Good Happens Thanks to Scholarship Success

Good Happens Here at the TrueNorth Service Center, out in our communities, and at Camp Newaygo, a program of TrueNorth Community Services. Camp Newaygo wrapped up a record breaking summer of serving local campers with scholarship funds from the Fremont Area Community Foundation. 

In total, $59,000 in scholarship funds from the foundation were provided to local families allowing 67 campers to attend Girls’ Overnight Camp and Co-Ed Day Camp. This generous support ensured youth had access to foundational experiences that help them build positive relationships, grow in their independence, strengthen their resilience and demonstrate grit.

Camp Newaygo serves youth from across the state and country in its summer programs and with the support of a variety of additional partners, including The Gerber Foundation, ensures additional scholarship funds are available for youth, regardless of where they are from. Thanks to additional foundations, organizations and individual support, over $122,000 in scholarships were awarded this summer.

Looking ahead to this fall, the Fremont Area Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Committee has supported a Family Event Access Fund for the 2025-2026 season! In the spirit of ensuring everyone can enjoy activities at Camp Newaygo, these funds support scholarships to many of Camp Newaygo’s community and family events. 

We are proud to have a summer camp where good happens for our community, regardless of financial means. If you’d like to support ensuring more folks have access to camp, learn more about giving here.

ENGAGE! Helps Older Adults Find Purpose

“I come in here and feel welcomed and feel like I’m a part of a family. The people, other participants and staff encourage me and are non-judgmental,” says Susan, a TrueNorth ENGAGE! participant. Through the program, which was soft launched earlier this year, Susan has been connected to various art classes and also attends Community Connections’ Drumming All Together. The program is already seeing participant success.

“It wasn’t until I started attending your program at TrueNorth that I realized I could still live my best life and I didn’t have to stop living,” states another ENGAGE! participant, regarding her involvement with the program. 

ENGAGE! is a social prescribing program that connects older adults to community services and activities to enhance their overall health and well-being. The program staff, called link workers, walk alongside them on their journey to help guide the way—on the participant’s terms, at their own pace. The goal is to connect participants to area programming based on their answer to the question “What Matters to You?”. 

This month ENGAGE! officially launches and will be enrolling additional participants into the program. If you know an older adult who is looking for new opportunities, friendship, creative outlets or community involvement, ENGAGE! might be the place for them. Contact Carmen at (231) 924-0641, ext. 111 or TNengage@truenorthservices.org.

 

Join Us as We Fight Hunger

Every day, families in our community face the harsh reality of hunger. Parents sacrifice meals so their children can eat, seniors stretch a single can of soup over several days and hardworking neighbors are forced to choose between paying bills and putting food on the table.

You can be part of the solution. Empty Bowls, hosted by TrueNorth Community Services, is more than just a meal—it’s a chance to come together and make a lasting impact. Guests enjoy a simple lunch of soup and bread and take home a handcrafted bowl to keep as a reminder of the many “empty bowls” in our community.

Your support directly benefits TrueNorth’s Hunger Prevention programs, helping us provide healthy meals to children, families and seniors across Newaygo County.

At TrueNorth, we believe no one should face hunger alone. When neighbors come together—through events like Empty Bowls—we show families that help is here, that they are not forgotten and that we can overcome hunger when we stand side by side.

Thursday, October 9, at the TrueNorth Service Center in Fremont
Friday, October 10, at the VFW Post 4249 in Newaygo
At both locations, soup will be served between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Good Happens Here. Together, we can ensure no neighbor goes hungry.

 

Building Connections

Community Connections has been busy with new and exciting ways to connect this year! Based on input and feedback from program participants, and research from program staff, we are continually trying new programming to help this population feel connected to their community.

Walking All Together takes advantage of a great local resource; the paved, Garfield Township Hall Nature Trail. Every Wednesday, participants join Connections staff for a stroll through nature—utilizing one of the easiest ways to get some exercise and enjoy the great outdoors.

“I started (Walking All Together) to get out of the house… to be healthier. I think it’s great!” – Alice

The Curious Kitchen is a hands-on cooking class which teaches participants interesting and unique culinary creations. Luis recently attended a Curious Kitchen Japanese Fried Rice cooking class, and when asked if he would be able to duplicate the recipe at home, said; “Oh yeah… I got it. It’s all up here now,” pointing to his head.  

One of our newest offerings is a cardio-drumming class called Drumming All Together where participants stand or sit while drumming on exercise balls secured in large buckets – a great workout for both the body and the mind! 

“That (Drumming All Together) is a riot! It’s a good cardio workout and lots of laughs.” – Darlene 

Community Connections continues to innovate and find new ways for the aging population in Newaygo County to connect and thrive. Funding for all Community Connections programs is provided, in part, by Fremont Area Community Foundation. 

 

Equipping Students for Success

Good Happens Here at TrueNorth Community Services — and this week, that good came in the form of 800 backpacks filled with school supplies distributed to local students through the annual Tools for School event.

