Program Updates
Outreach & Housing Access
Last fall, Kelly* met our team with a clear goal: to find safe, stable housing. Past rental challenges and a fixed income introduced additional barriers to stability, but she kept showing up, partnering with our Outreach, Resource Navigation, and Financial Wellness teams to move forward. Along the way, we connected Kelly to our partners at Community Mental Health and they helped her secure a housing voucher—an essential tool that expanded her housing options.
Months later, a local landlord reached out to our team about an upcoming rental opening, and they were willing to accept vouchers. It was an opportunity that doesn’t come along often, and Kelly applied right away. Soon after, Kelly got the keys to her new home! On move-in day, our Logistics team delivered furniture, dishes, and other essentials from our Resale Store, transforming Kelly’s new space into a home and a foundation for future progress.
Since moving in, Kelly has joined Food Club, where she now has consistent access to the fresh, healthy food she needs to thrive. And she’s eager to continue partnering with our Financial Wellness team to create a budget, strengthen her savings, and plan confidently for the road ahead. With a safe place to call home and support systems in place, Kelly is moving forward with hope and momentum.
*Name and photo changed for privacy
Community Kitchen
Fresh greens and radishes from our volunteer-powered Community Garden are making their way to the Community Kitchen, helping fuel hundreds of meals each week! This locally grown produce plays a critical role in making sure our neighbors have access to fresh, healthy meals every day at the Kitchen.
The partnership between our Community Garden and Community Kitchen is more important than ever, as more neighbors are walking through our doors in need of nourishment. Last month was our busiest since January, with an average of 192 meals served each day. We're so grateful for the volunteers who grow, harvest, and serve! Together, we’re building a stronger, healthier community.
Want to dig in, enjoy the summer sunshine, and help nourish our neighbors?
Financial Wellness
When Evelyn* received an unexpected $42,000 tax refund check from the IRS in December, something didn’t feel right. A few months later, her concern was confirmed—a letter arrived indicating that a fraudulent return had been filed in her name. She was notified that she now owed $59,000 in return payments, interest, and penalties.
Already navigating the challenges of being unhoused while holding a steady job, Evelyn was overwhelmed. But Evelyn didn’t have to face this challenge alone. She already had strong relationships with our Financial Wellness and Outreach teams and knew she could turn to us for support.
Our team connected Evelyn to our VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program, where she got the support she needed to access her IRS account, identify the fraudulent activity, and resolve the discrepancy. Our team was there to walk alongside her through each form, each filing, and each step forward.
With this major financial hurdle behind her, Evelyn can keep her focus on what’s next. Her steady job, a support system she trusts, and a clear path ahead as she works toward securing safe, stable housing.
*Name and photo changed for privacy
Lakeshore Food Rescue
Every Saturday afternoon, as the Holland Farmers Market begins to wind down, our Lakeshore Food Rescue volunteers step up to turn excess food into food access. They take part in gleaning—collecting leftover fruits and vegetables that farmers and vendors set aside to donate at the end of the market. Instead of going to waste, this fresh food is redirected to nourish our neighbors at our Food Club and the Community Kitchen.
Gleaning is a win-win: it reduces food waste while increasing access to fresh, healthy food across our community. In 2024 alone, over 31,000 pounds of fresh food were rescued from the Farmers Market! Whether it's a box of ripe tomatoes or a handful of sweet corn, these donations are transformed into healthy meals and grocery options for families who need it most.
Love the Farmers Market? Sign up for a gleaning shift and help get fresh, local produce to neighbors who need it!
Food Club
Last month, we received a grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to make key upgrades that will boost the efficiency and impact of our Food Club and Lakeshore Food Rescue programs!
This generous funding supported the installation of a flush-mounted scale in our warehouse floor—making it easier and faster to weigh carts and pallets of rescued food—and the pouring of a concrete pad to accommodate a new refrigerated shipping container. Once in place, this unit will expand our cold storage capacity by 20 pallets!
While these updates might seem like minor behind-the-scenes logistics, they translate directly to real results: more food saved from landfills, more families with access to fresh food, and more partners equipped with resources to nourish our neighbors. As we continue to grow and refine our systems, this investment helps ensure we can meet rising needs with dignity, efficiency, and sustainability.
Program Highlight
Small Items, Big Impact.
Sometimes, the biggest barriers to stability are small, practical needs like a warm coat, a bike to get to work, or shoes for a new job. Through our Resale Store voucher program, we help neighbors access essential items right when they need them, removing obstacles that might otherwise delay progress. When neighbors working with our Resource Navigation team share their challenges, our team can offer vouchers to help them keep moving forward.
Our Resale Store does more than fund our programs—it directly equips neighbors with tools for progress. A winter coat can make the difference between staying home and showing up to work warm and dry. A bike can provide reliable transportation to appointments and make maintaining a job possible. These everyday items become meaningful tools for stability, dignity, and progress.
July is Disability Pride Month!
At Community Action House, we believe a thriving community is one where people of all abilities are supported, celebrated, and equally valued. This July, we’re thrilled to partner with Disability Network Lakeshore to celebrate Disability Pride Month!
Join Disability Network Lakeshore for their ADA 35th Anniversary Celebration—a free, family-friendly event featuring food, music, games, and community resource tables, including one hosted by Community Action House!
ADA 35th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, July 26, 2025 | 12:00 – 4:00pm
Moran Park | 515 Maple Ave, Holland, MI 49423
In Case You Missed It
Founders supports Action House through Social Impact Tap
Last quarter, Founders partnered with Action House through their Social Impact Tap. Their support provided funding for programs that nourish, equip, and empower our neighbors!
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.
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.
Celebrating Disability Pride Month with Disability Network Lakeshore!
Earlier this month, Senior Manager of Resource Navigation and Michelle Rottschafer, Communications & Engagement Coordinator from Disability Network Lakeshore, joined WHTC to share about our partnership opportunities to celebrate Disability Pride Month!
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