New Summer Youth Enrichment Program

Summer can be a difficult time for parents, and working parents in particular, to find meaningful activities for their children. Our new summer enrichment program, Summer Blast is poised to be the perfect solution.

We recognize the importance of summer enrichment programs, and our goal is to make Summer Blast not only fun, but also something your children will look forward to every day. Summer Blast will provide recreation and new experiences for local youth while building skills and connecting with peers.

The 6-week program will run June 16 through July 31, from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday-Thursday, and will serve youth in kindergarten through 8th grade for all sites except Newaygo, which is kindergarten – 4th grade. Students will take weekly field trips every Thursday to places like Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, and participate in a wide variety of interesting and cool activities like – sports, team building activities and games; hands-on STEM and academic enrichment activities; arts and crafts; and water play days. Additionally, they’ll have the chance to learn about healthy choices and living at weekly sessions in partnership with Arbor Circle, and “Cooking Matters” classes for middle school sites in partnership with Corewell Health. 

Summer Blast will take place within the buildings and facilities of local schools. Sites include – Daisy Brook Elementary School in Fremont, Fremont Middle School, Newaygo Elementary School, Grant Elementary School and Grant Middle School. 

Enrollment for this exciting, new FREE program is open and ongoing. Sign your student up now! For more information on Summer Blast and to enroll, visit www.truenorthservices.org/summer-blast or contact Brie Sova at bsova@truenorthservices.org or (231) 924-0641, ext. 120.

 

 

Golf Outing Supports Older Adults

Join us for our second annual Tee Up for TrueNorth Golf Outing! Benefitting TrueNorth’s Community Connections program, this event supports social health and well-being in our community.

We are holding a four-person scramble at the Village Green Golf Club on Saturday, August 23. There will be two divisions, mixed or men’s. Enjoy an 18 hole round with a cart, lunch, prizes and awards.

Not only will you experience a fun event, but you will also improve the well-being of our neighbors. Tee Up for TrueNorth supports all of Community Connections initiatives, including: 

-Special interest volunteer groups through All Together

-Conversations with isolated community members through Call & Connect

-Gatherings at local apartments to meet people where they are through Coffee Connections

-Opportunities to connect and have new experiences through Community Friends

-Friendly assistance with technology through Tech Help

Community Connections strives to create safe spaces for people to connect with and serve the community. For Elaine, participating at Community Connections has made a real difference in her life: “It helps me a lot to be with the group…I didn’t know one single person in our group when I first came, so now I have all these friends, and it’s helped me a lot.”

You can help people like Elaine build life-changing relationships. Register for Tee Up for TrueNorth today and be confident you are strengthening our neighbors.

Annual Celebration for Volunteers & Donors

The dedicated volunteers and donors who give of their time, talents and resources are the very lifeblood of our agency. As a nonprofit organization, we depend on the generosity of caring community members to make sure Good Happens Here.

Every year, at our Community of Efforts celebration, we honor several individuals and organizations with public recognition for their efforts. Last week over 100 people attended this event, where four Community and nine Program Awards were given out. A delicious meal, provided by Camp Newaygo’s own Ridge Catering was enjoyed by all, as was live music from Denise Anderson & Company. 

Community Awards this year were given out as follows:
Bessie Slautterback Award for lifetime service – The Dooge Family
Peggie Stone Award for commitment to youth – The Idlewild Community Development Corporation
Community Partner Award for generosity – Community Connections’ Knitting All Together group
Youth in Action Award for youth volunteerism – Ferris State University Honors Program

And the following individuals received 2025 Program Awards:
Camp Newaygo Award – Lindy Colombini
Children’s Services Award – John and Denise Dill  
Community Connections Award – Alice Smith
Cultural Enrichment Award – Carmen Faulkner  
Hunger Prevention Award – Charlotte Campbell  
Out-of-School Time Award – Chadwick Walenga
Spirit of TrueNorth Award – Dawn and Gregg Bourdon
TrueMentors Award – Laura Towne
Volunteer Services Award – Kelly Davis

“We moved from a big city, Nashville, to Fremont. When I did work, I worked with small communities… and  I wanted to work with my community. I see so much here and I want to help keep it moving forward.” – Lindy Colombini

We are grateful to not only these award winners, but also our countless volunteers and donors for their endless support of our organization. A huge congrats to our 2025 winners!  

