Dear friends,

As we enter a new year, we’re looking back on 2025 with nothing but gratitude for what our community chose to accomplish, together. In times of calm and crisis, we’re a community constant because people like you believe that none of our neighbors should face challenges alone. As volunteers, food drive partners, financial supporters, advocates, and champions of our work, you made it possible for our neighbors to find the support they needed to move forward in a year where many families in our community navigated uncertainty.

We’re celebrating countless stories of hope, health, and growth—lives changed through the power of healthy food access, families building stability through financial empowerment, and so many instances of people in our community showing up for one another. Through your support, in 2025 we were able to:

Welcome and serve 3,913+ families at Food Club
Launch our Food Club Mobile Market to reach even more neighbors
Provide 68,954+ hot, healthy meals at the Community Kitchen
Help 157 formerly unhoused neighbors transition into safe, stable housing through our Outreach team’s partnership with First United Methodist Church, Good Samaritan, Gateway Mission, and many other peers and partners
Break ground on our affordable housing project with Dwelling Place
Redirect over 3.5 million pounds of food to help feed our neighbors through Lakeshore Food Rescue
Partner with 347 neighbors to sharpen skills through Financial Wellness programming
And so much more!

We invite you to celebrate with us, and take pride in the work that our community makes possible. When people turn to us, we are there—as an expression of our community’s compassion. Thanks to your support, we’re continuing to walk alongside our neighbors as they navigate through moments of uncertainty, then move forward with hope. As we step into 2026, we’re building on the momentum of the past year, working together as a community to ensure that no one in our community has to face challenges alone by:

Expanding our Resale Store operations to strengthen the financial foundation needed to sustain our growing impact;
Strengthening pathways to financial progress for guests through responsive programming that builds long-term success;
Working collaboratively with other agencies to address our community’s housing challenges;
Building on our partnerships in the healthcare sector to improve long-term health outcomes and empower individuals to lead healthier lives; and
Preparing our Community Kitchen for a strong next chapter of service.

Thank you for your continued belief and partnership in this work. We're glad you're here, grateful for your support, and excited to see what we can accomplish together in the years to come.

Onward,

Scott Rumpsa | CEO

Program Updates

Food Club

For most of her life, Susan* never imagined she’d need help putting food on the table. But after retiring, her fixed income was quickly outpaced by rising grocery prices, utility bills, and medical expenses. As her budget grew tighter, Susan faced difficult decisions—often sacrificing healthy food for other essentials.

Years spent working in a high-stress job had left Susan managing chronic health conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes. But since becoming a Food Club member, access to fresh, healthy food that was once out of reach has made it easier for Susan to prioritize her well-being. Reflecting on her experience as a Food Club member, she shared, “Food Club allows me to choose what I need to improve my health.”

When healthy food is within reach, neighbors like Susan are empowered to build a stronger, healthier future. Through the support of our community, we’re grateful to walk alongside neighbors like Susan to ensure every neighbor has access to the healthy food they need to thrive!

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Outreach & Housing Access

Last year, a sudden crisis left Ella* without a safe, stable place to call home. Living in her car and facing a complex web of housing system requirements, she turned to our team for support. We helped complete the paperwork to verify her homelessness—an essential first step before applying for housing programs. From there, we connected her with our partners at Good Samaritan to apply for a housing voucher.

A lifelong Holland resident, Ella was determined to stay in the community she loved. When she was approved for a housing voucher in early fall, she began the difficult search for an apartment. It was challenging to find housing she could afford with limited income and physical disabilities that prevented her from finding work, but Ella remained hopeful and persistent, finding and applying for apartments on her own in pursuit of the right fit.

In November, she moved into her apartment! On move-in day, our team provided items from our Resale Store to transform Ella’s new space into a foundation for future progress. Now thriving in her new home, Ella has become a Food Club member with access to fresh, healthy food, and is excited to partner with our Financial Wellness team to create a budget, strengthen her savings, and plan confidently for the road ahead.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Community Kitchen

After a season of staying with family, Steve* found himself without a safe place to call home. Living outdoors and facing serious health challenges, he was connected to our team through our partners at Good Samaritan.

At the Community Kitchen, our team began meeting with Steve over shared meals and warm conversation. The welcoming space helped him open up about the health challenges he was facing—issues that had worsened while living outside. As trust grew, we worked together to navigate doctor’s appointments, treatment plans, and the confusing web of paperwork required to access healthcare and insurance. As his health began to improve, Steve’s hope for building a brighter future grew.

Over the summer, Steve finally felt like his health was stable enough that he could focus on the next step: finding housing. At the Community Kitchen, our team helped him submit applications and explore options. This fall, Steve returned with exciting news—he had found a room to rent with a local family!

While Steve remains on waitlists for long-term subsidized housing, having a roof over his head has brought stability and space to heal from the health challenges he faced while living outdoors. At the Community Kitchen, trust is built through shared meals and ongoing conversation. Steve’s connection with our team opened the door to deeper support, and we’re honored to walk alongside our neighbors as they take the next best step toward a stronger, healthier future.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Financial Wellness

Earlier this year, Ramona* came to our Opportunity Hub feeling overwhelmed and confused. Two official-looking letters had arrived in the mail—one about her home insurance, the other from her mortgage company. Ramona feared they might be scams, but she also worried about what might happen if they were real and she ignored them.

Sitting down one-on-one with a member of our Financial Wellness team, Ramona had a trusted partner to help her make sense of the situation. Together, they reviewed both letters, spotting red flags like small grammar errors and suspicious addresses. With a bit of research and a few phone calls, they were able to confirm that one of the letters was a scam, and the other was real. With peace of mind and a clear plan, Ramona moved forward with confidence!

Financial processes can be complex and confusing, and none of our neighbors should have to navigate them alone. Whether it’s reviewing paperwork, building credit, saving for a home, or simply making a plan, our Financial Wellness team walks alongside neighbors like Ramona, equipping them with the tools and confidence needed to build a stronger financial future.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Lakeshore Food Rescue

Did you know the Holland Farmers Market is open year-round? Even in December, as the market began to wind down each day, our Lakeshore Food Rescue volunteers stepped up to turn excess food into food access!

From hardy vegetables to crisp winter greens, our volunteers collect leftover produce that farmers and vendors set aside to donate. Instead of going to waste, this fresh food is redirected to our Food Club and Community Kitchen where it’s transformed into thousands of nourishing meals for neighbors across our community.

Gleaning is a win-win: it reduces food waste while increasing access to fresh, healthy food across our community. In 2025, over 31,430 pounds of fresh food were rescued from the Farmers Market thanks to the dedication of our volunteers!

In Case You Missed It

Rapid Growth Media: Housing in Holland bridges faith, tribal communities, and accessibility

The Kollen Park Housing Development, created through a collaboration involving Action House, church land, and tribal partnership, is a unique example of how communities can collaboratively address housing challenges.

FOX 17: City of Holland to gain 52 mixed-income affordable housing units

In December, Action House broke ground on their affordable housing project with Dwelling Place. This long-awaited project will add 52 new affordable rental homes in our community—creating urgently needed housing for families seeking stability.

Learn More

WHTC's Talk of the Town with Gary Stevens

Last month, Jessica Pressley and Renee Rivard went on WHTC to share about Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day and provide an update on our affordable housing project with Dwelling Place.

Tune In!

The Holland Sentinel: How to support Holland nonprofits

In November, the Holland Sentinel shared a piece encouraging our community to lean into the season of giving by supporting and volunteering at local nonprofits.

Learn more