By the time the school year begins, TrueNorth expects to provide about 1,000 backpacks to students across the area. Each backpack contains age-appropriate supplies to ensure students start school ready to learn, while helping ease the financial burden for families.

“Back-to-school time can be stressful for many families,” said Mark Kraus, Community Liaison and Development Director. “Thanks to the generosity of our donors, partners and community, good truly happens here — and hundreds of kids now have the tools they need to succeed from day one.”

The success of Tools for School is made possible through the generous support of the Fremont Area Community Foundation, The Gerber Foundation and more than 125 individual donors. TrueNorth also recognizes the partnership of Gerber Life Insurance, Nestlé Gerber, ChoiceOne Bank, Edward Jones and Fremont Insurance, whose contributions helped make this year’s event possible.

For many students, these backpacks represent more than just pencils and notebooks — they are a boost of confidence and a reminder that their community believes in them.

 

Summer Blast Success

From visits to the waterpark, nature center and library to going to restaurants, the zoo and museums, the youth who experienced Summer Blast this summer sure had a lot to talk about! And the weekly field trips were at the top of their lists! 

Brothers Brayden and Albert excitedly shared the waterpark as their favorite trip. Their grandma Debi Church expounded on the experience and commented what a blessing the free program was to her family. She mentioned field trips to the zoo and museums and went on to share, “Social security only goes so far, and when you are raising two little ones, deciding what comes first- field trips don’t; TrueNorth made it possible for them to have a good summer, thank you!” Debi praised the program, the safety of the kids and the variety of activities; mentioning opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have. 

Summer Blast, which took place at Daisy Brook Elementary, Fremont Middle School, Grant Elementary, Grant Middle School and Newaygo Elementary served 208 youth this summer with academic support, social emotional learning, college & career exploration, activities centered around the arts, agriculture, community engagement, leadership and plenty of recreation indoors and outdoors.

Summer Blast is funded by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education Advancement, and Potential, along with the Fremont Area Community Foundation and private donors. A huge thanks to all our partners for helping make our first season of Summer Blast a huge success!

Verla and Lou

Verla and Lou have lived in their beautiful home overlooking Fremont Lake for 32 years. Lou loves to garden, and for most of their lives, they camped and traveled while living an active, healthy lifestyle. Displayed on the walls are mugs from all 50 states, which they acquired on their travels throughout the years. 

About three years ago, Lou had some kidney surgeries and ended up spending six weeks at Green Acres of Fremont for some post-surgery rehab. It was there they first learned of LifeLink services available through TrueNorth. 

They live in a single story, ranch home, because as Verla put it; “We knew the older age was coming up on us. We didn’t want any steps… well, we have two steps and I thought ‘that’s pretty good, that’s safe’… it wasn’t safe enough though…” she said, referring to a recent fall Lou suffered. 

Verla says having the LifeLink unit provides both of them peace of mind and she recommends it to others. “Every time he goes outside (to garden), he has it on.”

LifeLink units are designed to help people retain their independence and remain at home for as long as they are safely able to, knowing help is only the push of a button away. That is exactly what Verla and Lou are counting on.

 

Help Good Happen Here

“The economy that we’re living in right now is not very liveable, especially if you have a one-income household like we do. Childcare is incredibly expensive and when you have multiple kids, it adds up fast,” says Alyssa, mother of two, about the impact of Tools for School. “So being able to have help available to you, again takes the stress off, makes things feel a little easier and lighter.”

Participating in Tools for School for her second year has set up Alyssa and her family for success. She has two young children so receiving the backpacks and resources was a huge support.

Over 1,000 kids like Alyssa’s received the school supplies and resources they needed to excel last year because of caring people like you–illustrating how when kindness meets action, Good Happens Here. 

Today, we need your support to further this impact. You can help families like Alyssa’s have everything they need for a successful school year. When you make a gift to Tools for School, you are brightening our children’s futures. Not only will you help provide the physical tools our students need, but you are also connecting them to community resources to ensure they flourish outside of the classroom.

Make a kindhearted gift today and provide peace of mind to parents like Alyssa. Your donation will make a real, positive difference in the lives of our children and families. For when we work together, Good Happens Here.

Hesperia Art Mural

In early June, a public unveiling of Reclaimed Beauty, the Hesperia Art Mural, occurred at Vida Weaver Park. The project, led by Hesperia High School art teacher, Monica Grimard, and completed by Hesperia art students, consists of items most would consider recyclables or trash. Students found, and/or were provided with bottle caps, old CDs, canister lids, buttons, soda cans, fishing poles, flip flops found in the river, even a pool liner they then modified to work into the 40-foot three dimensional mural.

Throughout the project hundreds of hours were spent, alongside local artist Russ Baker, all thanks to a grant from the Michigan Arts & Culture Council. The process allowed students to try different art techniques, work with various mediums and view art through a new lens. 

“Watching the community, as a whole, view the beauty of this art installment at Vida Weaver Park has really shined a light on how important art can be to a community,” said Riley Knight, TrueNorth’s Cultural Arts Coordinator. “We encourage everyone to take time to visit Reclaimed Beauty to view the students hard work.”