This Mother’s Day & Beyond

Looking for unique gifts for your mom this Mother’s Day? Search no further than these meaningful gifts in the Inspiring Hope Giving Catalog!

The Inspiring Hope Giving Catalog features representative items from TrueNorth’s program areas to purchase in honor of loved ones. Each gift in the catalog represents the real needs of our community, showing what our neighbors need and what can be done to help them.

When you purchase a gift for your loved one this Mother’s Day, you will also receive a card to personalize and give to them. Your mom will feel appreciated knowing her gift will make a positive difference in the life of one of her neighbors.

Make two caring gifts at once, one to your mom and the other to those in need, when you select gifts from our Inspiring Hope Giving Catalog. From Protecting a Child and Inspiring Young Artists to Guiding a Family to Success and Distributing 250 Meals to the Hungry, you will find the most meaningful gifts for your loved one.  Click here to learn more.

Find Adventure Close to Home This Summer

Summer will be here before you know it. With school out until August, families will be looking for ways to keep kids busy and enjoy sunny days. Camp Newaygo has been providing outdoor, adventure co-ed day camp programs to the community since it became part of TrueNorth Community Services in 1996. Thousands of local boys and girls have played, fished, hiked, and enjoyed their local great outdoors with Camp Newaygo.

This summer at Camp Newaygo’s Day Camp promises to be just as fun, with each week centering around a theme. The summer will kick off with Animals Week – campers will meet camp animals, search for creatures in their natural habitats, and end the week with a trip to John Ball Zoo. Local budding scientists can join for a heart-pounding week of awesome explosions, rockin’ rockets, and electrifying gizmos and gadgets during Boom and Zoom Week. Whether wielding a paintbrush, rocking out with a drumstick, or conquering projects with a hammer, campers’ creativity will run wild during Dream It, Build It, Play It Week. Camp Newaygo also hosts two weeks of Spanish Immersion Day Camp – one of the only programs like it in the midwest, right here in Newaygo County. 

On top of engaging, new theme activities every week, each day is filled with classic outdoor adventures. Campers can hike through camp’s bog, ride a tube behind the speedboat, paddle a canoe, and ride a 1000’ zipline. There’s daily time at the lake to swim or build sand castles and moments of guided free play for campers to interact and engage in creative, imaginative play. Campers can even participate in optional Thursday overnights and cook over a campfire. All of the activities and experiences are planned and led by trained staff to ensure campers don’t just have fun but also build social emotional skills, appreciate the environment around them, and have a sense of community. Amanda Ferner, long time Day Camp parent and director of The Ark in Fremont said:

“We started attending Camp Newaygo’s co-ed day camp summer of 2021 and have returned every year since! They have convenient drop off and pick up times for working families. My child loves that he is able to spend time outside, swimming, exploring the woods, learning about the weekly theme and of course shopping at the camp store! It’s a very affordable option this summer for any school age child!” – Amanda Ferner

TrueNorth Community Services, Camp Newaygo, and local funders believe these experiences are important for all children to have. Scholarship applications, for students living or attending school in Newaygo County, are also available online or can be mailed to you. In 2023, over $10,000 in Day Camp scholarships were provided to children in Newaygo County. If your children, grandchildren, or kids you know would love to spend part of their summer at Camp Newaygo. Go to campnewaygo.org/co-ed-day-camp to learn more about dates, themes, and the cost of camp.

STEAM Challenge Engages 161 Kids

Every year, TrueNorth’s Out-of-School Time students take part in the STEAM Challenge, focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math in a hands-on approach to creative problem solving and critical thinking.

161 students from all 13 of TrueNorth’s Project FOCUS and Project FOCUS Rural Grit sites, along with nearly 100 adults (staff, judges and parents), took part in this year’s challenge, held at Hesperia High School on Saturday, March 9th. Students participated in a series of judged challenges and projects which included building challenges and art projects, all centered around this year’s theme – Food Truck Frenzy! Students built models of food trucks, created their very own original recipes and created food-themed works of art.

