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Food insecurity continues to plague Americans everywhere. Large numbers of people regularly access resources at food banks and pantries, like the TrueNorth Food Center. The negative impacts of food insecurity are staggering. They include higher risks of chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. They also make communities less healthy, productive and resilient. 

Accessing fresh produce is one of the most difficult things for people experiencing food insecurity. It is one of the reasons a program like TrueNorth’s Plant-a-Row for Hunger is so important. It also makes the prospect of home gardening much more appealing and even necessary for those facing food insecurity.  

Continue reading to learn more about the impacts of food insecurity, TrueNorth’s Food Center, their Plant-a-Row for Hunger Campaign and trends in home gardening.  

Hunger in America

The USDA reports nearly 14% of US Households were food insecure at least some time during the year, in 2024. In a report from that year, they define “very low food security” as the more severe range of food insecurity. This is when one or more household members experience reduced food intake and disrupted eating patterns because of limited money or other resources for food. In 2024, 5.4 percent of households experienced very low food security.  

According to Feeding America, in 2024 alone, 48 million people faced food insecurity. Additionally, 50+ million turned to food banks and pantries for help. This includes 1 in 5 children. Children are particularly susceptible to the negative impacts of food insecurity because their brains and bodies are still developing. Among children, food insecurity is associated with higher incidents of several negative health issues. These include anemia, asthma, depression and anxiety, cognitive and behavioral problems and a higher risk of being hospitalized.   

There are a number of reasons for food insecurity. Lack of transit, safe places or good schools can make it harder for families to get the food they need. Low pay, job loss or having a disability can make it hard for even working families to afford enough food. When rent, health care, utility bills and child care cost more, families often have less to spend on food. All of these issues continue to make food insecurity a pressing issue for low-income Americans.

Hunger in Michigan

According to America’s Health Rankings from the United Health Foundation, Michigan ranks 41st in the nation in food insecurity.      

Feeding America reports the food insecurity rate in Michigan sits at over 15%, slightly higher than the national average. This represents over a million and half people. 

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) formally known as food stamps, provides monthly, low-income household benefits. In Michigan, these are typically provided via an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, known as a Bridge Card. Among food insecure people in Michigan, 37% are above the SNAP threshold. This means even though they are in fact, food insecure, they do not qualify for SNAP assistance.   

Needing assistance and yet not qualifying for it further exacerbates an already untenable situation for many Michiganders. This further stretches already strained budgets and creates even more stress for those involved.   

Hunger Locally

Feeding America reports the food insecurity rate in Newaygo County as 16.3%. They also report over 75% of households as being below the SNAP threshold, meaning they qualify for food assistance. Lastly, they report the annual food budget shortfall in Newaygo County is over $5.1 million. Those are staggering numbers. 

Hunger relief programming at TrueNorth reflects these numbers. Their self-select Food Center averages 7,311 individual assists per month representing 2,041 households. Additionally, the twice-a-month Mobile Food Pantry visits from Feeding America average 735 individuals representing 258 households, per truck.

TrueNorth counts on donations from generous local people to be able to keep the shelves stocked. In an average year, 740,545 lbs. of food is donated, including 5,756 lbs. of fresh produce. In an average year, they distribute 1,118,460 lbs. of food to local people including 157,993 lbs. of fresh produce. Why do we mention fresh produce? Simply because it is the one food item people experiencing food insecurity most need, and are least likely to be able to obtain. 

Fresh Produce 

The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendations for a healthy diet include consuming at least 400 g of a range of fruits and vegetables daily.  

The National Library of Medicine tells us the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend you make one-half of your plate fruits and vegetables. Diets high in fruits and vegetables are widely recommended for their health-promoting properties. Fruits and vegetables have historically held a place in dietary guidance because of their concentrations of vitamins, especially vitamins C and A; minerals, especially electrolytes; and more recently phytochemicals, especially antioxidants. Additionally, fruits and vegetables are recommended as an excellent source of dietary fiber. 

