Fill a Bowl, Fight Hunger

Every October, hundreds of neighbors gather around a simple meal with a shared purpose: making sure no one in Newaygo County has to face hunger alone.

Guests enjoy soup, bread, crackers and a cookie, all donated by local restaurants and caterers, then choose a handcrafted bowl to take home a reminder that for many neighbors, nutritious food is a daily challenge. In Newaygo County, 45.3% of households struggle to afford basic needs like food.

Empty Bowls has become one of TrueNorth’s signature fundraisers because it reflects the power of community. Restaurants donate soup, artists craft bowls and volunteers, students and sponsors give their time and talents, all to help neighbors access nutritious food year-round.

Last year, TrueNorth’s Hunger Prevention programs provided 932,000 meals, distributed over 1.1 million pounds of food and supplied 11,876 Weekend PowerPacks to local kids.

Join us:

• Thursday, Oct. 8 — TrueNorth Service Center, Fremont
• Friday, Oct. 9 — VFW Post 4249, Newaygo

Soup served 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. both days. Visit www.truenorthservices.org/event/emptybowls to register and join us.

How Collaboration Restored Arthur’s Running Water

Imagine navigating the freezing winter months without a single drop of running water. Now imagine doing so while living alone, without a vehicle or the ability to read or write. For our neighbor Arthur*, this was his reality since early last fall.

While Art’s sister serves as his legal guardian, she lives too far away to provide day-to-day support. Facing the daunting task of navigating complex assistance programs while entirely isolated, Art could have easily fallen through the cracks. Yet, despite these overwhelming challenges, Art’s resilience never wavered. Throughout the months without water, he maintained an exceptionally clean, organized and proud home.

He just needed a team in his corner to help bridge the gap. That is where Megan, a TrueNorth emPower Self-Sufficiency Advisor, stepped in.

Restoring water to Art’s home was no small feat. It required navigating a lengthy USDA application process and securing more than $14,000 for a new well.

Megan jumped into action, helping Art coordinate a powerful web of support:
–TrueNorth & Home Team Housing: Partnered together to secure funding that covered 75% of the total project cost.
–USDA: Awarded Art a critical grant.
–Arthur’s Investment: Art obtained a loan for the remaining balance and proudly contributed more than $1,000 of his own savings he built while working with Megan on his budget toward his future.

We are thrilled to share the project is officially complete, and Art’s running water has been fully restored! What started as an insurmountable obstacle became a beautiful story of collaboration, perseverance and hope. Art’s journey is a powerful reminder that barriers like transportation, literacy and isolation do not define a person’s future. With the right resources and a dedicated support system, life-changing outcomes are possible.

Our Self-Sufficiency Advisors work one-on-one with individuals to break down barriers, navigate complex systems and walk alongside them to build paths toward independence.

Click here to learn more about TrueNorth’s Self-Sufficiency Programs

*The participant’s name has been changed for privacy.

A Blast Filled Summer!

Across all of our Summer Blast locations, we saw significant growth from last year’s launch.
Every site increased participation, allowing us to reach more students and families and provide
more kids with a safe, welcoming place to spend their summer. More than numbers, that growth
represents more kids engaged, more families supported and more opportunities to learn, explore,
connect and have fun.

Students experienced an incredible variety of activities this summer—from STEM challenges,
outdoor adventures, and field trips to community service, creative projects and visits from
amazing community partners. Along the way, they made friendships, discovered new
interests, challenged their minds and stepped outside their comfort zones. We are grateful to the
many community partners who helped bring these experiences to life.

One of the most exciting additions this summer was the expansion of Summer Blast to Mason
County Eastern (MCE) Elementary and Middle School. Bringing the program to MCE allowed us
to reach more rural students and families and provide access to opportunities that may
not always be available in smaller communities.

The MCE location opened the door for students to experience the same type of engaging
programming offered across our other Summer Blast sites as well as building community
connections, and hands-on challenges. Most importantly, it gave more children a safe, fun place
to go where they could spend time with friends, meet new people, try new things and stay
engaged throughout the summer.

Expanding into new communities is an important part of our vision for Summer Blast. We want
to continue finding ways to remove barriers and bring meaningful experiences directly to the
students and families who need them.