“This year’s STEAM Challenge was filled with impressive submissions from talented students, a beautiful display of cooperation amongst school districts, and fantastic community support – more community and family attendees than any year in the past!”
– Danielle Siegel, Project FOCUS Director

STEAM-related programs expose students to “big-picture” concepts seen in real, physical environments. They help foster a creative approach, encourage creativity, improve social skills, develop curiosity and critical thinking and help make students more adaptable to a wide range of situations and challenges. Additionally, STEAM projects require students to solve problems in a hands-on way, using skills, technologies and core curriculum in new, exciting and fun ways.

To see a complete list of winning students, click here.

Welcome Carmen and Hannah

TrueNorth recently welcomed two new members to their Board of Directors. Carmen Faulkner (pictured left) and Hannah Harrington (pictured right) joined the Board in February, adding to the existing nine members. Both entrepreneurs, Faulkner the owner of River Stop Cafe and Harrington the owner of Third Coast Creative, are a great addition to the Board, as they bring experience in communications and marketing, community involvement and volunteerism. 

Both residing in Newaygo, and graduates of Newaygo Public Schools, Faulkner and Harrington are devoted community members who are excited to give back in a tangible way by advocating for people and services needed in our communities.

As individuals who are open-minded, and who come to TrueNorth with many life experiences, we are excited to have them join us. Please help us give a warm welcome to both Carmen and Hannah as they take action and begin their journey on the board. To view the entire Board of Directors click the button below.

Thanks to Countless Program Partners

After Bonnie’s husband passed away, she found herself living on a fixed income, which was now about half as much. She suffers from a chronic illness and was living on her Social Security. She made the difficult decision to sell her home near Hesperia and purchase a substantially smaller one near Edmore. In theory, it would be cheaper to maintain and have lower energy costs. She was told by the seller a pellet burner, the only heating source in the house, would easily heat the entire home. She learned very early on that was not the case and ended up having to use supplemental plug-in electric heaters just to stay warm. This sent her electric bills skyrocketing and she found herself falling further and further behind on all her bills.

She was referred to TrueNorth by a Corewell Health worker and she was connected to our emPower program for Heat and Energy assistance and Self-Sufficiency services. Knowing the long-term solution was to have an actual propane, forced air furnace installed, the first step was to enroll her in an Affordable Payment Plan with Consumers Energy, to lower her overall electric bills. Luckily, it was the end of the cold season and this gave Bonnie and her Complex Care Advisor, Jessica, time to start looking for any other resources they could find to help pay for a new furnace, all while Bonnie saved money over the summer.

Jessica was able to connect with the Department of Health and Human Services for part of the cost of a new furnace, and with the money Bonnie had saved being on an affordable payment plan, she was able to have a new furnace installed before the next heating season.

“With all the help I got with my utilities and other things, I can definitely breathe easier… it’s made a substantial difference in my life,” said Bonnie.

Dusti Finds Multiple Supports to Move Her Family Forward

“Being a single mom it’s definitely a lot harder,” says Dusti Tanner. “They were able to help me when I needed it the most…they go above and beyond.” For Dusti, being a part of multiple programs at TrueNorth Community Services has helped her and her family move forward on their paths to self-sufficiency.

Dusti first came to TrueNorth for housing assistance. After her rent became too expensive, she moved in with her parents as she looked to find more affordable housing. Dusti has recently given birth to her second child and is looking forward to finding her family’s new home.

Tools for School has also been a major help to Dusti and her family. Being able to come and receive assistance in multiple areas is both convenient and helpful. Besides the backpacks and school supplies, Dusti was also able to see what community resources are available for her and her family. Her son, Jackson, had a blast picking out his backpack, going in the bounce house and getting his teeth cleaned. Having a positive and encouraging atmosphere helped get Jackson excited about starting first grade this school year.

Dusti also has applied to receive a car seat for her new baby. The car seat she currently has is not the right size for her child. It is essential to have the correct size car seat for children to ensure their safety in case an accident occurs. Having the right kind of car seat will be a major help and relief for Dusti and her family.

