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Upcoming Dates
Poverty Simulation
at Touchstone Innovare
August 13
OSM Workshop: DHS Adult Protective Services Info.
(Brown Bag Lunch)
August 18
Gazelle Sports Bridge Run
September 20
Holiday Giving Network October 1
County Wide Food Drive
October 10
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Visit our Website!
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Spread the word...
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September 20: Gazelle Sports
Bridge Run
Gazelle Sports Bridge Run is partnering with ACCESS to help eliminate hunger and poverty in Kent County. On your registration form, check the appropriate box to make your donation go to ACCESS. For registration and event information:
www.thebridgerun.com |
COUNTY WIDE FOOD DRIVE COMING UP
The annual ACCESS County Wide Food Drive is coming up on Saturday, October 10th. This food drive is a concentrated effort to
collect non-perishable food and non-food items from porches in the greater Grand Rapids area for distribution to neighborhood food pantries.
Our goal is to collect 90 tons, but we cannot do it without your help! Please volunteer on this special day to help collect, pack, and distribute food. For
more information visit our website or call Betsy at 774-2175 x102.
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Reflections
... from the Executive Director/CEO
Due to some recent conversations, I would like to highlight three important pieces of ACCESS and our programs: Nutrition, Holiday Food Baskets, and Food Drives. Thank you for your time as I express what is important to ACCESS in these areas.
Nutrition
The current pantry food delivery system in our community does a very good job of providing a selection of food items that are nutritious and needed to help children with healthy growth. Children who eat nutritionally are healthier and better able to learn. ACCESS pantries strive to provide families with the same healthy balance of food that we provide for our own families. We all like the occasional snack food but, as we address obesity and other health issues, our focus is on providing solid nutritional food choices.
Holiday Food Baskets
Last year, ACCESS and the Pantry Resource Centers connected over 8,000 families with holiday food basket providers in our community for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. ACCESS views this and other food programs as a way to take a step beyond just providing the food. A very large part of the Holiday Giving Network (HGN) is community involvement, congregational involvement, education, and providing young people and families with the opportunity to do good volunteer work together.
Food Drives
ACCESS food drives are one of the few resources that place food into the pantries at no cost to the pantries. The foods collected at food drives are greatly needed and appreciated at the pantries. As stated previously, the educational aspect of community involvement is a very important part of food drives. The young child that helps mom and dad at our County Wide Food Drive will grow up with a better understanding of volunteering, and it may become an important part of his or her life. This collaboration makes a lasting impression on our community regarding the importance of serving others.
Peace,
Bruce Schlanderer
Executive Director/CEO
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TV-13 FOOD FOR FAMILIES
"Because Hunger Doesn't Take a Summer Vacation."
The ninth annual 13 Food for Families campaign exceeded our 200,000 pou nd goal! Shoppers donated at Spartan D&W and Family Fare stores and many vendors generously contributed large amounts of product which totaled over 300,000 pounds!
Summer is an especially challenging time for pantries. Kids are home from school all day, which increases a family's food needs, but there are few summer food collections. The items collected through this eight day campaign will help pantries get to the fall and holiday collection times. Sincere thanks to WZZM, Spartan Stores, Two Men and a Truck and all those who supported this year's Food for Families event.
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Farewell and Welcome
ACCESS would like to say farewell to Mandy Geemes, our Communications Coordinator. Mandy has worked for ACCESS for 6 years, and has decided it was time to leave to focus on her family. She just gave birth to beautiful twin girls in February and has 4 other children at home, so she is very busy. We will miss her at ACCESS and wish her the best.
ACCESS is excited to welcome Shelly Helmus who will be taking over the Communications Coordinator position. Shelly is a recent graduate of Calvin College and has worked with the Grand Rapids Symphony. She is a great fit with the ACCESS team and we look forward to working with her!
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HIGHLIGHTING...
North End Community Ministry
The ACCESS Pantry Resource Center at North End Community Ministry (NECM) faithfully serves the NE side of Grand Rapids in the Plainfield Unite d Methodist Church. For 24 years, Laura Castle has served as Director, called to improve the quality of life for thousands of households and encouraged by the team of volunteers who join her in NECM's generous ministry. From the Baby Layette and Toy Closet gift projects to the "hands-up" cooking and parenting classes and Supper House program, NECM seeks to develop relationships with people looking for more than food.
While NECM is at a crossroads in meeting the challenges of their current pantry space, they hope to find a facility that will accommodate their customers and the volume of food and programs to meet the needs. Find out more at www.necmgr.org.
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Disaster Response Plan Update:
Avoiding the Second Disaster!
