Scott Rumpsa and Molly Latchaw spoke about Community Action House, established in 1969. This org serves our whole community, just like their name says. They strive to serve all folks with mutuality and dignity.

 

The community kitchen served 70,834 meals in 2023, a 33% increase over the year before. Some roving social workers use that meal time to connect with clients, breaking bread together. 

 

The Food Club grocery store, a food pantry replacement program, allows over 3,500 families to shop with points for healthy food choices and to take cooking classes. Over 2.1 million pounds of food was diverted from the landfill, preventing 3 tons of additional carbon dioxide emissions. The Lakeshore Food Rescue has a new app so gleaners can be pinged to pick up food with their private vehicles when it is convenient to deliver the food to CAH. Also coming in 2024 is a Fresh Express mobile market, a custom RV store to bring fresh food to the people that need it--to embrace good nutrition as medicine and working with health care providers in partnership.

 

The list goes on--CAH also provides housing counseling at Herrick District Library. They work with Dwelling Place and the City of Holland to place people in housing. They offer Financial Wellness classes and 26 grads from that program have bought homes. They assisted with 340 tax filings last year. They partner with First United Methodist Church in the Hygiene to Hope program, offering showers and a mailing address to unhoused folks so that they can qualify for housing vouchers. The resale store (expansion coming) is their biggest fundraiser and they will add a north-side store soon. 

 

Jump on board with Community Action House!

~~They welcome working with individuals to hold private fundraising events and food drives.

~~Volunteer as a gleaner, a cashier, or a produce sorter.

~~Bring your good used household items to the resale store on S. Michigan Ave.

 

 

 

Visitors and Guests

 

Visiting Rotarian from the Fennville club Kim Ludwig invited us to the March 2 Mardi Gras party/fundraiser.

WOHS Junior Rotarians for February:  Haven March & Dulce Salazar.