Through her entire experience working with TrueNorth Dusti has remained determined. She continues to seek the resources her family needs and uses them to move her and her family forward. Dusti says, “I definitely appreciate it, it helped me more than I even imagined…It makes me feel like I am not necessarily alone.”

Diane Grows and Gives Back

“I have trouble getting out of the house, I don’t usually have a place to go or do anything,” says Community Connections’ participant, Diane. “I live by myself and it really helps me get out and meet new people to interact with them.”

Diane has been a part of multiple Community Connections programs at TrueNorth Community Services. Recently, she has been coming to a new initiative, Winter Warmup Wednesdays, that has given her opportunities to learn, connect and volunteer with others in the community.

Winter Warmup Wednesdays is a new initiative of Community Connections, bringing together community members during the cold winter months. Every Wednesday for the months of January and February people are welcomed to participate in a variety of events. Each Winter Warmup Wednesday features a fun physical activity, meal and conversation, volunteer activity and a learning opportunity with guest speakers.

Diane has come to multiple events to meet new people and foster the relationships she already has with returning participants. One of Diane’s favorite parts of Winter Warmup Wednesdays is volunteering and learning new things with others. Diane says, “That was one of my favorite things because we got to do stuff to help other people and still got to laugh and intermingle with other people we normally don’t see.”

From making soups and laundry soap for the TrueNorth Food Center, to learning how to protect herself from on-line scammers, and how to grow microgreens, Diane has felt both helpful and connected to others. Having these opportunities to grow and give back has given Diane new purpose.

Winter Warmup Wednesdays are made accessible to everyone in the community, ensuring people always feel welcomed. Diane appreciates this as she says, “Of course when you get older you can’t really go and do a whole lot but with something like this, they adapt it to where we can help and be able to do things that we wouldn’t otherwise know or be able to do.”

Being able to participate in meaningful activities with others has connected Diane to the community. Whether it be through volunteer projects and building relationships, or even just having more experiences at community spaces and businesses, Diane has flourished through the program.

There is still time for you to participate in Winter Warmup Wednesdays! There are two more events taking place on February 21 and February 28.  Join us next week Wednesday, February 21 for balance exercises, an enrichment presentation by Elizabeth Pitzer, fleece blanket making and brunch at the Moondance Café. Pick and choose which activities you want to participate in or come for the whole day. Everyone is kindly requested to pay for their own meals, but the rest of the activities are free of charge. We hope you will join us!

For more information on Winter Warmup Wednesdays or any of the Community Connections programming, please contact Riley Knight at rknight@truenorthservices.org or (231) 924-0641.

Thanks to Countless Supporters

Our Children’s Christmas Programs has been a continuing legacy of providing hope and joy to local families since its inception in 1952. This year, we held our annual distribution event from December 11th through December 15th where individuals were able to self-select gifts for their kids. Children received a game, toy, art supplies, a hat and gloves, socks, and a book, among other gifts.

We continued to serve a handful of families after the official distribution dates, and in the end, 1,997 children, representing nearly 1,000 families, were able to experience the joys of Christmas. 

This event is heavily supported by the community, with 131 volunteers contributing over 575 hours between setting up the room, and distributing the gifts. Besides the great volunteer support, the community also gave generously to support the program and local families. Overall, the program was supported by over 200 donors and the Keith Johnston Memorial Fund at the Fremont Area Community Foundation, making total contributions nearing $35,000.

“I think it is 100% important, especially for single-moms and children that are less fortunate,” says Children’s Christmas Programs participant and mother of three, Stephanie, about the impact the program has had on her and her family. “I’m not having to worry about having Christmas for my kids.”

Hundreds of families just like Stephanie’s were able to celebrate the season without added worries, thanks to the support from the community, local organizations, and volunteers. 

