Program Updates
Outreach & Housing Access
When our Outreach team first met Robert*, he was living outdoors, facing what felt like an impossible list of barriers. Robert began visiting the Community Kitchen and Refresh, where he found nourishing meals, hygiene services, and support from our team on next steps. With determination, he overcame several hurdles and obtained critical documents, then connected with West Michigan Works!, and secured employment!
Even with a steady job, Robert was still experiencing homelessness. He worked closely with a recovery coach, submitted housing applications, and persisted despite processing delays and long waitlists. Months later, he received a housing voucher—only to have the program shut down, forcing him to start his search all over again.
Robert continued going to work each day for months, and would end his day without a safe place to return to. After another round of applications, he was denied housing because his income was too high to qualify, even though he was still living outdoors. This is the reality many of our neighbors face: they’re working hard, doing everything they can to move forward, yet safe, affordable housing remains out of reach.
With continued encouragement from his community, Robert found new momentum and connected with Good Samaritan Ministries. They provided additional support on his housing search, and earlier this year, Robert moved into safe, stable housing!
Now thriving in his new home, Robert has become a Food Club member with access to fresh, healthy food, and earlier this year he worked with our VITA team to file his taxes—one more step toward a stronger financial future. Robert’s determination over the years opened the door to a brighter future, and with a community walking beside him in compassion and collaboration, he's moving forward with hope.
*Name and photo changed for privacy
Food Club
Wellness isn’t just about feeling good—it’s about having the resources and knowledge you need to thrive in every area of life. This National Wellness Month, we’re highlighting the many ways wellness is nurtured not just by personal choices, but by strong community support.
We’re incredibly grateful to the team at Lakewood Construction for packing 90 ready-to-make meal kits for our Food Club guests! These simple, ready-to-make kits are designed to help families stretch their groceries further, ease the daily burden of planning meals, and make it easier to eat healthy at home!
Partners like Lakewood help keep healthy food and critical connections within reach for families. Thank you, Lakewood Construction! Learn more about other ways Action House is celebrating wellness in our latest blog post!
Want to help nourish your neighbors this National Wellness Month?
Financial Wellness
Earlier this year, Brian* reached out to our team after falling behind on his rent. As a Food Club member, Brian knew he could turn to us for support, and he began meeting with our Financial Wellness team for one-on-one counseling.
Together, we uncovered the root of his financial struggles: part of his Social Security income wasn’t being paid out due to suspected identity theft, and his bank account had recently been compromised by a scam. We walked alongside Brian as he opened a new secure account and began the process of disputing the fraudulent activity to get his income fully reinstated.
While working with our team to address these challenges, Brian’s car broke down, creating new barriers to medical appointments and food access. Our team quickly connected him with local partners for transportation support and Brian began working with one of our Resource Specialists to apply for additional benefits.
We’re continuing to work with Brian to resolve the suspected identity theft and connect him with the resources he needs along the way. Brian’s experience shows that even when unexpected challenges pile up, no one has to face them alone. With compassionate partnership and trusted community connections, Brian is getting the support he needs to build a stronger financial future.
*Name and photo changed for privacy
Lakeshore Food Rescue
This summer, our friends at Electric Forest took action to turn excess food into food access! As they prepared for their annual festival, hundreds of meals were made for staff working onsite in the weeks leading up to the event, but plenty of extra food remained. Determined to ensure it didn’t go to waste, they reached out to our Lakeshore Food Rescue team for support.
Stepping in to coordinate, our team connected Electric Forest with Trinity Lutheran Church Food Pantry in New Era, MI, a partner ready to put this food to good use. In the weeks before the festival, Trinity Lutheran Church Food Pantry picked up several loads of food—including 30 trays of prepared meals, 1,200 pounds of potatoes, and two truckloads of additional food. This quick, coordinated response made sure perfectly good food ended up on the plates of local neighbors who needed it most.
We’re so grateful to Electric Forest for taking the extra step to support our neighbors, and to Trinity Lutheran Church Food Pantry for turning this donation into nourishment for the community. Together, we’re building a stronger, healthier community!
Community Kitchen
Meet John, a dedicated member of our Community Kitchen crew! John first connected with Community Action House through HASP (Holland Area Senior Professionals) after hearing a presentation about our work. Inspired by the mission, he began volunteering at our 14th Street food pantry. Once Food Club opened, he made the switch to Community Kitchen, drawn by both the convenience and the opportunity to serve delicious meals with a welcoming smile.
Now, John and his wife volunteer every Wednesday. Serving meals each week, John has gotten to know many of our guests, and sees firsthand the positive impact it makes when guests begin working alongside our Outreach team. Many of our guests want to become volunteers themselves to lend a helping hand!
John continues to show up because of the relationships he has built with not only the staff, but the guests as well—he feels truly appreciated. Thank you John, for making the Kitchen a place where guests find not just a meal, but a sense of belonging!
In Case You Missed It
CEO Scott Rumpsa Testifies Before the Michigan Senate
Last month, CEO Scott Rumpsa testified before the Michigan Senate, speaking on the power of our Food Club model and the serious challenges facing our food system today.
Talk of The Town
Last month, Director of Food Access Programs Chara Bouma-Prediger appeared on WHTC to share an update on the Food Club Mobile Market and how individuals can help increase food access.
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