Summer Blast has grown tremendously, and we are excited to build on that Momentum
to reach more students while expanding opportunities and creating a summer
experience where every young person can connect, discover, grow and have a BLAST!
Learn more about Summer Blast by clicking here.

Free Resource for the Community

Did you know TrueNorth has a Medical Loan Closet? A Medical Loan Closet is a community resource that allows individuals to borrow durable medical equipment (DME) and ours is completely free for anyone in the community to use.

Based on donation availability, we have a wide variety of equipment available, including wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, bedside commodes, shower chairs, mobility scooters, grabbers for hard-to-reach items, adult incontinence supplies and much more. Whether you’re recovering from surgery, healing from an injury or caring for a loved one, we’re here to help you access the equipment you need without the added financial burden.

Our Medical Loan Closet is made possible through the generosity of community members. If you have medical equipment that is no longer needed, please consider donating it to help others. We gladly accept clean items that are in good working order so they can continue serving neighbors in need.

If you have questions about borrowing or donating equipment, contact TrueNorth Community Services. Together, we can make sure these valuable resources remain available for everyone who needs them.

Building Connections with Food Center Workshops

Sharing a meal creates a unique opportunity for people to bond. At TrueNorth, our monthly Recipe Workshops are helping Food Center members do just that while learning new cooking skills, trying healthy recipes and building connections with one another.

Hosted in the TrueNorth commercial kitchen, these hands-on workshops give participants the chance to prepare healthy meals using ingredients commonly available through the Food Center. What began as a Cooking Basics series has grown into participant-driven classes featuring recipes like Handmade Noodles, Falafel Wraps, Jarred Salads, Crunchy Roasted Beans and Stir Fry. Our recent Stir Fry workshop drew 16 registrations and welcomed volunteer Mary Tate, a fellow ServSafe certified cook, who generously shared her time and expertise to help lead the class.

Each family leaves with more than a full stomach! Participants take home a recipe kit complete with the ingredients needed to recreate the meal at home, making it easy to share what they’ve learned with family members.

We’re also finding new ways to reach participants beyond the kitchen through seasonal produce seminars, take-home meal kits and short cooking videos on our new YouTube channel. These options help reduce barriers such as transportation and busy schedules while expanding access to nutrition education.

Whether someone is learning a new cooking technique, discovering a healthy recipe their family enjoys or simply sharing a meal and conversation with neighbors, these workshops are helping Food Center members build skills, confidence and community, one recipe at a time.

To help make sure life changing initiatives like this continue, consider lending your support.

Friends Gather at Camp Newaygo’s 100th Reunion

Camp Newaygo’s Centennial Alumni Reunion brought together more than 240 alumni representing nearly every decade of camp’s history. Guests traveled from across the United States, England, Australia and Ireland to celebrate a century of memories. Some attendees had been campers under Camp Newaygo’s very first director, Florence Foster, while others represented third-generation camp families, with grandmothers, mothers and daughters who had all served on staff.

The reunion wasn’t simply about remembering camp. It was about living it again. Alumni tie-dyed shirts, sailed on Pickerel Lake, cooked over open fires, paddled the Muskegon River, built picnic tables, volunteered on the Wetland Trail and gathered daily for camp song karaoke. More than 200 alumni canoed across the lake for the beloved Sing on the Lake tradition, performing for guests at Little Switzerland Resort and Campground. Handcrafted wooden wishing boats, each carrying a hand-dipped candle, floated across the water during the historic Wishing Boat Ceremony, while Serenade continued late into the night as generations sang together for hours.

Many alumni spent the weekend immersed in Camp Newaygo’s history, paging through a century of lovingly restored scrapbooks, exploring the newly published history and song books and visiting The Heritage Museum of Newaygo County for a special centennial exhibit.

The reunion celebrated more than Camp Newaygo’s history. It celebrated a living tradition. One that continues to be passed from generation to generation through songs, stories, friendships and a shared love for this special place.

Walking Program Begins Again

As Michigan residents, we all know just how short and sweet summer weather can be.

After the long and hard winter Michiganders emerge like the spring flowers to enjoy the sunshine and beautiful walking trails that are abundant in Newaygo County. Walking in nature is great for our mental health, and of course it’s beneficial for our physical health as well.

