Local author Rich Gritter with his new book focusing on mental health for children & young adults:

 

The Pirate Project tells the story of a bombastic pirate and his silly pajamas to build a coalition of community partners to increase counseling support for youth. The mental health crisis impacting young people across the US and here in Ottawa County affects all of us--these are our kids. We are excited to share ways you can “join the crew” and be part of the solution.

 

 

 

The HeartSafe Holland initiative is formally launched on Feb 14, 2024--the benchmarks have been met and the application has been submitted for our fair city to be named one of a select few in the nation as committed to promoting heart health and saving lives! Check out the shout out to Rotary in the Sentinel article--on the front page!

 

 

 

 

Here After Hours club member Linda Falstad gives a grant check for $4,000+ on behalf of the Rotary Clubs of Holland to Jay Peters for the HeartSafe Holland initiative, Feb 14, 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WOHS Junior Rotarians Haven March and Dulce Salazar were our guests in addition to Rotary Youth Exchange Rebound (2004) to Poland Alex Vriesema.

 

Mark Meyers completed his transfer to our club to from the Muskegon club. Matt Winters of the Salvation Army is in the process of joining our club--a warm welcome to Mark and Matt!

 

 

 

Fellow Rotarian Barbara Lee (Spring Lake club member and regular guest of our club) told us all about the exciting things going on on the Momentum Center:  Creating a community where every person is fully visible and connected.

 

The average West Michigan high school classroom has 5 kids with mental illness and 2-3 have suffered a suicide attempt. This shows the need for a place where folks of all kinds and difficulties are welcome:  mental & physical illness, addiction/recovery for drugs/alcohol/gambling, etc, disordered eating and recovery, disability, and social isolation. People can come on their own or through a referral from a health professional/Community Mental Health. There are 270 members and there is a 98%+ contact rate. Every dollar from the mental health millage creates a $4 return on investment.

 

The Momentum Center welcomes all over the age of 11, pending an application process and a safety screening. Membership is $1/year and attendance is activity based, this is not a drop-in center. Activities include yoga, pet therapy, bingo, outings, movie nights, cookouts, financial literacy classes, the VOUS cafe (Grand Haven) and the MOO-mentum ice cream shoppe (Holland). They also hold community conversations on hard topics to destigmatize these issues, they have a leadership exchange Across the Bridge between Grand Haven and Muskegon, and an upcoming Civil Rights Road Trip to the Deep South this spring.

 

The local fundraisers are Prom With A Purpose in Grand Haven and Homecoming in Holland.