friends at Second Wave Media shared a great article about the food club model! Highlighting our partners Lakeshore Food Club and Community Food Club as well, the article shares about this new approach to food access and some of the incredible wins we're already seeing for our guests.
"We've always had a more-than-food approach during our 50-year history as an organization. Our food club members come by on one side of our location and shop for that food they need but just can't afford every week. And then on the other side, we have this one-stop-shop resource hub where they are able to have a seamless connection to working with our resource navigation team, our financial wellness team, our housing counselors, and also with 18 other on-site program partners." - Scott Rumpsa, CEO
Read more about the model, guest success stories, and how Food Clubs are increasing health and dignity for our neighbors: https://loom.ly/cyqKitc
August 2023 eNewsletter
Program Updates
Financial Wellness
Tom (name and photo changed for privacy), reached out to us when he had no other options. Living on an annual social security income of less than $10,000, he feared he would lose his home after receiving a property tax bill that was more than a third of his total income. With one week before the Board Review Meeting, Tom and the Financial Wellness team had to work quickly.
Tom and our Financial Wellness team worked side-by-side to complete an application for deferment of summer taxes, as well as an application for poverty exemption. After handing in the paperwork, and attending Tom’s review meeting together, they were informed that Tom was approved for a one-year exemption and could stay in his home! We’re proud to have a team that’s there during make or break moments like these, providing support and partnership to prevent a challenge from becoming a crisis.
Food Club
Food Club provides a membership-based, grocery store style experience where guests can choose the fresh, healthy foods that they love. With a sliding scale membership that gives guests points based on their household size, members find access to the food they need, without breaking their budget
Last month, Amy (name changed for privacy) discovered that she had extra points left at the end of her visit. Amy turned to the woman behind her, and offered to share her points! Grateful, this member offered to share some of her points with the next person in line, too. We're so glad that Food Club is a space where neighbors find support not just from our team, but from each other!
Outreach
Sam (name and photo changed for privacy) felt worried, disconnected, and directionless. Unhoused for the first time, Sam found himself without a strong network of support, and didn’t know how or where to start building towards stability. Looking for answers, Sam came to our Refresh program at First United Methodist Church.
Uncertain at first, Sam slowly began to form connections and build bridges - between himself and others, between challenges and solutions, and from disconnection to community. As our team continues to provide support and work towards the goal of safe, stable housing, they’re encouraged to see Sam develop relationships with friends who have faced similar challenges, and finally have people in his corner.
We believe you can’t properly care for people if you don’t take the time to get to know them. Greeting people by name, learning their stories, and understanding the barriers they face helps build trust and allow us to hone in on specific areas where our team can be of help. We’re glad to have spaces like Refresh, where guests can access not just critical resources, but also the human connection that all of our neighbors deserve.
Community Kitchen
Each week, our Outreach Team eats lunch alongside guests at the Community Kitchen - learning about their lives, their challenges, and identifying areas that our team can offer support and connection. There is a tangible sense of community - neighbors sharing about their struggles with housing, employment, addiction, with a vulnerability that comes through trust built over time. And there’s also deep comfort and joy - birthdays celebrated together, small wins shared, and guests shouting “say hi to your wife for me!” like old friends do.
Many of the neighbors that visit the Community Kitchen for breakfast and lunch struggle with unsafe or unstable housing, food insecurity, and financial instability. Shared meals are one of the oldest and truest forms of care and connection; after they eat together, our team helps identify challenges and offers services to those who need and want them. We’re glad that the Kitchen can serve more than a meal, and provide a place where guests can come for food, stay for connection, and move forward with hope for a brighter future.
In Case You Missed It
CAH News & Updates
Looking to help address food insecurity in Ottawa County? There's an app for that
The Holland Sentinel: Lakeshore Food Rescue is utilizing an app to help recruit volunteers and expand its efforts combating food insecurity in Ottawa County.
Community Action House Update July 13
Olivia Campbell and Jessica Pressley of Community Action House talked about outreach to the homeless and other related topics during the monthly update on July 13, 2023.
Lakeshore Food Rescue joins national app to help end food waste
As part of their recent Lakeshore Food Rescue program expansion, Action House is launching the local use of a nationally recognized food rescue app!
Action House awarded funds for "Fresh Express" Mobile Market
Community Action House was awarded funds to expand healthy food access through a "Fresh Express" Mobile Market.
Join the Movement
Volunteer
Volunteer time and talent powers our programs.
Donate
Provide a stable foundation for our service each month.
Apply
Use your skills to make a difference.
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.
WHTC: Street Outreach
Tune in as our Program Director, Olivia Campbell and our Outreach Team Lead, Jessica Pressley speak on our street outreach efforts, and how they work with neighbors experiencing homelessness. Rather than criminalizing, the Outreach Team works to empower these individuals, and connect them with programs or resources in order to set them up for success. Whether that be getting out of homelessness, or catching them before they reach that point.
Listen to the full segment here, and learn more about our Street Outreach Team!
Holland Sentinel: Lakeshore Food Rescue
Lakeshore Food Rescue is a community-powered initiative of Community Action House, in partnership with Ottawa Food, the county’s food policy council. LFR works with partners across sectors to collect and redistribute excess food that would have otherwise gone to the landfill.
Designed to harness volunteer power and scale food recovery efforts, Community Action House is utilizing the Food Rescue Hero app, which has redirected 150 million pounds of food across the country since its launch in 2016! Lakeshore Food Rescue is seeking new food donors and nonprofit partners to utilize the app. Restaurants, grocery stores, farmers markets, government agencies, and other businesses can donate food quickly and easily online, submitting information that prompts volunteers to select a pickup through the Food Rescue Hero app. Nonprofit organizations can sign up to receive food, and the program is looking for agencies who can receive and distribute prepared food to guests.
You can read more from the Holland Sentinel article HERE!
Want to get started right away? Download the app right now!
WZZM: Lakeshore Food Rescue Launch!
As part of our recent Lakeshore Food Rescue program expansion, Community Action House is launching the local use of a nationally recognized food rescue app! The app will connect food donors to nonprofits, with a focus on keeping food local and close to its source.
Starting July 13, volunteers who download the app can sign up for flexible shifts, driving their own vehicles to recover food from donors and transport it to local food access partners. By recruiting individual volunteers, Lakeshore Food Rescue plans to expand across the county to rescue more food and increase healthy food access for the 10,000 individuals in the area who are food insecure.
“The Food Rescue Hero app will be a huge step forward for Lakeshore Food Rescue. By inviting individuals to volunteer with us, we can dramatically expand our service and offer fresh, healthy food to more partners across the county! Students can fill time in between classes, seniors can find meaningful structure for their retirement, and parents can show their kids the impact that individuals can make in our community.” - Krista Burgett, Lakeshore Food Rescue Manager