There are numerous benefits to walking and because of this TrueNorth’s Community Connections program created Walking All Together. Community Connections strives to provide older adults with a simple, welcoming way to stay active, build friendships and strengthen their connection to the community. We recognize that meaningful relationships and regular movement are both essential to healthy aging, so this program brings people together in a supportive environment where every step helps reduce isolation, improve well-being and fosters a sense of belonging.  

Newaygo County has plenty of beautiful walking trails to choose from, but sometimes finding groups for older adults that walk at a comfortable pace and distance can be difficult. The Walking All Together group is the perfect way to get started, and participants that join us five times will earn a free fitness tracker to monitor their progress. Walking All Together meets every Wednesday at 11 am at Garfield Township Hall Nature Trail. If you are interested in joining, contact Riley at (231) 924-0641, ext. 178 or rknight@truenorthservices.org.

OST and Camp Summer Programs Begin

For many West Michigan youth, summer is a season of adventure, friendship and discovery. Through TrueNorth’s Project FOCUS, Summer Blast and Camp Newaygo programs, hundreds of young people will experience a summer filled with fun, learning and opportunities to grow.

Project FOCUS provides youth with a safe and supportive environment where they can stay engaged, build confidence and continue developing important life and academic skills while school is out. Summer Blast adds excitement through hands-on activities, creative exploration and memorable experiences that encourage youth to try new things and connect with their peers. And both of these programs incorporate exciting weekly field trips into their summer!

At Camp Newaygo, campers will unplug from screens and immerse themselves in nature and outdoor adventures. Whether they’re paddling across a lake or learning a new skill, youth gain independence, resilience and a sense of belonging that stays with them long after summer ends.

Together, these programs help ensure young people have access to safe places and enriching experiences during summer months. While every activity may look different, they share a common goal: helping youth build confidence, create meaningful connections and discover their potential.

This summer, TrueNorth is creating opportunities for young people not just to stay busy, but to thrive.

Support Tools for School

As the new school year approaches, more than 1,000 students across Newaygo County are counting on our community to help them start strong. Through TrueNorth Community Services’ annual Tools for School event on August 11, local children will receive the essential supplies they need to walk into the classroom with confidence.

For many families, back-to-school costs can be overwhelming. Tools for School helps remove that burden by providing backpacks filled with supplies, new sneakers and even fresh haircuts—ensuring every child feels prepared, confident and ready to learn on day one.

Since June 1, a county-wide donation drive has been underway, and the need is real. Basic items like pencils, notebooks, backpacks and sneakers can make a life-changing difference for a child. Community members can drop off donations at locations throughout the county, at TrueNorth, or choose to give financially.

Every dollar and every donation directly impacts a student right here in our community. When a child feels prepared, they’re more likely to succeed—and that success starts with all of us.

Join us in making sure no child goes without. To donate or learn more, visit www.truenorthservices.org/donate or contact Courtney Schwartz at (231) 924-0641, ext. 141.

Plant-a-Row For Hunger

For thousands of local families, putting healthy food on the table continues to be a daily struggle. Rising costs, limited resources and gaps in assistance programs mean many households turn to the TrueNorth’s Hunger Prevention Programs for support, especially when it comes to accessing fresh produce.

That’s why programs like Plant-a-Row for Hunger are so important.
Each year, generous local gardeners and farmers plant extra rows specifically to donate fresh vegetables to TrueNorth’s Food Center. These donations provide nutritious food that is often difficult and expensive for families to obtain. Last year alone, the campaign brought in more than 9,000 pounds of fresh produce for local households.

Financial supporters also help provide seeds to families interested in starting home gardens of their own — creating opportunities for healthier meals, greater self-sufficiency and even stronger family connections.

One local family used seeds from TrueNorth to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, broccoli and herbs for the very first time. They preserved food for the winter and even shared extra produce with four other families in need.

You can help local families access healthy food this growing season. Whether by making a gift to support Hunger Prevention Programs, donating fresh produce from your garden or planting an extra row to share, your support helps neighbors experience nourishment, dignity and hope — one row at a time.