Dear friends,

This Hunger Action Month, we’re asking you to think about hunger differently.

We often see hunger as its own challenge - but in reality, food insecurity is financial insecurity, and a sign of deeper struggle. When a family’s budget is stretched to the breaking point, groceries are one of the first places they often cut back. Rising costs, unexpected bills, and changing systems can push healthy food out of reach, even for working families. What’s on our plates depends on what’s in our wallets.

Lasting solutions begin with healthy food on the table, but that’s not where they stop – they also make sure that families have a safe place to live, steady income, opportunities to learn, and a community they can count on. When one of these pieces is missing, the effects ripple into every part of life.

When a neighbor comes to us - whether for groceries, housing support, or a hot meal - we meet them in the pivotal moment between a challenge and a crisis, and provide the individualized support they need to build a brighter future.

Our community is in a season of change. Some changes bring hope, others bring challenge, and each one is an opportunity to continue showing up for our neighbors where we’re needed most. Costs are rising. Systems are shifting. Many of the supports people count on are in flux - including recent changes to critical supports like SNAP, that are making it harder for families to access the healthy food they need to thrive.

We were built for times like these, powered by a community that believes a stronger future is possible when we all show up together. Right now, over 35,000 neighbors in Ottawa County struggle to access the nourishment they need.

This Hunger Action Month, join us in taking action by:

Becoming a monthly donor to provide a foundation of stability for our programs that nourish, equip and empower our neighbors!
Packing meal kits to help families in our community cook simple, easy, fresh meals together!
Hosting a single item drive at your place of work or worship to stock our shelves at Food Club!
Giving a one-time gift before September 13 to have your donation tripled through Meijer Simply Give!

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. Together, we’re building a community where none of our neighbors have to face challenges alone.

Gratefully,

Scott Rumpsa | CEO

Program Updates

Food Club

This summer, Community Action House teamed up with Michigan State University Extension to bring a six-week “Cooking Matters for Families” series to our Food Club demo kitchen. Through this Healthy@Home offering, families gathered each week to explore new recipes, strengthen cooking skills, and learn how to make affordable, nutritious meals together. Each class was an opportunity for families to build confidence, connection, and lasting habits that support health and well-being at home!

Danielle, a Food Club member and long-time Healthy@Home class attendee, shared: “These cooking classes were a great opportunity for the kids to learn cooking skills in a fun, safe environment. It made it easier to encourage them to try new, healthy recipes, because it was fun!”

We’re so grateful for MSU Extension’s collaboration in providing these classes alongside our Healthy@Home program. Through experiences like these, we’re equipping our community with the practical skills necessary to eat healthier and build a stronger future!

Outreach & Housing Access

Earlier this year, a sudden crisis left Allison* without a safe, stable place to call home. As a Food Club Member, she knew she could turn to our team for support. She quickly began working with our Resource Navigation team to secure the documents she needed to pursue housing and employment. We walked alongside her as she filled out job applications, and provided a voucher to our Resale Store, ensuring she had the clothes she needed for interviews. Soon after, Allison shared excitedly with our team that she had found a job!

Despite being employed, Allison remained homeless, staying with friends when she could. She began working with Good Samaritan Ministries to submit housing applications, but was denied due to an outstanding utility bill from a previous residence. To continue moving forward, our team helped Allison appeal the decision by submitting a receipt of the payment, along with letters of recommendation. With this additional support, Allison’s application was accepted and she moved into her apartment!

Now with safe, stable housing Allison has continued as a Food Club member, ensuring she has access to the fresh, healthy food she needs to thrive! And she’s continued 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 a community of support in place, Allison is moving forward with hope and momentum.

*Name and photo changed for privacy

Financial Wellness

This summer, our Financial Wellness team partnered with Parda Credit Union and the Heights of Hope summer program to equip middle school students with the tools and knowledge needed to make smart financial decisions. Over the course of eight weeks, eight students ages 12–13 participated in a hands-on financial education program. Each week, students made “real-life” decisions based on a fictional occupation, income, and savings—and even faced surprise budget busters to mirror the unpredictability of real life situations!

Through this experience, students learned how their everyday financial choices can impact long-term stability. At the end of the class each student left with budget knowledge, a savings account, and the tools they need for future success.

