Help for Hard Times

[XLFD]

With the unemployment rate up over 20% in some of our Western Michigan counties, you probably know of one or more individuals or families down on their luck and barely eking out a living.  Whether its losing their homes or just loosening their belt, there are a number of agencies and faith-based organizations who are around this area and eager to help those in need.  So if you know someone who might just benefit from any of the good people and organizations below, and can’t help them adequately with your own resources, give them a heads up and let them know about what’s available.

 The list below is based out of Mason County.  You can find a complete listing of groups willing and wanting to help those in need in any of the western Michigan counties by going to the web site

 

http://www.call-211.org 

 

or by dialing “211” on a telephone.  This is a great resource for all types of community assistance.  If you have the wherewithal to donate your time, food, money, or other items to any of these causes, it would be greatly appreciated and needed, especially right now.

 

Soup Kitchens:

 

Community Table- United Methodist Church Ludington 1x per week Tuesday (5810 Bryant Rd.)
St. Simons Food Pantry (700 E Bryant Rd.)
Salvation Army Food Pantry (114 E Melendy St)
Harbor Lights Fellowship Food Pantry (409 S Washington)
Cornerstone Baptist Food Pantry (121 Nelson Rd)

 

Food Truck/Van:

 

West Michigan Leadership Council 1x month 3rd Tuesday held at Cornerstone
Baptist Church (121 Nelson Rd)
Crossroads Church-1x month 1st Tuesday (1463 E US 10, between Scottville and Custer)

 

Emergency Transitional Housing:

 

COVE – (906 E Ludington Ave.) Domestic Violence/ Homeless (if space) Women and Children only
Jericho House- (912 E Ludington Ave) Transitional Women and Children Only

[XLFD]

Please add to or update any of these fine organizations, and bring to the attention of others here if you know of any event (like what happened with the "Thanks a Million" food pantry this Saturday arriving at Mason Co. Reformed Church in Scottville) designed to help those having trouble in these hard times.

[AQUAMAN]

That's a very fine and generous thread XLFD. I also know the Red Cross gives alot of aid, at various times. Check them out too. Otherwise, you have outdone yourself. It's called Community, taking care of it's own, not necessarily government sponsored nor funded. The American Way, through and through. Like it can and should be. JMO

[AQUAMAN]

I now went over to Tom Rotta's page, a new member, to say hello, welcome them, that prude dude has it set to private. I thought only the Libs. went that path...................ugh. I'm gonna give that dude the silent treatment if he continues this.

[XLFD]

Sadly, the food van that showed up the third Tuesday at Cornerstone (the first food van mentioned) has ended its run. I hope there is another that can take its place to help out those who depended on this for help getting through these hard times, or the others in the area can persevere.

[AQUAMAN]

I totally agree X, for a measely $800/mo. from contributors, it had to end. I offer up any one of six to eight local large employers for corporate sponsors that should easily be able to make that donation. Add to that if all the families could scrounge up another $3 each per month that would assure it's continuance too. Kathy Lacko headed that, she's a smart cookie too, and may pull this out yet, time will tell.

[masonco]

I can not understand it. CrossRoads church has very few business owners or people of "means" like Cornerstone. There are less than 200 members at Crossroads church. Yet the MEMBERS of one of the smallest (in numbers) churches in the community is able to come up with the $800 to feed those in our community. Crossroads Church demonstrates what Christian service and love is all about.

[AQUAMAN]

Hmmmmm, so you're saying the majority of contributions comes strictly from the related churchmembers??? And not outside drives from the corporate community? Then you mention the above in terms of pledging members? Yeah, that doesn't ring true, unless, well, that's sadder than I thought now. Thanks.

[masonco]

For Crossroads church,I do not think there is anyone from the corporate arena who donates money or time. It is funded strictly by individual contributors who donate money for this cause. There are some volunteers there who are not members of the church, but if you go to volunteer on the first Tuesday of the month you will find that most of the volunteers are indeed church members with many retired people cheerfully donating their time and service.

Many members of that church will go without extras to help someone in need. There are weeks the church might not meet it's budget and "extras" are eliminated, but they get the money for the food truck. If you go inside the church building, you will notice the carpet is worn and stained. But the community is being helped with the food truck.

Go to the next food drive and volunteer. You will observe several compassionate and caring people who exemplify the word "service". They usually offer physical help to those who need help since labor is more available for many than $$.

They are even doing a garden soon based on the idea of the victory gardens during the war. You can join in that too and donate food from your plot. There are even volunteers taking down an old building and recycling any materials that can be recycled. Also by having volunteers doing the work it saves the expense of paying a company to do it.

[masonco]

Oh and very few of the church members are related in the physical way. They are all related as a Christian family.