According to The Case for Fresh Produce from Brown University Health, “Fresh seasonal produce is always better for you since it is allowed to ripen naturally, rather than being picked early and sent to stores. Plants that have more exposure to the sun often contain higher levels of antioxidants.” 

It is for these reasons, TrueNorth promotes its annual Plant-a-Row for Hunger campaign. 

Plant-a-Row

The good garden’s tradition of sharing excess with those in need is the impetus for this initiative. TrueNorth asks local farmers and gardeners to consider planting an extra row with the intent to donate the extra produce. Every year, the Plant-a-Row for Hunger campaign brings in over 9,000 lbs. of fresh produce to the Food Center. As previously stated, this is a vital component of a healthy diet. With food costs at an all-time high, these donations are more important than ever.

An additional component of this campaign is donating seeds to local people for gardening purposes. This serves two functions; First, To encourage local gardeners to take part in the Plant-a-Row campaign. Second, To encourage local people experiencing food insecurity to start their own home gardens, often for the first time. Newaygo County is rural and the opportunity to grow one’s own food, in their own yard is possible. It is also a great step towards becoming self-sufficient.  

Home Gardening

According to a study entitled Home Food Gardening: US Market Trends & Opportunities by Freedonia Group, growing fresh produce at home is an increasingly more popular trend, particularly with grocery costs continuing to rise. They report people are planting food gardens for a number of reasons. They believe produce grown at home is healthier and more nutritious, it tastes better, and they want to know where their food comes from. 

This trend has seen a sharp uptick, post-pandemic. The supply shortages that followed  drew increased attention to the potential of home gardening to improve food security and nutrition. 

A report on home gardening published by the National Library of Medicine pointed out a number of interesting and relevant points. In an evaluation of a home gardening initiative in San Jose, CA, participants reported increased vegetable consumption, gardening-related physical activity, cost savings and new and strengthened connections with neighbours. Having a home garden not only provides low-cost fresh produce for your home, it’s also just good for you. Additionally, it is empowering.

A Local Story

Using seeds she received from TrueNorth, Amanda V. and her husband started a home garden… for the first time ever. 

“It gave my husband more of a sense of purpose at home helping the family. A garden was a great way for him to ‘give back’ to his family.”

Together, they grew tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, cabbage, herbs, and peppers.

“So many peppers! We used all methods to preserve food; canning, drying, freezing, you name it.”

They were even able to provide some of their excess to four other local families in need. 

To learn more about Hunger Prevention services at TrueNorth, including their Food Center and the Plant-a-Row for Hunger campaign, visit www.truenorthservices.org/hunger-prevention-programs.      

National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 by President Richard Nixon, via Proclamation 4288. It honors volunteers and encourage people nationwide to get involved, it has grown exponentially over the years.

Locally, TrueNorth Community Services has been celebrating National Volunteer Week for many years. An agency like TrueNorth wouldn’t be able to accomplish a fraction of what it does without volunteers. 

Continue reading to learn more about National Volunteer Week, trends in volunteering, and the many ways TrueNorth utilizes volunteers.

National Volunteer Week

Points of Light is the world’s largest nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating volunteer service and civic engagement. It enlists nearly 4 million people across 32+ countries every year. Founded by U.S. President George H.W. Bush in 1990, it empowers people to act as “points of light” to solve community problems through volunteering, corporate social impact programs and global network affiliates. It also acts as the primary organizer of National Volunteer Week in the US, encouraging civic engagement and volunteering.
This year’s National Volunteer Week is April 19 – 25. Nationwide, people will be rolling their sleeves up and getting involved in bettering their communities. Points of Light even has an online database of volunteer opportunities available nationwide during National Volunteer Week. April is also Global Volunteer Month, whereby volunteers and volunteering are celebrated all over the world. 