Please be aware that ACCESS, in partnership with GRACE, will serve as a resource link for the faith community in the event of a major disaster in Kent County. ACCESS, working in partnership with the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee- Disaster Response Services (CRWRC-DRS), will determine how best to respond should the disaster require a long-term recovery effort. Announcements regarding specific needs will be made through the media, denominational leadership and individual congregations. Congregations will work with the director of the recovery effort to choose an appropriate area to provide support such as food, clothing, volunteers, etc.
People who are experienced with disaster response efforts tell us what often happens immediately following a disaster is an influx of items that come in that aren't what is most helpful or needed. Instead of hundreds of congregations responding individually, we ask that you work together with us to know how best to help. Please advise your leadership that there is a plan in place and to contact us for more information. More information regarding the Disaster Response Plan is available on our website (www.accessofwestmichigan.org) |
HUNGER AWARENESS DAY
Thirty vehicles participated in a Caravan for Hunger for the fourth annual Hunger Awareness Day event. Led by M  ayor Carol Sheets and a police escort through the streets of Wyoming, the convoy arrived at the new pantry location of Family Network of Wyoming. A group of 50 hunger-fighting activists gathered to hear updates on the work of the Kent County Essential Needs Task Force Food Subcommittee. GRACE Hunger Walk checks were distributed to seventeen local agencies. Lunch and tours followed. Thanks to WZZM for covering our event and for all those who gathered to celebrate the great work we are doing together to address hunger in our community. |
MEET THE BOARD: Linda Gordon,
Board Vice President
 Where do you work and what do you do?
I work at The Potter's House High School. I am the Administrative Assistant to the high school Principal, and the Diversity Coordinator for the school.
Favorite movie: "It's A Wonderful Life" with Jimmy Stewart. This movie is a reminder to me of just how blessed I am.
Favorite vacation spot: My favorite vacation spot is Gulf Shores, Alabama. As a child I lived approximately two hours north of the gulf, but was not aware of it. As an adult I try very hard to get there when I return home to visit.
What has been the most rewarding thing for you in the time you have served?
There are so many components and each individual, whether staff or board member is committed to the work and enjoys what he/she is doing. It reminds me of a well oiled machine working efficiently and effectively. Finding that I have a place in this work is rewarding.
In your opinion, why should people support ACCESS?
ACCESS is doing a tremendous job in leading the effort against hunger and poverty in Kent County. This work is accomplished by linking congregational, individual and community resources with human needs. For example, ACCESS provides support to 11 Pantry Resource Centers which currently serve over 20,000 Kent County individuals monthly. ACCESS Caseworkers work closely with congregations offering services and trainings. Poverty Education and Advocacy Programs provide experiential opportunities for congregations and individuals to learn about poverty and hunger. Not only does ACCESS assist in providing these resources, but they do it in a manner that is sensitive to treating all humans with dignity and respect. In my opinion ACCESS is offering networking services that are truly making a positive difference in the community.
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CASEWORKER CORNER
If you were to break down what we are made of in an effort to define who we are, you would end up with DNA. According to Wikipedia, DNA is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions for all known living organisms. Each species has its own DNA and 99.9 % of the three billion "letters" that make up the human genome is the same from person to person. This would mean that we are no different from the person sitting next to us. The person struggling with health or financial issues could be us. It also means that we all share the same genetic instructions as Jesus, the one who showed us, by example, how to give grace. This is an area I struggle with all the time. There are many examples in the Bible of Jesus giving grace to those who seemed to least deserve it, but there are also examples where Jesus allowed someone to suffer the consequences of their actions. There were 3 crosses on Calvary-Jesus didn't use His power to stop the crucifixion of the robbers on either side of Him. Jesus also shared hope and forgiveness when He told one of the robbers that, beca  use he asked for forgiveness, he would share a place in Paradise. God's perfect plan has many ways of being revealed to us and in March 2009, scientists were able to reveal another mystery. One of the essential proteins in the human cells is leptin which plays a key role in regulating energy intake and energy expenditure. Scientists were able to use a powerful electron microscope and take a picture of what this protein looks like.....it is made up of tiny crosses! All of our cells carry many crosses inside and depend on this protein, these crosses, for energy. Within our cells, our DNA, each of us carries the same crosses. So, no matter what we look like on the outside, we are all the same on the inside. Where we end up just depends on which side of the cross of Jesus we are on. |
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It is a privilege to partner with
you! If you would like more information on involvement with ACCESS,
please email info@accessofwestmichigan.org or call 616-774-2175.
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