|
Upcoming Dates
Care Week
SW School Food Drive
November 16-20
Poverty Simulation
at GRCC
November 17, 6:30pm
WYCE Hat Trick Concert
One Trick Pony
November 23, 7:30pm
Poverty Simulation
at Streams of Hope
December 1, 6:30pm
Poverty Simulation
at Kent County DHS
December 17, 9am
ACCESS Offices Closed
December 24-January 1
Benevolence 101
at Millbrook CRC
January 26, 7-9pm
OSM Workshop
February 23
|
Visit our Website!
|
Spread the word...
|
Congratulations
Lindsy Griffis, ACCESS Development Directo r, won the "Young Nonprofit Professional of the Year" Award! The award was given to a nonprofit professional who excels in their work, always goes above and beyond for their cause, is always looking for a new way to make a nonprofit service better, and is an overall fabulous young professional. What a great accomplishment!
|
Great Start Parent Coalition Collects Over 30,000 Diapers!
We are thrilled to partner wih Great Start Parent Coalition's Diaper Drive. They set a goal of 25,000 diapers and exceeded that goal by collecting 30,421 diapers! These diapers were donated to ACCESS food pantries to be distributed to low-income clients. What a wonderful gift and great project.
|
Invitation to Join
The Micah Center
The Micah Center is a faith-based, grassroots effort to promote social justice through education and action in West Michigan. You are encouraged to join the local movement to pray and advocate for change in our community. Action Groups meet every 3rd Tuesday of the month and include Poverty/Hunger, Environmental, Health Care, Immigration and Restorative Justice. The Lecture Series are free and open to the public and take place at Hope Reformed Church, 2010 Kalamazoo SE, Grand Rapids, 49507. To learn more about this work and for an upcoming calendar of events, visit www.themicahcenter.com.
|
1st Annual Fundraiser
"A Place at the Table"
Please join ACCESS of West Michigan as we celebrate our 1st Annual Fundraiser Dinner on April 22, 2010. For 28 years, ACCESS has been committed to helping those in need in our community by linking congregational, individual, and community resources with human needs. The purpose of this event is to raise funds and increase awareness. The funds raised will be put directly into our programs to fight hunger and change the lives of thousands in our community. Your support and participation directly impacts the number of people we are able to serve. As you make plans for the event, please consider being a sponsor and join in our efforts to fight hunger and poverty in our community! Please feel free to contact Lindsy Griffis at lindsy@accessofwestmichigan.
org or 616-774-2175x6 if you have any questions.
|
|
|
|
Successful 2009
County Wide Food Drive
Congratulations and thank you to all who participated in the 13th annual ACCESS County Wide Food Drive! Despite the struggling economy, we were able to collect a record amount of food this year! On Saturday, October 10th, over 1100 volunteers canvassed nei  ghborhoods throughout the Grand Rapids area and brought in nearly 88 tons of food and personal care items to stock up the shelves of our network of food pantries. We are so thankful to the community for recognizing the needs of others and being so generous in giving. The day brought all kinds of people together, as individuals from all walks of life vol  unteered their time to collect, sort, and box food donations. Families also spent time together by helping out; one extended family group had 17 members involved this year! One canvasser noted, "I like doing this - I take the same route every year and am getting to know my neighbors better." Although the County Wide Food Drive involves collecting a lot of food, more importantly, it brings the community together, and we couldn't do it without your help. Thanks again for a fun and successful drive! |
|
Encore!
The Holiday Giving Network is waiting for another generous community response. The recent outpouring of food donati  ons at the County Wide Food Drive is a reminder of the good will of Kent County communities who help people needing an extra boost in basic resources. The holidays bring an added opportunity to extend this generosity to individuals and families who would otherwise not have the means to enjoy a special holiday meal. Can you help out? We expect to exceed last year's request for nearly 8,000 holiday baskets. Whether you can provide one basket or 100, your help will ensure no one goes without. Sign up today by calling ACCESS at 774-2175 x5 or complete the online form at www.accessofwestmichigan.org. Go to Programs / Hunger Initiative / Holiday Giving Network. Your help is music to the ears of all the pantries working hard to match each applicant. |
From Hunger to Hope
Hunger is an awful thing. Empty cupboards bring discouragement and desperation. Not being able to provide decent food for your kids leads to a sense of failure as a parent. Hope dies when hunger consumes too much of your focus. It has been proven that hungry kids don't learn well. They don't feel good and their attention span is short. When food supersedes what kids should be able to focus on, they become withdrawn, restless or angry. Cheap food is prevalent in low-income households. Boxed dinners, bread, pasta and hot dogs are often on the menu. Cookies, crackers and chips are cheap at the outlet or dollar stores. Fresh fruits and vegetables from the Farmer's Market are a luxury. Parents often keep their kids at home in front of the TV because it is safer. One in five Kent County kids are now living in poverty... and, increasingly, are overweight and not healthy. Food is one of our most basic needs. Over 8,000 households in Kent County rely on food pantries to feed their families each month. Here is the good news: a network of 100 pantries responding with hospitality, a word of encouragement, education on resources that can help and a decent supply of much needed groceries. This only happens because thousands of you contribute food, money and time to our cause: "to ensure no one goes hungry in Kent County". We are making a difference in the lives of over 25,000 people every month. Your partnership with ACCESS helps address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of our neighbors. May God richly bless you for caring and sharing this holiday season. Marsha De Hollander
ACCESS Program Director
|
HIGHLIGHTING...