Local Opportunities

During National Volunteer Week, TrueNorth and Camp Newaygo are offering a variety of different ways to get involved. Camp Newaygo has received a mini-grant from the Michigan Community Service Commission to engage youth during Global Youth Service Day. As an Earth Day event, they will be partnering with local businesses and have youth volunteers distributing saplings. Click here for more information on this event. 

TrueNorth will also be conducting a Volunteer Appreciation Week April 19 – 25 to honor and thank their volunteers. As TrueNorth’s new Volunteer Coordinator, Madison Butler gets up to speed, there will be more ways to get involved. Fill out the volunteer interest form to learn more. 

TrueNorth offers many different ways to volunteer, with varying commitment levels. Everything from their Board of Directors, to their walk-in Food Center and from mentoring youth, to weeding gardens. They connect people to a purpose, finding the right place for volunteers to get involved and give back.    

Post-Pandemic Volunteering

According to a 2026 study published by Gallup, nationwide, volunteerism has recovered from pandemic lows. 63% of Americans say they volunteered their time to charitable organizations, a full seven percentage points higher than in 2021. 

The study also shows higher rates of volunteering among middle-aged adults and those with higher educational levels. 

Trends in Volunteerism

Some current trends in volunteerism include shifting toward flexible, short-term and virtual opportunities, with formal, long-term commitments declining and informal, neighborly help-type opportunities increasing. Driven by younger generations (Millennials/Gen Z), trends include skills-based volunteering and high-impact episodic events. 

According to a report on volunteer trends in 2026 from Momentive, we’re seeing shifts driven by three forces;

1. Competition for volunteers
2. Limited resources and staffing
3. Volunteer engagement and retention challenges

As a result of these, successful agencies are implementing recognition and appreciation programs. These give volunteers more tangible feedback on the impact of their time and efforts. Successful agencies are also offering more flexible volunteer schedules and even virtual volunteer opportunities. Lastly, successful agencies are offering training and professional development for their volunteers.  

What Experts Are Saying

Tobi Johnson is a nationally recognized expert, author and trainer in volunteer engagement, who specializes in modern, evidence-based strategies for non-profits. She is the President of Tobi Johnson & Associates and founder of VolunteerPro, an online training community for volunteer leaders. In the podcast titled, The Future of Volunteerism – Trends & Predictions Part 1, Johnson points to the following trends;

• Trend #1: Public Call for Accountability. People desire to volunteer for organizations they can trust, whose ethics and values mirror their own. People are much more apt today, to reward an organization they trust. Conversely, they are much more apt to punish ( i.e., protest or boycott) one they do not. 

“For today’s volunteers, the bottom line is that it’s not just about giving time, it’s about giving it where it truly counts in a place that we trust, in a place that we believe is accountable.” Tobi stated.   

• Trend #2: Resurgence of Mutual Aid Volunteerism. People and communities getting together for mutual aid, to help one another. This really focuses people’s efforts on local networking and problem solving of local needs. 

Tobi continues, “The future of volunteerism lies in our ability to create communities where people feel connected, valued and empowered to make a difference together.”

• Trend #3: Psychological Advances in Community and Belonging. Understanding why people take action (like getting involved as a volunteer or donor).
  
  “What do we know about human motivation now, and what could we know about how people best work in groups to further the greater good?” Tobi shared.

Corporate Volunteerism 

Another interesting and impactful trend is an increase in corporate volunteerism. Corporate volunteering is a company-sponsored program where employees use work hours or company resources to support non-profit organizations or community causes. What began as a slow rebound after the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved into one of the fastest growing engines of corporate purpose. According to a 2026 report from Benevity, “corporate volunteer hours are up 175% and unique employee volunteers more than tripled since before the pandemic.”

Some key findings from Benevity’s “The State of Corporate Volunteering 2026; a System Ripe for Reimaging” are of particular interest. While the participation in corporate volunteering is rising, the impact isn’t following, as individuals are giving less time per engagement. While corporate volunteerism is on the rise in general, the needs of nonprofit organizations  both financially and for volunteers, is increasing faster and at a greater rate.   