 

 

MSHDA’s MICH Programs Makes BIG Difference

About two and a half years ago, we helped Ruth with some back taxes through a program called MiHAF (the Michigan Homeowners Assistance Fund). It was during this time when she first met one of our housing counselors, Lori Murphy.

Since then, a new program called MICH (MSHDA Investing in Community Housing) was introduced, focusing on energy efficiency and aging in place. Lori thought Ruth might be an ideal candidate for the program, as both she and her fiance’ have serious health concerns and their home was in disrepair, with old drafty windows and doors, as well as peeling linoleum, which created tripping hazards. Additionally, their bathroom was not safely accessible for either of them, and they were forced to haul their laundry offsite at a substantial expense. Ruth applied and qualified for the program.

After an energy-audit of her house and a walk through with Ezra Foster, one of our Housing Restoration Specialists to determine what was needed to make their home accessible, work began. Ruth was thrilled at the prospect, and was even more excited for the updates to make her home safe, accessible and energy efficient. Click here to watch a short video about her experience. 

 

 

Help Combat Food Insecurity

Our Plant a Row For Hunger campaign brings thousands of pounds of fresh produce into our Food Center every year, helping ensure our neighbors facing food insecurity receive this essential component of a healthy diet. Last year alone, over 9,000 lbs of much-needed produce was donated, and we’re hoping our community will step up again this year.

With food costs at an all-time high, your donations are more important than ever. Anyone who has ever had a home garden knows you typically end up with way more produce than you and your family could ever consume. In keeping with the good gardener’s tradition of sharing their bounty, we are asking community gardeners and farmers to please consider donating your extra produce to our Food Center.  

As you begin planning and planting your gardens, please consider planting an extra row with the expressed intent of donating the excess produce. We even have seed packets available for free at our Food Center, and encourage participants to start their own home gardens to help feed themselves, their families and neighbors in need.   

Some of our Community Connections participants are also helping through our Seasoned Soil Starters initiative. These participants, focused on those aged 55+, will help grow herbs and vegetables, planted from seeds in raised garden beds. Once ready for harvest, all produce will be donated to our Food Center. Food Center donations are accepted during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.

 

Help Enrich Our Community

After a wildfire broke out in 2024, the Wetland Trail at Camp Newaygo is in great need of replacement. We need your help to reach our goal of raising $485,000 to restore the trail.

The Wetland Trail is Michigan’s only sphagnum bog boardwalk. From serving as an outdoor classroom and conservation site to serving as an environmental space for community members, this trail has been an integral part of the community.

“This trail, a vital sanctuary for plants and wildlife, is a source of peace and connection for so many in Newaygo County,” says Jalisa Danhof, TrueNorth’s Camp Newaygo Director. “We are touched by the outpouring of support from those who understand the importance of this trail for our community.”

You will enrich our community when you make a donation. Not only will your gift help restore the trail, but it will also ensure future generations will be able to enjoy and learn from this natural asset.

There are a number of naming opportunities and giving levels available to make an even greater impact. Give today and be confident you are building vibrant communities. Donate now to the Wetland Trail campaign by clicking here!

Volunteers Make the Difference

Without the dedication and hard work of caring volunteers, our twice-a-month Mobile Food Pantry visits from Feeding America West Michigan simply wouldn’t be possible. It takes about 20 people to administer one Mobile Food Pantry and about 10 – 15 of these, every month, are volunteers.

Even in the coldest months of the year, these dedicated volunteers can be found loading boxes and moving them down the assembly line where they eventually are hand-loaded into participants’ vehicles. There’s usually music playing and there are always smiles…from the volunteers and the people receiving the food. 

Many local businesses and organizations regularly send groups to volunteer including; Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors, Fremont Insurance, Gerber Life, Gerber Products, Green Acres, H&S Companies, Horizon Bank, Humana and Wesco, as well as many local churches like Newaygo Congregational United Church of Christ and student groups like Newaygo High School’s Cross Country team and National Honor Society. 