Loaves and Fishes, TOW's food pantry, fits into this model as an entry point, or more adequately termed, "the first place of grace." Pantry Director Melita Powell believes that the pantry gives neighbors the opportunity to get to know The Other Way and learn how to connect to the community at development oriented leve ls.
One program which has been highly endorsed by neighbors for its development minded approach is the Christmas Store that TOW facilitates each holiday season. Parents volunteer time to earn vouchers they can use to buy new toys for their children. Instead of getting a hand-out, the parents are able to buy hard earned gifts for their families with dignity and pride.
From the food pantry to the Christmas store and everything in between, TOW seeks to uphold the Biblical standard of community, bringing individuals, businesses, schools, churches, and families together to recognize God's hand at work in their neighborhood. |
A Great Way to Tackle Hunger
On Sunday February 7, 2010, 140 million Americans will tune in to the Super Bowl football game. There will be parties with abundant food, friendship and fellowship. At the same time, there will be people worrying about staying warm, finding shelter and a warm meal. Thousands of youth from churches across  the country will Stir it Up in the fight against hunger and poverty on Super Bowl Sunday. No matter the size of your congregation or of your youth group, you can help provide shelter to the homeless, food to the hungry and compassion to the needy. How? Join the Souper Bowl of Caring. For more information, please visit www.souperbowl.org . If you plan to participate, please let ACCESS know. If you don't have a connection with a local food pantry, we can provide one. This is an easy and fun way to support our efforts to "ensure no one goes hungry." |
Meet the Board: Dean VanBruggen,
Treasurer
Where do you work and what do you do?  I am retired after a career in business. Most recently I owned my own business; prior to that I worked for a medical company, starting as Operation Manager, later as V.P. of Manufacturing and lastly I managed a subsidiary of that company. Favorite vacation spot: We have a cottage on a lake near Greenville, MI at which we spend time in the summer. In winter we like to spend at least a few weeks in warmer weather. We rotate between Arizona and Florida. Favorite Book: I recently finished "The Faith" by Charles Colson and Harold Fickett. I found it very thought provoking and very profound. Why did you choose to serve on the ACCESS board?As Christians we must grow in faith but also must serve God's people. I have been impressed by the staff and director, how focused they are on the mission of serving our fellow man. It is cross denominational, but we can all agree on the mission of ACCESS. What has been the most rewarding thing for you in the time you have served? The money ACCESS collects is extremely well used: it is a very frugal organization, so the vast majority of the funds are spent directly on the mission. It is a Christian organization and serves others very well. I, again, am so impressed with the staff and the work that ACCESS does. It helps so many do a much better job than they would if they had to exist by themselves. |
CASEWORKER CORNER
The Chinese symbol for "crisis" is also the symbol for "opportunit  y" or "change." So many of the people who approach churches for help with their bills are in crisis and while giving them financial assistance helps alleviate this crisis, we need to keep in mind that they also may be ready for change in their lives. ACCESS caseworkers can provide information and referral to help you meet their crisis needs; however, it is your benevolence volunteers who can offer the personal support and encouragement to bring forth change. Helping someone through a crisis is only the first step. Many people who find themselves in crisis situations feel alone, without someone to turn to. For the person who doesn't have a church family, he or she may be ready to see what your congregation has to offer. Extending an invitation to bring someone to a church activity can be the next step. As Christians, we know that our church family offers us a foundation of support, trust, grace and friendship, something that many individuals living in our community don't have. We also know that Christ has commissioned each of us to be fishers of men. We can use this time of crisis as an opportunity for change in the lives of those who are hurting in our community. Marcia Szumowski
ACCESS Casework Initiative Director
and Senior Caseworker |
|
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.
|
|
|