There are more people taking part in corporate volunteerism, but they are doing so in increasingly smaller amounts of time.

Volunteering at TrueNorth

Last year, 687 400 people gave 21,102 hours of volunteer time to TrueNorth in any given year. Independent Sector, in collaboration with the University of Maryland’s Do Good Institute, determines the annual estimated national and state-level value of volunteer service in the U.S. As of April 2025, they valued the 2024 national volunteer hour at $34.79, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data. Using these numbers, this equates to an approximate salary savings of $734,138 annually for TrueNorth. To say “volunteers are the lifeblood of TrueNorth” is a vast understatement. 

To learn more about volunteering at TrueNorth, please contact Madison Butler at (231) 924-0641, ext. 112 or mbutler@truenorthservices.org. You may also visit truenorthservices.org or click here to view a recent TrueNorth “Good Happens Here” podcast about volunteerism.

Adult-to-youth mentoring isn’t a new idea, but the manner in how it takes place is seeing new methods. The one-to-one mentoring model, considered high commitment – high reward, is still very effective. Group mentoring however, a low commitment – high reward method, is gaining popularity, with male mentors, in particular.

Continue reading to learn more about the importance of mentoring, trends, the shortage of male mentors and the ways you can get involved with TrueMentors.

The Importance of Youth Mentoring

In a ground-breaking, 30-year study, Big Brother Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) recently released some startling data. This study detailed the life-long impacts of mentorship during childhood and adolescence. The study showed an impressive effect on young people’s trajectories. 

Three of the most impactful outcomes reported in this study are as follows;

1. Youth matched with a mentor increased earnings in adulthood and were more likely to experience social mobility. Mentored youth experienced a 15% increase in earnings between ages 20 and 25, and were calculated to earn $56,000 more by age 65 than non-mentored youth. 
2. Mentored youth were more likely to attend college. Youth in this group were 10 percentage points more likely to enroll in college than non-mentored youth. 
3. Mentoring has a very strong return on investment. The cost per mentor-mentee match is relatively low, ranging from $2,000 to $3,000 per year. Since mentored youth are calculated to earn significantly more over their lifetimes, this results in an estimated $7,000 more in tax revenue for the government per individual. Accordingly, the government’s financial gain is two to three times greater than the cost of programming, essentially making mentoring programs self-sustaining. 

This study showed mentorship has a lasting, positive effect on young people’s futures, including educationally, socially and economically. It is also, dollar for dollar, one of the most cost-effective ways to do so. 

Mentoring at TrueNorth

TrueNorth has been offering adult to youth mentoring since 1976. That’s 50 years of local adults coming alongside local youth offering friendship, guidance and direction. While TrueNorth may lack the funding and infrastructure to conduct a large-scale study on the impacts of mentoring, the agency does have half a century’s worth of anecdotal stories. 

“The best thing about having a mentor is… when I don’t have a role model in my family, I can always go to her, because she’s a good role model and she’s always there for me.”
– Riley

“We both like fishing and going out. It’s fun (having a mentor),and you get to go outside and do things you don’t normally do with your mom or your parents.”
– Anthony

The Good News

According to a study from MENTOR, cited by The Chronicle of Evidence-Based Mentoring, today’s youth are more likely to have a mentor. Fifty-six percent of all adults say they had a mentor, compared with 66% of those under 40. The trend is primarily thanks to an increase in programs that facilitate formal mentoring relationships – ones like TrueNorth’s TrueMentors program.    

Youth.gov reports the benefits of mentoring for youth include:

• Increased high school graduation rates
• Lower high school dropout rates
• Healthier relationships and lifestyle choices
• Better attitude about school
• Higher college enrollment rates and higher educational aspirations
• Enhanced self-esteem and self-confidence
• Improved behavior, both at home and at school
• Stronger relationships with parents, teachers and peers
• Improved interpersonal skills
• Decreased likelihood of initiating drug and alcohol use

According to MENTOR:

The Bad News

In the same study from MENTOR, we learn the trend of increased mentorship appears to have stalled in recent years. This reveals yet another impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other societal shifts on today’s young adults. Among Gen Z, particularly its youngest members (those ages 18-21), the presence of mentors appears to have declined.

