Dear friends,

After months of exciting progress at our original Resale South location I’m excited to share that we’re ready to reopen for shopping later this month!

This newly renovated flagship location on Holland's Southside (694 Michigan) now comes together with our brand new Resale Store on Holland’s Northside (650 Riley), to strengthen our ability to connect neighbors with the essentials they need today, while building financial resilience that ensures we can keep showing up for decades to come.

We are already accepting donations at Resale South, and you can help stock the shelves before we open for shopping! Every donated item fuels Community Action House programs that nourish, equip, and empower our neighbors. Donate your gently used clothing, home decor, furniture, and household items this month and you’ll receive a coupon for $5 off your next purchase.

I also want to invite you to join us for our Grand ReOpening celebration. We’ll have games, prizes, and the chance to celebrate this exciting investment in the future of our work together!

Resale South Grand ReOpening Celebration:

Where: Community Action House Resale South | 694 Michigan Avenue, Holland, MI 49423

When: Friday, August 28 and Saturday, August 29 | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

What to Expect: Stop by during our grand opening celebration to see our new space, shop, and enjoy discounts, giveaways, and more!

Your support for our Resale Store, as volunteers, donors, and customers, makes this big step forward possible. Thank you for helping us lay an even stronger foundation for our shared work.

We hope to see you at Resale South soon!

With gratitude,

Scott Rumpsa | Chief Executive Officer

Program Updates

Financial Wellness

Earlier this year, Emma* connected with our Financial Wellness team while living in her car. We quickly connected her with a Food Club membership, giving her consistent access to healthy food and personal care items while she focused on taking the next steps toward stability. At the same time, she began working with our friends at Resilience, where her case manager helped her secure employment.

With steady income, Emma began working with our team to pursue stable housing. She applied for apartment after apartment, only to encounter long waitlists. Each day after work, she returned to sleep in her car, continuing to navigate the uncertainty of homelessness while waiting for an opportunity to open. Throughout it all, Emma kept meeting with our team to build a plan and work toward her goals.

Months later, the call finally came—Emma had been approved for an apartment! After moving in last month, our partners at Resilience helped furnish her home with many of the essentials she needed, while Good Samaritan covered her security deposit, providing financial support that helped Emma start this new chapter with confidence.

Today, Emma continues working with our Financial Wellness team to build a budget, grow her savings, and strengthen her financial future. We're so grateful for the community of partners who came together to support Emma every step of the way, ensuring she had the resources and encouragement she needed to build a stronger future!

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Food Club

When Valerie saw the positive impact Food Club was having on her friend Laurie's health, she wondered if it could make the same kind of difference in her own life. She decided to become a member, hopeful that she'd find fresh, healthy groceries, and a welcoming community to support her along the way.

Valerie joined Food Club and quickly embraced opportunities to learn through our Healthy@Home classes, including a "Dining with Diabetes” class series hosted in partnership with Michigan State University Extension. Although she'd been managing diabetes for years, the class introduced her to new recipes and practical nutrition strategies that gave her fresh confidence in caring for her health. After completing the series, Valerie was thrilled to see her blood sugar levels return to where she hoped they would be!

Today, Valerie continues building healthier habits with the support of Food Club and the relationships she's formed along the way. Just as Laurie encouraged Valerie to take that first step, Valerie is now part of a community where neighbors share knowledge, celebrate progress, and help one another build healthier lives.

Outreach & Housing Access

Earlier this year, Josh* connected with our Outreach & Housing Access team after a chronic health condition left him unable to work. Without income, he couldn't qualify for housing, so together we built a plan to help him apply for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI). For Josh, qualifying for SSDI would be a critical step toward financial stability and finding a place to call home.

We began by gathering medical records and documenting Josh's health history, then connected him with healthcare providers to strengthen his application and ensure he received the care he needed. After submitting his SSDI application, Josh is now waiting to learn whether he'll qualify. A reliable source of income is essential before he can begin applying for housing, so while he waits, our Outreach team continues to walk alongside him with support, encouragement, and guidance.

Josh is eager to begin applying for housing once he has income, but like so many of our neighbors, he's navigating a process filled with waiting—waiting for decisions, and waiting for an affordable home in a community where the need far exceeds what's available.

As we continue walking alongside Josh, we're celebrating every step forward. Sometimes progress looks like completing paperwork, connecting to healthcare, or simply knowing you have a community in your corner. The path to stable housing can be long, but we're grateful to walk alongside Josh, offering partnership every step of the way, because no one should have to face challenges alone.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Food Rescue & Partnerships

Last month, our Lakeshore Food Rescue team received an incredible donation from our friends at G2 Revolution: 24 pallets of household items, including laundry detergent, and personal care products! While our Lakeshore Food Rescue program is best known for rescuing food, generous donations like this allow us to provide other everyday essentials that help families stretch their budgets.

Household products can be expensive, and when families have to choose between groceries and other items, groceries often take priority. Stocking the shelves at Food Club with affordable, accessible personal care items helps provide more neighbors with the dignified access to the essentials they need to thrive!

When our neighbors have what they need to feel confident and cared for they’re better equipped to focus on building a brighter future. We're so grateful to G2 Revolution for helping ensure these much-needed essentials reached families in our community, instead of going to waste!

Community Kitchen

Earlier this year, Eliza* was living outdoors, carrying the daily uncertainty of not knowing where she'd sleep or how she'd meet her most basic needs. Like many of our neighbors, she first came to the Community Kitchen for a hot meal and found encouragement, trusted relationships, and a team committed to walking alongside her.

As trust grew, Eliza began working with our Outreach team to gather the documents needed to apply for housing. A few months later, she stopped by Refresh with exciting news: she was ready to begin pursuing housing opportunities! Together, she and our team contacted a landlord, completed an application, and celebrated another step forward.

Although Eliza is still searching for a place to call home today, she isn't searching alone. Through the Community Kitchen, she has a team she trusts that continues to walk alongside her as she works toward stable housing. Together, we'll help her continue building toward a safe, stable place to call home.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Resale Store

Earlier this year, Eliza* was living outdoors, carrying the daily uncertainty of not knowing where she'd sleep or how she'd meet her most basic needs. Like many of our neighbors, she first came to the Community Kitchen for a hot meal and found encouragement, trusted relationships, and a team committed to walking alongside her.

As trust grew, Eliza began working with our Outreach team to gather the documents needed to apply for housing. A few months later, she stopped by Refresh with exciting news: she was ready to begin pursuing housing opportunities! Together, she and our team contacted a landlord, completed an application, and celebrated another step forward.

Although Eliza is still searching for a place to call home today, she isn't searching alone. Through the Community Kitchen, she has a team she trusts that continues to walk alongside her as she works toward stable housing. Together, we'll help her continue building toward a safe, stable place to call home.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Explore Volunteer Opportunities with Resale

Save the Date!

Raise a Mug with Community Action House!

Celebrate National Root Beer Float Day TOMORROW at our soda pop bar benefit, a fun summer event presented by Community Action House and the Holland Area Arts Council.

Thursday, August 6 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Holland Area Arts Council | 150 E 8th St Suite 200, Holland, MI 49423

Register Here!

In Case You Missed It

Morningstar: Molina Healthcare Donates $85,000 to Support Food Access

In June, Molina Healthcare of Michigan donated to three local food access agencies, including Community Action House to reduce rising hunger in West Michigan. We are so grateful for their partnership and support!

WOOD TV: Nonprofit helps those in need on the lakeshore through food rescue program

This year, our Lakeshore Food Rescue program received an award for distributing farm fresh produce to local families! Learn more about Lakeshore Food Rescue and Action House in this recent segment.