Rylee’s Statewide Opportunity

The Michigan Afterschool Partnership (MASP) recruited and selected five youth to serve as Youth Ambassadors, to share their perspectives on afterschool programs, statewide. Each Youth Ambassador also receives a stipend of $500 after their participation in the program, which runs for six months, from December 2023 to May 2024. One of the five students selected, was 13-year-old eighth grader from White Cloud Junior High School, Rylee Reisinger, who attends our Out-of-School Time Program, Project FOCUS Rural Grit.  

MASP Youth Afterschool Ambassadors receive training on being afterschool advocates; learning how to effectively communicate their afterschool experiences with elected officials, media, and others in leadership positions, and how to use their afterschool stories to advocate for change. As part of their ambassadorship, Youth Ambassadors will participate in virtual training focused on state-level policy and funding, and how to talk to legislators. As Youth Ambassadors, students will host legislative visits to their programs, and on May 9, 2024, which is MASP Capitol Day, youth will have the opportunity to travel to Lansing and meet with legislators on the lawn.

“A month ago, Mrs. Krbez (Project FOCUS Rural Grit Site Coordinator) told us about the MASP Youth Afterschool Ambassador Program,” said Rylee. “She asked who was interested, and encouraged us to apply if we were interested in being the voice of the Afterschool program. Not to mention the great opportunity it would bring to our community and school.” As she plans to continue her education in Early Childhood and open her own daycare center someday, Rylee thought she’d give the application a try and applied. After filing out the online application, which included a brief essay about her experiences with the TrueNorth Project FOCUS Rural Grit program, she waited almost a month to hear back.

“Rylee came into the room jumping up and down, shouting ‘I got it! I got it!’“ said Mandi Krbez. “I don’t know who was more excited, but I do know she’ll make an excellent Ambassador. This is a real honor for her, our program here at White Cloud, and for TrueNorth!”

Way to go Rylee!

A Mentor’s Impact

“Amazing,” that’s the word fifteen-year-old mentee Kyrin used to describe her relationship with her mentor Kathy. Being matched for over a year now, both have grown as individuals and in their friendship.

Kyrin and Kathy are an active match. They both enjoy spending time outdoors and having new experiences together. One of Kyrin’s most memorable moments with Kathy so far was going kayaking together for the first time. While Kyrin likely would not have done this on her own, she felt “safe doing that” with Kathy even though “it’s out of [her] comfort zone.”

Not only has Kathy helped Kyrin feel comfortable trying new things, but Kyrin has also done the same for Kathy. Kyrin enjoys hobby horsing and even makes her horses herself. Sharing her hobby with Kathy has made her more confident in expressing herself and her interests. Kyrin has also introduced Kathy to real horses at her grandparents’ home, something Kathy would have never done without Kyrin.

“What I’ve enjoyed most is seeing life through Kyrin’s eyes,” says Kathy. “Not only have we mentored each other but we have also established a friendship.” Kathy and Kyrin have built a solid foundation of trust in their relationship. Kyrin is very honest and feels comfortable sharing her feelings with Kathy. Having this safe space with Kathy has increased Kyrin’s confidence overall.

Kathy loves having those moments when she and Kyrin can talk freely together. Whether they are hiking, hobby horsing or doing anything else together, the mutual trust they have has allowed both of them to grow. Kyrin knows that she can come to Kathy with anything, and she’ll be happy to listen.

“It’s made me feel a lot better because being like a teenager, you feel like you have no one to talk to,” says Kyrin about spending time with Kathy. “You feel like you’re always on your own, like no one’s ever there for you. It’s nice to actually have someone that’s like ‘yeah let’s go hang out.’”

Having Kathy to talk to and spend time with has positively impacted Kyrin’s life. Both Kathy and Kyrin are looking forward to continuing their relationship and being able to grow older together.

January is National Mentoring Month, highlighting the importance of youth like Kyrin being connected to dependable role models like Kathy. 

You can be a role model for area youth just like Kyrin. Find out more about mentoring by contacting Serena Lafferty at slafferty@truenorthservices.org.