Men seem to be less inclined to sign up to be a mentor. There are a number of possible reasons for this, which we’ll dive into. 

The Male Gap

There is a clear, statistically-backed shortage of male volunteers and mentors in the United States. This creates a severe bottleneck for boys who need guidance. According to a study by the American Institute for Men and Boys:

• More than 70% of children currently on the Big Brothers Big Sisters waitlist are boys, primarily due to a severe lack of male mentors (“Big Brothers”).
• Men with a bachelor’s degree volunteer at more than double the rate of men without one (42% vs. 19%). 
• Men who are fathers are notably more likely to volunteer (33%) than men without children (24%).
• Men consistently volunteer less than women. In 2023, 27% of men volunteered compared to 32% of women.

TrueNorth’s mentoring program, TrueMentors, sees very similar percentages of male waitlist kids versus females. This mirrors the national averages detailed above.

In a 2024 TED Talk by writer and social scientist, Richard Reeves we learn the lack of male role models extends into professional institutions as well. The share of K-12 teachers who are male has fallen from 33% in the 1980s to just 23% today. Similarly, men only make up about 22% of the workforce in “HEAL” professions (Health, Education, Administration, and Literacy).

One of the reasons the gap in male mentors is so troubling is explained in staggering terms by NYU Professor and Podcast Host, Scott Gallway. In this video, he states the  “single point of failure for a young man coming off the tracks is when he loses a male role model.” 

Galway further emphasizes this point in his book, “Notes on Being a Man” where he highlights; “a ‘five-alarm fire’ for young men, often caused by a lack of positive male role models, which dramatically increases the risk of incarceration over college graduation.”

Why Are Men Hesitating?

Understanding why men aren’t signing up is crucial to finding ways to close that gap. Traditional mentoring models often ask men to sell their “emotional availability”. This is a resource many modern men feel they are low on. Instead, men are much more eager to provide their competence and physical presence. 

Additionally, men often struggle with the indefinite, open-ended timelines of traditional mentoring, or the pressure to be a mentor forever. Lastly, a commonly-cited barrier to male volunteering is an incredibly simple one: no one asked them.

New Trends

To get men on board, successful programs are redesigning their mentoring models. The core thesis driving this shift is that men engage shoulder-to-shoulder, not face-to-face. This means they bond better through construction rather than conversation.

Organizations are moving away from positioning mentors as “therapists”. Instead, they frame the mentor as an “expert” who can immediately deploy and/or teach a tangible skill. Things like basic carpentry, changing oil or wiring a lamp. This frees men from thinking a long-term emotional contract is needed upfront.

To combat the fear of indefinite commitment, programs are utilizing a Task Force model. This is a 6-to-8 week cohort where a group of mentors and youth form a unit (e.g., 3 men + 10 youth) to complete a specific mission. These could be things like clearing a trail or building raised garden beds. In this model, mentoring happens organically within the context of the work.

Programs are also leaning into the Expedition model, which involves challenging outdoor activities like winter camping or kayaking. This gets disengaged men off the couch, validates their physicality and feels like an adventure, rather than a formal meeting.

Group Mentoring

TrueNorth’s internal exploration of Group Mentoring was originally sparked by the specific challenge of recruiting male volunteers, in general. The research quickly revealed this isn’t just a patch for a shortage; it is in fact, a superior relational model. What began as a way to lower the barrier of entry for men, has evolved into a strategy benefitting all mentors and mentees, regardless of gender.