We are so grateful to PARDA and Heights of Hope for collaborating with us on this program. Building financial literacy is key to helping young people feel confident, informed, and empowered as they work toward a strong financial future!

Lakeshore Food Rescue

This summer, our Lakeshore Food Rescue program had the opportunity to participate in the Michigan Agricultural Surplus System (MASS Rx) program—a state-funded initiative administered by the Food Bank Council of Michigan. This innovative program helps bridge the gap between Michigan farmers and families facing food insecurity by rescuing high-quality, Michigan-grown produce that might otherwise go to waste.

Thanks to MASS Rx, the cost of this fresh and frozen produce is fully covered, allowing participating farmers to be paid directly while ensuring that good food reaches the tables of families who need it most. Through this partnership, our Lakeshore Food Rescue team picked up truckloads of fresh fruits and vegetables and delivered them to our Food Club and several community partners across Ottawa County—putting healthy, local food into the hands of our neighbors while reducing waste at the same time.

Community Kitchen

Last month, the Community Kitchen received a generous donation of over 460 pounds of fresh-caught salmon, donated by The Order of Naucratius - West Michigan through the Big Red Classic Sport Fishing Tournament. A few days later, our dedicated volunteers rolled up their sleeves to clean and prepare the fish, making sure it was ready to be turned into nourishing meals for our neighbors!

Since then, this generous donation has already been transformed into more than 1,000 meals, each one offered with dignity and kindness to neighbors who come through our doors at the Community Kitchen. We are so grateful for the community collaboration that made it possible to get this fresh, healthy food to our neighbors!

Program Highlight

Thank You Volunteers!

Every day, across all of our programs, our work is made possible by hundreds of volunteers. Last month, we celebrated the incredible 2,800+ individuals who powered our service last year, turning their Compassion into Action to build a stronger, healthier community. If you joined us as an individual, an adopt-a-shift group, or as a church or corporate volunteer partner - thank you!

Our friends at the City Of Holland helped capture the stories of some of our volunteer heroes - check it out here! The unique talents and perspectives of Action House volunteers make our work stronger, and our community better. We couldn't be more grateful!

If you feel inspired to join our volunteer team, and turn your compassion into action, sign up today at volunteer.communityactionhouse.org!

Save the Date

Meijer Simply Give is Back!

It’s Hunger Action Month, and right now thanks to our friends at Meijer, your donation can be tripled! Up to $5,000 of double-matching funds are available for any gift you make before September 13th, TRIPLING your impact for our community.

$25 becomes $75, $100 becomes $300, and $500 becomes $1,500 of direct food support to nourish our neighbors.

Donate to Triple Your Impact!

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

At Community Action House, we know that a thriving community is one where all our neighbors are supported, celebrated, and equally valued. This month, we’re partnering with our friends at Latin Americans United for Progress in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month!

Shop with us at the Resale Store September 15th-October 15th, and 10% of store profits will support LAUP’s efforts to empower Latinos to participate in creating a better community for all. Learn more about their efforts at laup.org.

At Action House, we're proud to serve and celebrate all of our neighbors. We strive to build a culture, within our organization and our broader community, where all of our neighbors experience a profound sense of belonging. Our vision of a stronger, healthier community is one that supports, celebrates, and equally values all of its members.

In Case You Missed It

Celebrating Compassion in Action

Last year, 2,800+ individuals powered our service, turning their Compassion into Action to build a stronger, healthier community.

Talk of The Town

Last month, Financial Wellness Program Manager Alicia Beene appeared on WHTC to celebrate National Wellness Month and highlight how financial literacy builds overall wellness.

Tune In!

Watch Our Volunteer Video!

The Lakeshore: Gentex cereal drive helps families as food costs climb

Over the summer, Gentex hosted a cereal drive to help Action House Close the Gap left by a pause in federal food shipments. Rallying their employees, Gentex donated nearly 600 pounds of cereal to Action House!

Learn more

We Closed the Gap!

A few months ago, we shared how a shift in federal funding would cause a potential increase of $150,000 in food purchasing costs in the upcoming year. Early last month, we officially Closed the Gap thanks to 125 individuals, churches, businesses, and partners who stepped up!

Learn more