“It is so important that students learn the value of community service. It teaches them the important life skill of giving back to others,” said Lisa Piccard, NHS Counselor and National Honor Society Advisor.

In 2024, this vital food service served nearly 16,000 individuals from 5,572 families. All of this would not be possible without our volunteers, to whom we would like to give a very warm and enthusiastic ‘Thank you!’ 

Camp Newaygo’s Winter Workshops

The last few months of winter often feel like a slower time. The holidays have passed, the days are still short and cold and there isn’t as much to do until spring. After a few weeks into January, however, the itch to “get out and do something” kicks in. Feeling this themselves, the team at Camp Newaygo created a Winter Workshop Series, and it was a hit for the local community.

Tapping into each of their expertise, Camp staff invited guests out to enjoy the beautiful facilities and explore a different topic each week. Lilka, who leads the Overnight Girls’ Camp program in the summer, hosted a variety of art workshops from ceramics to stained glass–inviting guest instructors to help each week. Community Program and Co-Ed Day Camp Director, Katie, had folks bundle up and join her in discovering wonders of nature hidden amongst the snow. Camp’s Adventure Program Director, Lili, has acquired a ton of how-to knowledge in her role and shared that with community members. 

The fan favorite, by far, were the monthly Freezer Meal Workshops led by Whitney and Ridge Catering. Whitney, along with Chef Matt, planned easy-to-cook, delicious recipes guests were able to sample and then assemble, drop in the freezer and heat over the upcoming weeks. Some standout recipes from the series were oven-ready chicken enchiladas, crockpot chicken pot pie and crockpot balsamic shredded beef. Folks not only got to prepare meals ahead for the month and take home the recipes, they also had a chance to meet new people and socialize on dreary winter evenings.

Although the winter workshop series is coming to an end in March, Camp Newaygo is just getting started with programs and events for the year! Whitney, Lilka, Katie, Lili and Matt would love to have you out to camp for any of the great community events coming up this spring, and summer camp programs are just around the corner. Love some of the freezer meal recipes? Ridge Catering is also available to bring catering to you or be part of a special event you hold at Camp Newaygo!

Participating in Bowlapalooza Encourages Kids like Jace

Bowlapalooza 2025 is here! Bringing together caring supporters like you, Bowlapalooza supports the connection of area kids with positive role models. Register for Bowlapalooza today to ensure youth like Jace receive the guidance they need to thrive.

“It’s made me more friends,” says sixth-grader Jace about how being in TrueBlue Academy has impacted him. “I have a lot more confidence when I walk; I’ll have a little more pep in my step. I’m a little more confident. I’ll raise my hand more.” Being a part of TrueMentor’s TrueBlue Academy has given Jace the extra support and encouragement he needs to excel both inside and outside the classroom.

Jace has been participating in TrueBlue Academy for over a year and continues to grow socially, emotionally and academically through the program. He enjoys all the different activities and lessons, especially projects and games that involve teamwork. Spending this extra time with mentors and his peers has helped Jace regulate his emotions and be more mindful of those around him.

TrueBlue Academy is a part of TrueNorth’s youth mentoring program, TrueMentors. Jace is a part of the program that operates in partnership with Newaygo Public School where he attends the program once a week during the school day. The program is run by TrueNorth staff with help from the school’s Resource Officer, Theron Blake.

Officer Blake is in his second year volunteering with TrueBlue Academy. Building relationships with Jace and the other students and seeing them grow throughout the year has been the most rewarding part for him: “I’ve seen a lot of growth with kids as far as, you know, their relationship building and just how they interact with other kids from the beginning to now–a lot more respectful and understanding of each other. It’s really awesome to be able to witness kids improving.”

Jace especially has flourished in the program. Officer Blake remarks on Jace’s growth, “Self-control and awareness of other people and just overall respect for others, I’m seeing big jumps with him.” Knowing he has a support system at TrueBlue Academy has given Jace the encouragement and security he needs to thrive.

You can continue this impact when you register for Bowlapalooza. We will celebrate each person who raises $40 or more with a fun, free night of bowling at Fremont Lanes on a designated night. Sign up today for a fun event that will ultimately transform our children’s lives.