Group mentoring serves as a low-pressure “on-ramp” for men who may feel intimidated by the intensity of one-to-one roles. However, once that infrastructure is built, it creates a richer, more diverse environment for co-ed participation. Men often respond better to a team dynamic. By leaning into that, we aren’t excluding women; we are creating a community-style mentoring environment that is naturally co-ed, which reflects real-world social dynamics.

Adding group mentoring to the toolkit doesn’t take away from one-to-one matches. It expands the menu of how people can serve. The goal is a both/and ecosystem, not an either/or mandate.

A Fun Way to Get Involved

One of the easiest and most-fun ways to support TrueNorth’s mentoring programs is by getting involved in Bowlapalooza 2026. This is TrueNorth’s annual bowling fundraiser. Community members are encouraged to form teams and raise pledges to support mentoring in Newaygo County.

This year’s event takes place at Fremont Lanes on April 16th from 5:30 – 7:30 pm, and April 17th from 5:30 – 7:30 pm or 8:00 – 10:00 pm. Individuals who raise $40 or more will receive two games of bowling with shoe rental, a Bowlapalooza t-shirt and a door prize entry on their designated bowling night. The top adult fundraiser (age 18 and older) will receive the event’s grand prize. Click here to learn more.

To learn more about TrueMentors’ programming or about mentoring visit: www.truenorthservices.org/true-mentors.

Social Isolation is the objective lack of social contacts and relationships. If that’s the problem, Social Prescribing is definitely one of the solutions. Pioneered in the UK, Social Prescribing addresses the root causes of poor health, such as loneliness, debt, or isolation. It does so by focusing on social and emotional needs, rather than just medical symptoms. 

Continue reading more about the health risks associated with social isolation, the history of Social Prescribing and how TrueNorth’s ENGAGE! program is using it to help older adults in Newaygo County build new social networks.  

The UK Model

According to (National Health Services) NHS England, Social Prescribing is a key component of the UK’s Universal Personalised Care. It is an approach that connects people to activities, groups and services in their community to meet the practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing.  

Early concepts of Social Prescribing in the UK date back to the 1920’s with the Peckham Experiment. It became more widely recognized in the mid-2000s. Social Prescribing was adopted as a national NHS strategy through their Long Term Plan, beginning in 2019. 

It gained a foothold in the US shortly thereafter with pilot programs like CultureRx in Massachusetts (starting 2019) and the establishment of Social Prescribing USA (SPUSA) in 2022. 

Social Isolation in the U.S.

An overview from the CDC shows us about 1 in 3 adults report feeling lonely, and 1 in 4 report not having social and emotional support.

According to the CDC, individuals most at risk for experiencing social isolation are those with limited or no access to resources. Reasons include living in rural areas, having limited transportation or language barriers. Additional high-risk factors include facing the loss of a loved one, a divorce, unemployment, or having a mental or physical challenge like a chronic disease or condition, or long-term disability.   

Some people groups are more at-risk than others, including older adults, low-income adults, and adults living alone.

The related health risks are substantial, and include increased risks of heart disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression and anxiety, dementia, suicidality and self-harm, and earlier death. 

In one particularly alarming statement from 2023’s “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation” released by the CDC, US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy noted;

“The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.”    

Social Isolation in Michigan

Key Findings on Social Isolation in Michigan (from MichiganMedicine.org):

• Prevalence: In 2024, 29% of older Michigan adults (50-80) reported feeling isolated, and 33% reported feeling lonely some or all of the time.
• Friendship Gaps: While 88% of Michiganders 50+ have at least one close friend, 24% reported not having enough close friends.
• Mental/Physical Health Link: Nearly 50% of older adults with fair or poor mental health reported lacking enough close friends, and more than 7 in 10 reported feelings of loneliness.

Vulnerable Populations: Individuals living below 150% of the poverty line, those with physical disabilities, and those in rural areas face higher risks.

Local Issues and Solutions

Newaygo County is 100% rural, with the entire northern half covered by the Manistee National Forest. It spans over 860 square miles and includes five small towns along with several smaller townships. 

