Thanksgiving Baskets - prepared November 19, 2022
A BIG thank you to all the volunteers and donors who made our 2022 Thanksgiving Basket event a success! Scores of volunteers participated in the organizing and delivery of 200 meal boxes to go out to those in need in the White Lake area. Many helped in the preceding weeks and months to package and gather items for the boxes. Also big thanks to the many donors to the Food & More program including members of Ferry Memorial Reformed Church, the Women’s Division of the Muskegon Chamber of Commerce and the White Lake Community Fund of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County.
A BIG thank you to all the volunteers and donors who made our 2022 Thanksgiving Basket event a success! Scores of volunteers participated in the organizing and delivery of 200 meal boxes to go out to those in need in the White Lake area. Many helped in the preceding weeks and months to package and gather items for the boxes. Also big thanks to the many donors to the Food & More program including members of Ferry Memorial Reformed Church, the Women’s Division of the Muskegon Chamber of Commerce and the White Lake Community Fund of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County.
Thanksgiving Baskets - November 2022 - see below
This program is a community outreach program with over 20 yrs serving the White Lake area. Our Mission is to reach out and help those in need. Our biggest impact is through our Thanksgiving Food Baskets. We purchase nearly 8 tons of food annually or around 250 baskets of food. We partner with local churches and schools to identify neighbors who could use a little more to make the holidays brighter. And some of them also pick up and help distribute the boxes. (Christ the Rock Church, New Hope Church, Lebanon Lutheran, and Love INC.) Additionally, we purchase over 100 turkeys for St. James Catholic's Giving Tree.
The Program also supports two local food pantries: New Hope Community Church - Shelby, and Lebanon Lutheran - Whitehall. Money is forwarded each month to their respective accounts at Feeding America of West Michigan. There is also a senior luncheon put on for area seniors. There is music and fellowship and the meal. This has been held in December or January. Each fall as school starts we help sponsor Lebanon Lutheran's Backpack Program. We contribute $200 dollars towards the purchase of backpacks and also provide Mac and Cheese to be put in each backpack. We give some financial support to Kids' Closet, that provides free winter clothes for kids who need them. We welcome clean, gently used jackets, snow pants, boots, long pants and long sleeved shirts (infant to size 8). We also purchase new items in sizes that are hard to find. We give praise to God for all who contribute to the funding of this program. Our congregation members donate their time, money, and talents faithfully each year. We operate solely with volunteers, so 100% of all monies raised go to bless those in need. We have received several grants, including in 2022: $4,000 from the White Lake Community Fund of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County; $5,000 grant from the Women's Division Chamber of Commerce; and $500 grant from the David & Beth Pickard Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. We also receive donations from community members and businesses. We work with local stores and farmers who help us get the best prices for the things we purchase. Throughout the year emergency needs are met through the Food & More Program. We hold meetings throughout the year. Please contact the office for current schedule.
David & Beth Pickard Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County
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Graph above is as of Oct. 2019
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