September E-News: Summer Successes & Future Fall Fun!

This agency will pursue a practice where the education, health and human service needs of residents within our service area are addressed without regard to age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, or any other classification or category.

The Director's Note

Christian Neighbors Family -

September has arrived, and it's hard to believe I've been with Christian Neighbors for six months already! It has been a truly wonderful experience. Every day, I get to see the Chrisitan Neighbors staff and volunteers pour their hearts into helping others, offering concrete assistance, grace and encouragement.

Reflecting on the summer, it's clear Christian Neighbors has made a significant impact on those around us:

Stuff the Bus brought in 1,790 pounds of food and over $600 in donations for our food pantry. These donations filled our shelves and then immediately went out into homes, feeding families, singles moms, veterans, those on disability, senior citizens and those experiencing homelessness.
We distributed “Boost Bags” in July and August — extra bags of kid-friendly food to help supplement children's nutrition over the summer.
Our Mobile Food Pantry, in partnership with Feeding America, saw record numbers during the summer months. Households can visit each month if needed. For June, July, and August a combined 238 households came through.
We're proud to have helped four individuals transition from homelessness to secure housing, getting them off the streets and into safe and secure environments.
In our Demonstration Kitchen, clients and community members learned to cook, improve knife skills, try new recipes, learn to save money while shopping, and create delicious dishes.
Senior citizens participated in our first "Matter of Balance" program, a 6-week course designed to keep them safe and independent in their homes.
Our Education Resource Center (ERC) hosted the Mobile Secretary of State, assisting with obtaining Michigan IDs, renewing IDs, vehicle transfers, disability placards, and more.
In late August, our Education Resource Center (ERC) held our first-ever Expungement Clinic in partnership with the Allegan Public Defenders.

The work of Christian Neighbors will continue. We will support those in need with supplemental food and emergency financial assistance, as well as continue to bring programs and classes to our Education Resource Center that benefit our clients and community members at large. We are neighbor caring for neighbor.

Jennifer Collins

Executive Director

Our Mission is to provide local families in need with food, emergency financial assistance, skill-building education, and other resources offering stabilization.

Click Here to Make a Donation Today and Help Support Christian Neighbors

Educational Resource Center

All programs, classes, and services offered at the Christian Neighbors Education Resource Center (ERC) are free of charge and open to the entire community, regardless of income or resources. Our vision for the ERC is to connect community members through shared learning and life experiences.

Demonstration Kitchen

Learning new skills and making new friends never grows old.

Both activities keep life interesting and help us maneuver an increasingly complex and challenging world. There are lots of opportunities to learn and connect in the Christian Neighbors Education Resource Center (ERC).

This summer, several dozen people worked at staying fit by taking exercise classes. Christian Neighbors resumed offering Matter of Balance classes this summer. This free, 8-class series helps older adults reduce the risk of falling and increase activity levels. Another session will be offered this fall. Local fitness instructor Sharrin Schultz offered free Supported Exercise for Ageless Training classes. Lots of conversations unfolded as Sharrin help us develop core muscle and cardio strength.

Connections brewed in the demo kitchen as Abbey Stroop, a Michigan State University Extension community nutrition instructor, led our first extended series cooking class. For six weeks, Abbey taught basic nutrition and food preparation skills using single-serving recipes for taco salad, eggplant and tomatoes with pasta, Waldorf salad, and other tasty dishes. A lot of conversations – and laughter – filled the space as participants tried new things together.

Staff took a pop-up G.O.R.P. recipe to several community events, giving people a chance to create a tasty trail mix treat and learn about opportunities in the ERC. Come make your own during events September 26 at Hillside Learning Center in Allegan and September 28 at the Creative Arts Festival in downtown Otsego.

Check out the events calendar at www.christianneighbors.org for details and registration instructions for upcoming programs.

Come learn new skills and make new friends!

Some of our September offerings...

Talk About: Good Info or Scam?

Wednesday, September 25

10:00am - 12:00pm

Join us for a presentation by Julie Mack, a retired investigative reporter and editor, about tips and tricks we can use to assess whether social media posts and publicity claims are true and fairly presented.

After the presentation, Julie will lead a roundtable discussion with questions and comments offered by participants. Light refreshments will be provided, and no registration is required.

Talk About is an ongoing series that will focus on a different topic one Wednesday each month.

Questions???? Email Sharon here

A Pinterest Halloween

Thursday, September 26 AND October 10, 2024, starting at 6:30pm, and lasting approximately 90 minutes each session.

Join a challenge to plan a Halloween party for 12 people on a $100 budget and then test the ideas during this two-session class.

Work with volunteer Jan Johnson during the first class to find decorating, game and food ideas on Pinterest to use during the party. The group will select ideas and recipes to test when we cook and craft during the second class.

Registration is due by Thursday, September 20, 2024.

Resource Workshop every Monday

Every Monday between 10:00am-12:00pm

Location: Christian Neighbors

Education Resource Center Computer Lab

Weekly Resource Workshop that gives community members FREE access to a computer, internet and printer (there is a printing cap allowance). No registration required, just drop in on any Monday between 10am-12pm. Case Managers are also hand to help with signing for local and state resources, including DHHS benefits, WIC, housing applications, job applications and more. We also have notary services available during this time.

If you know someone who could benefit from talking with Adult Education about:

completing their high school education
someone who has young children who need early childhood opportunities
someone who is looking for skilled job training
is interested in credit repair
needs help with budgeting
wants to learn more about meal planning
is interested in energy savings

Please pass this information along to them or have them contact

Kim at (269) 685-4166 ext. 102 or kshafer@christianneighbors.org

Email Kim here

Christian Neighbors Hosts Clinics

The Mobile Secretary of State visited Christian Neighbors in August. They were able to help dozens of area seniors, veterans, homeless individuals and others with things such as disability placards, ID renewals, and vehicle title transfers. Many of those that received services were thankful to have this service so close to home for the day.

The mobile team will be at Christian Neighbors once each quarter to give access to those who struggle to get to a Secretary of State office.

In August, Christian Neighbors partnered with many other entities and organizations, including the Allegan Public Defenders office, to help area folks clear their criminal records to pave the way for better housing, jobs, education, and more.

In total, 185 people were able to get their records expunged. We are so happy and proud to be a part of this life changing event for so many.

Financial Assistance

We have been busy this summer helping neighbors make ends meet by providing utility or rental assistance. One of our community partners is Salvation Army and they help our neighbors in need by providing Christian Neighbors with vouchers to be used for rental assistance. Since April, we have been able to connect our clients with this resource, totaling $9000.

We are so thankful for Salvation Army’s help in keeping people housed in our area. This holiday season when you donate to the local Salvation Army Red Kettle placed outside our area businesses, you are donating to this amazing cause.

Food Pantry

We were able to give away 265 Boost Bags filled with extra food for families with children home over the summer months. Each bag had approximately $23 worth of food including easy to heat meals, healthy snacks, protein items, canned & fresh fruit, 100% juice boxes and even a little sweet treat too. Parents were so appreciative of the extra food for their children.

The August Mobile Food Pantry with Feeding America brought 86 households to the event – our highest number of households served yet this year. Each month a local business or church comes in to volunteer serving all those who come.

Thank you to North Point Church for volunteering in August (pictured below), and Friendship Wesleyan Church for volunteering in September. If you know of a group interested in helping to distribute food in 2025, please call Eric Hoffman at (269)685-4166 ext. 100.