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.

COE Celebrates Volunteers

We often say volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. The fact of the matter is; we wouldn’t be able to accomplish a fraction of what we do without them. In 2025, 383 individuals gave almost 10,000 hours of their time and talents to TrueNorth. 

Every year, TrueNorth honors several individuals and organizations with public recognition at our Community of Efforts celebration. The event, which features live music and a catered meal, in addition to the awards presentations, is designed as a well-deserved thank you to TrueNorth’s many volunteers and donors.

The event featured a delicious dinner, courtesy of Taste of Home Catering and dessert provided by The Great Bakes. Jazz vocalist Marquita Bernard accompanied herself on the 1912 TrueNorth Steinway and provided the perfect atmosphere and entertainment.

Community Awards this year were given out as follows: Kurt Sanderson (pictured above) received the Bessie Slautterback Award for lifetime service; Judy Chelsey received the Gene Cotton Award for creating a brighter future; Croton Township received the Peggie Stone Award for commitment to youth; and Darren Walker and the Healthy Plant Worm Farm received the Community Partner Award for generosity.

The following individuals received Program Awards: Bridget Fitzpatrick received the Camp Newaygo Award; Ruth Betar received the Children’s Services Award; Dennis and Phyllis Sano received the Community Connections Award; Lori Eslick received the Cultural Arts Award; Leighan Campeau received the Hunger Prevention Award; Greg McAllister received the Out-of-School Time Program Award; Jayne Elenbaas received the Spirit of TrueNorth Award; and Kathy Machuta received the TrueMentors Award.

To learn more about getting involved with TrueNorth, contact Madison Butler at (231) 924-0641, ext. 112 or mbutler@truenorthservices.org.

Student Art Exhibit

TrueNorth recently celebrated the creativity and talent of local middle and high school students during its annual student Art Contest and Exhibit, a long-standing event that gives young artists the opportunity to share their work with the community and earn scholarships to support their artistic growth.

This year’s exhibit featured artwork from students across Newaygo County, with awards recognizing outstanding individual pieces, senior artists and student portfolios. Scholarship winners received cash awards to help fund art classes, camps or supplies as they continue developing their creative skills.

The exhibit was judged by Lindsay Isenhart, Program Coordinator for the Newaygo County Council for the Arts.

Beyond the ribbons and scholarships, the event celebrated the imagination, hard work and personal expression of local students.

The exhibit is important to youth, as Newaygo High School art teacher Casmara Karrip shares, “An art show is so important because it gives students the chance to truly be seen for their creativity, ideas and individuality. Watching students gain confidence and pride in sharing their work is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching art. The exhibit reminds them that creativity matters and that their voices and talents deserve to be celebrated.” 

One Director’s Choice winner will also have their artwork purchased by TrueNorth to become part of the organization’s permanent collection of student artwork.

A full list of award winners can be found here. A video can be found here.

Jerry Secures Housing

Sixty-six year old Jerry used to drive a truck and made a good living at it, but found making ends meet in retirement much more difficult. He and his wife, who was battling serious health concerns, were living in a rented trailer, which was in pretty bad shape, with several broken windows and holes in the floor. That’s when things went from bad to worse. 

Jerry shared, “It all started in March (of 2025), my dog died, then my car burned up, then my wife died… and then I had to have a tumor taken out (of my brain). After the surgery, they sent me home but I wasn’t doing too good. Come to find out, my brain wasn’t sending signals to my adrenal glands… and I got really sick from it.” 

Due to these personal tragedies and health issues, things got so bad for Jerry, he even considered ending his own life. Thankfully, through word-of-mouth, Jerry had heard of TrueNorth and decided to walk into the Oceana County housing office, located at Love INC. in Shelby, to see if he could get help finding a new place to live. He had been trying to navigate the complicated systems and procedures involved but felt he wasn’t getting anywhere.

“I was just spinning my tires in the mud… but finally, we landed on some solid ground,” Jerry stated. Jerry says he simply wouldn’t have been able to do it all on his own, and he would have ended up homeless without the help he received from TrueNorth’s housing and emPower programs. He shared that his overall mental state changed from poor to excellent between August of 2025 and March of 2026. His hopes for himself a year from now are; “Getting back on my feet and trying to enjoy life.”