TrueNorth Community Services' emPower heat and energy assistance program assists people struggling to afford their utility and deliverable fuels bills in Michigan, helping them to become self-sufficient.

emPower is working to provide help across Michigan for 2019-2020 in partnership with Michigan Department of Health and Human Services,  the Michigan Agency for Energy and utility. energy and deliverable fuels providers across the state.

These are the steps to discover success with emPower’s assistance through its Self-Sufficiency Services:

1. Complete and be approved for Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ State Emergency Relief (SER) assistance. Apply through MI Bridges
2. Choose TrueNorth Community Services as your referral partner
3. Get contacted by emPower to start your self-sufficiency journey

For more details, visit our emPower information page ; visit emPower's website or call 231.355.5880.

Circles Newaygo County strives to end poverty one family at a time. 

Our program is focused on personal exploration and growth, working with Circle Leaders (heads of families) to help them achieve self-sufficiency. We provide dinner and childcare for our Circle Leaders. You can take steps toward a better life by getting involved with Circles.

Or become someone who supports those efforts by becoming an Ally, volunteering to work alongside them on their journey forward. 

Or support the Circle Leaders and Allies as a volunteer with one of our resource teams. We are in also in need of childcare volunteers, who work with children at our weekly Circles meetings and volunteer from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursdays (with dinner included and the curriculum provided).

To get involved with, to find more details on, or to volunteer with Circles Newaygo County, call (231) 924-0641, ext. 220, or email circles@truenorthservices.org.

Circles is funded by a grant from Fremont Area Community Foundation​.

TrueMentors is focused on nurturing kids.

TrueMentors' community mentoring volunteers are matched with Newaygo County youth between the ages of 5 to 14 years old in a one-to-one mentoring relationship for a minimum one-year commitment. We've got kids awaiting a match.

We particularly need adults as volunteers with TrueBlue Academy, an after-school mentoring program done in partnership with Newaygo Public Schools and the Newaygo Police Department. The program meets once a week on Tuesdays from 3:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Newaygo Middle School in Newaygo.

To apply to be a mentor with TrueMentors and for more information, contact us by email at truementors@truenorthservices.org or call (231) 924-0641, ext. 109.

You can help support TrueMentors by making a financial contribution to the program; get the details here.

There are a range of community activities and offerings to enjoy at Camp Newaygo. Discover someplace special.

The upcoming holidays events and offerings include:

Christmas & Cocktails, Friday, December 13, 7 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Celebrate the holidays with fantastic food, drinks, fun and your girlfriends at Lang Lodge. Advance registration is required. Cost: $22 per person through November 27; $28 per person November 28 through December 11.

New Year's Eve at Lang Lodge, Tuesday, December 31, 6:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Ring in the 2020 at Camp Newaygo. The festivities include a Surf and Turf Buffet by Ridge Specialties, music by The Jetts and a DJ, a complimentary champagne toast at midnight and a cash bar. Cost: $50 per person before December 1; $55 per person after December 1; and/or $275 for a reserve table of six.

For more information, call (231) 652-1184 or email campbiz@campnewaygo.org. Camp Newaygo is located at 5333 South Centerline Road in Newaygo. 

Our 67th annual Children’s Christmas Programs & Toys for Tots (CCP) distribution is December 9 to 12 at the TrueNorth Service Center in Fremont.

We have ended our collection of donations of new, unwrapped gifts and toys at Children’s Christmas Programs & Toys for Tots (CCP) drop boxes located throughout Newaygo County ⁠— in Croton Township, Fremont, Grant, Hesperia, Newaygo and White Cloud. We are still accepting monetary donations, however.

Because of CCP, the TrueNorth Food Pantry is closed December 9-11 and the morning of December 12. The Food Pantry reopens the afternoon of December 12 and resumes regular hours December 13.

The corporate sponsor for CCP is Gerber Life Insurance Company. Program sponsors are The Gerber Foundation and the Fremont Area Community Foundation. Our program partners are Toys for Tots and Bombas.

When people ask: "Why should I support and/or volunteer for TrueNorth Community Services?" We say: "Because ..."