| |
Keep updated with what's new at The People Center! |
|
|
|
| The People Center Spring 2005 Newsletter |
"Neighbor Helping Neighbor"
The Mission of The People Center is to provide a safe place for the people of the area to come, to be heard, and to receive practical assistance in an atmosphere of dignity and trust.
In times of emergency or uncertainty, we will respond with food, clothing, transitional housing and access to other area resources.
Samantha's Place
Big changes are in store for The People Center. We are expanding our program. We are adding three additional apartments to our campus. We will be able to house up to 24 additional people each year. This is very exciting for us. We have been trying to expand for sometime now and it is finally all taking place. We have begun renovating a house on Savidge Street and hope to have someone living there by July.
None of this would have been possible without the generosity of Dr. Lloyd and Marlene Rotz. They have given us a gift of $75,000 to renovate the house. The house will be named in memory of their granddaughter, Samantha. We have also received a grant from the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation to aide in the renovations. The Youth Advisory Committee has designated $2500 to be used for a child's bedroom. We plan to paint a mural on the wall in their honor.
Participants in Leadership Connect, a program organized by the Grand Haven Chamber of Commerce, is doing the labor in one of the apartments. Work began on January 22 and they hope to be done by May 1.
The other two apartments have also begun renovations. There has been work done by Bilz Plumbing and C & S Electric. Tri-Cities Heating and Cooling has replaced furnaces and we are well on our way with the major repairs.
We could not be this far without the help of Chuck Michele and all of the donations that have come in. We thank everyone that has helped this far and look forward to many more hands helping.
Welcome New Board Members and Volunteers
The People Center would proudly like to welcome new board members Brad Fisher, Susan Negen, Joel Toppen, Curt Theune, Petra Knight and Bob Wassink. The additions have happened over the past year and we look forward to a long relationship with each board member.
We also welcome new host volunteers to the center. They include Marilyn Belcom, Beth Baldwin, Kathryn Bandstra, Lana Brock, Pete and Mary Haab, Cindy Leitner, Pennie Robertson, Corrie Snoyer and Gwen Wallfred. If you are interested in host volunteering, please call Karen at 844-6710.
Helping Our Neighbors
The People Center prides itself in helping those in need. Our Food Pantry and Clothing Hutch have been very busy over the past year. We served over 1800 people in the area in 2004. We thank all of the volunteers for their hard work helping us to accomplish this. We thank Shirley Baker and Cheri Borns for their work in the Clothing Hutch. We thank Linda Groenleer and Vicky Heath for their work in the Food Pantry. We again thank all the host volunteers for the many hours they spend helping.
Services available at:
307 E. Exchange
Spring Lake, MI 49456
Community Partners
* Christ Community Church
* Fifth Third Bank
* First Presbyterian Church
* Grand Haven Bank
* Harbor Industries
* Herman Miller
* Shape Corporation
* Spring Lake Presbyterian Church
* St. Mary's Church
Grants
* The Greater Ottawa County United Way
* The Presbytery of Lake Michigan
* Individual Donations
Board Members & Staff
* Julie Klaassen, President
* Larry Culbertson, Vice-President
* Chris Cassleman, Treasurer
* Brad Fisher, Secretary
* Linda Groenleer
* Bari Johnson
* Erick Johnson
* Jeanine Johnson
* Petra Knight
* Chuck Michele
* Susan Negen
* Curt Theune
* Peter Theune
* Joel Toppen
* Bob Wassink
* Karen Reenders, Director
|
|
|