While a beautiful place to live, it also brings real challenges. Extreme weather which drives up heat and energy costs, long distances along dirt roads and a shortage of housing. Additionally, the recent closure of the Hi-Lites Shoppers Guide, which was the primary source of local information for many. 

All of these things and more, combine to make Social Isolation a real threat to our aging population. Many of our older adults are in high-risk categories. These include being low-income, living alone, and having unreliable internet availability and cell phone reception. These, combined with limited or no access to resources and having limited transportation are a perfect recipe for isolation. 

Also, by comparison; neighboring Kent County offers over 200 resources for aging adults, with Newaygo County, only having a few.

The Missing Piece

TrueNorth started their Community Connections program a few years ago. The goal is to offer activities and opportunities for older Newaygo County adults facing social isolation to get connected. It was quickly realized a key component was missing. A connector between those experiencing social isolation and the programs and services available to them, was needed. 

A grant from the Enterprise Foundation offered TrueNorth the finances to be able to start the ENGAGE! Program. This funding, part of their Thome Aging Well Program allowed TrueNorth to hire Link Workers. Their job is to seek out and connect older isolated adults in Newaygo County to programming and social opportunities. These may happen at TrueNorth, or a variety of other local organizations as well.  

How Social Prescribing Actually Works

While the UK model is top-down, with a government-funded healthcare system doing the “prescribing”, it looks and operates a little differently here in the U.S.. 

TrueNorth’s Link Workers work not only with local healthcare providers, but also with frontline workers. These include hairdressers, social workers, pharmacists and anyone else who works with or encounters isolated older adults. 

There are no doctors writing prescriptions for “social interaction” for their patients. Rather, there is a network of concerned citizens referring people to ENGAGE! Link Workers.

Since Social Prescribing is still relatively new to the U.S., healthcare professionals are just now starting to understand the benefits of a holistic approach to their patients’ well-being. Accordingly, they are slowly embracing and utilizing programs like ENGAGE! 

Speaking of ENGAGE!…

The first thing TrueNorth staff ask individuals when they come in is; 

“What matters to you?”, as opposed to“What’s wrong with you?” 

It all starts with a friendly conversation, often over a cup of coffee. Basically, we find out what they want to do, how they can expand their social circle and how Link Workers can come alongside them on that path.

ENGAGE! is that connector piece between isolated older adults and the myriad of opportunities to get involved, meet people and expand their social circles in Newaygo County. This can happen at programming offered through TrueNorth’s Community Connections, in addition to any number of other local organizations, like the Commission on Aging, One Township at a Time, or Wellspring Adult Day Services, just to name a few.    

A Real-Life Story

One woman in particular, who was referred to ENGAGE! by her daughter, had recently lost her husband. As a result, she was withdrawn and isolated without a lot of real-world skills needed to navigate the world. 

A TrueNorth’s Link Worker started working with her to find out what she was interested in. After learning of her lack of knowledge of simple things, like how to put gas in her own car, staff came alongside her and offered education. Initially, she was only comfortable going to one gas station… the one she knew, which really limited how far she was comfortably willing to travel for any reason, much less for social events.  

Today, she attends programming at TrueNorth three or four days a week and has a whole new set of friends and social connections.

How to Get Involved

There are any number of ways to connect, depending on how you want to get involved. For example, If you know an older adult in Newaygo County who is suffering from social isolation, you can contact TrueNorth. An ENGAGE! Link Worker will make the initial contact with that adult and start the process. Additionally, you may refer a relative, a neighbor, a client or a patient. Not only that, but you may even do a self-referral.   

There are also a number of ways to get involved as a volunteer, helping isolated older adults in Newaygo County find new purpose and build new social connections. A socially connected population is a healthy one – physically, emotionally and mentally.  

Visit www.truenorthservices.org/engage or call (231) 924-0641 and ask to speak with an ENGAGE! staff member.