A Summer of Fun

With Project FOCUS

For Hesperia and White Cloud children, kindergarten through 8th grade, there’s a NEW and exciting opportunity this summer, Project FOCUS Rural Grit Summer Programming. Six weeks of programming will be offered at Patricia St. Clair Elementary, David C. Outwin Middle School, White Cloud Elementary and White Cloud Jr. High, all which began June 10th, but there’s still time to enroll your child for a summer of fun.

Activities and programming will vary from site to site, but include topics consisting of outer space, dinosaurs, camping, field day, history, oceans, insects, life skills and of course, some amazing guest speakers and field trips too! Some sites are visiting John Ball Zoo, others are venturing to Lewis Adventure Farm & Zoo, another to Legends Ranch and one even to visit the Michigan History Museum in Lansing. No matter where your child attends-it’s sure to be a fun summer. The two school sites are even planning a pen-pal program, how fun!

Programming takes place Monday through Thursday, 9 am until 3 pm, at Hesperia Community Schools and 8:30 am until 2:30 pm at White Cloud Public Schools. For more information, contact the site coordinator at the appropriate school location-
Patricia St. Clair Elementary: (231) 854-6615, ext. 8623
David C. Outwin Middle School: (231) 854-6720
White Cloud Elementary: (231) 689-2306
White Cloud Jr. High School: (231) 689-2181, ext. 3328

Make this summer one your child remembers for years to come!

Community Support

Helps Area Youth at Bowlapalooza

With over 200 community supporters, TrueNorth’s annual bowling fundraiser, Bowlapalooza, successfully raised needed funds for TrueMentors last month. All funds raised will facilitate the connection of local youth with positive role models through the program’s three areas: Community Mentoring, TrueBlue Academy and Parks in Focus.

Community support included sponsors, bowlers and donors. Altogether the event raised over $24,000 for the program. To celebrate the fundraising efforts of supporters, TrueNorth held bowling at Fremont Lanes for 11 different teams, totalling nearly 100 bowlers between the two nights. Luci Moore of Gerber Life Insurance was the top fundraiser of the event, raising $900 total for TrueMentors.

“Thank you to everyone who participated in and supported Bowlapalooza,” says TrueNorth Youth Mentoring Specialist, Serena Lafferty. “You are making a difference in local youths’ lives, and we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without the support from all of you.”

Bowlapalooza would not have been possible without the generous support from our lead sponsor Leinenkugel’s, and from our additional sponsors: Ed’s Orchard Market, Gerber Federal Credit Union, Gerber Life Insurance, Hi-Lites Graphics, Hoaglin Electric, Magna Mirrors, Murray Lumber & Supply, Nieboer Electric, Par-Vox Technology, Tire Wholesalers and Wolff Builders.

Local Talent Awarded

Student Art Scholarship Contest & Expo

2024 marks the 52nd year of the county-wide, middle and high school Student Art Scholarship Contest and Expo. Students in 7th – 12th grades enter either individual pieces or portfolio collections of original artwork, which are judged and awarded by a guest adjudicator; this year – Tatsuki Hakoyama, Assistant Professor of Studio Arts, from Kendall College of Art and Design.

Award ribbons were given out for Outstanding Recognition in middle and high school, Outstanding Senior Recognition, Director’s Choice, and Scholarship Awards for outstanding portfolios in middle and high school at a public event on the evening of April 29. The Director’s Choice awards are ranked, with the top student afforded the opportunity to sell their piece to TrueNorth to become part of our permanent display of student artwork. Students winning the Scholarship Award, awarded as a cash prize, can be used to further their artistic education, through classes, camps, or the purchase of art supplies.

320 community members viewed the artwork while it was on display at our service center over a four day period. To view a short walk-through of the show and see complete lists of the winning students – click here!

Plant-a-Row for Hunger

Continue the Good Gardener’s Tradition

Eating fruits and vegetables is essential for long-term health, yet many facing food insecurity find it difficult to access these nutritious food items. Newaygo County benefits from rich soil and boasts a thriving local agricultural community. From apple and peach orchards to onion and carrot farms, the region produces a wide variety of fresh produce, and many residents maintain successful home gardens, which often yield more than they can consume.

In keeping with the good gardener’s tradition of sharing their bounty, we remind everyone of our annual Plant-a-Row For Hunger campaign. As you put in your gardens, please consider planting an extra row with intent to donate the extra produce to the Food Center at TrueNorth. Even if you don’t deliberately plant an extra row, we ask you to donate any excess to help feed your neighbors who are experiencing food insecurity. 

We also want to empower those visiting our Food Center, to grow their own gardens, maybe even for the first time. During our seed distribution event in April, we distributed 800 seed packets to Newaygo County residents, and offered a seed starting workshop for our Food Center members. Donations are accepted during normal business hours, Monday-Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.

Give Meaningful Gifts

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 Hungryyou will find the most meaningful gifts for your loved one.  Click here to learn more.

Camp Newaygo’s Co-Ed Day Camp

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.

Food Truck Frenzy

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 skillstechnologies and core curriculum in new, exciting and fun ways.

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

New Board Members

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.

Bonnie’s Story

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.

TrueNorth Day of Giving

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.”

Contact Us

(231) 924-0641

6308 S. Warner Ave
PO Box 149
Fremont, MI 49412

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