Christmas Giving
Children's Christmas Programs provides for 2,000 kids
| |
|
Marie appreciated being part of Children’s Christmas Programs & Toys for Tots (CCP), a TrueNorth community service.
“It helps out a lot,” the Newaygo mother of two (5- and 9-year-old boys) said of CCP. “There’s so many big bills every month, and it’s hard to find the extra money for Christmas.”
More than 2,000 children from Newaygo County will find a brighter Christmas because of CCP, which had its distribution December 9-13 at the TrueNorth Service Center in Fremont.
Through CCP, children from disadvantaged households receive toys, games, art supplies, a book, a stocking stuffer, mittens or gloves, a hat or scarf and two pairs of socks.
“More than 500 volunteers are pitching in,” said Mike Voyt, TrueNorth Volunteer & Special Projects Coordinator, of the “community efforts" for CCP.
| |
|
The volunteers include groups from Gerber Life Insurance Company, ChoiceOne Bank, Newaygo Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society and Project Citizen, Fremont Christian School, Trinity Fellowship of Newaygo, Wesco, Fremont Nazarene Church and Coldwell Banker Schmidt as well as many community volunteers.
TrueNorth partners with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation on CCP. The corporate sponsor is Gerber Life, a member of Western & Southern Financial Group. CCP is funded, in part, by grants from The Gerber Foundation, the Fremont Area Community Foundation (FACF) and the Keith Johnston Memorial Fund at FACF. The Bombas' Giving Program made a generous donation of socks.
“There were countless monetary and other donations by our generous donors,” said Mark Kraus, TrueNorth Community Liaison and Development Director.
New and unwrapped toys and gifts were collected during a month-long drive at sites in Croton Township, Fremont, Grant, Hesperia, Newaygo and White Cloud for CCP, which has been conducted annually since 1952.
| |
|
Beautifying White Cloud
CNH, MSHDA partner with city on home improvements
| |
| New roofs, front porches, windows, doors and siding.
Those were among the home improvements that a half-dozen White Cloud homeowners received through the Center for Nonprofit Housing (CNH), a TrueNorth affiliate.
To undertake the Neighborhood Enhancement Program with the City of White Cloud, CNH received a $50,000 Michigan State Housing Development Authority grant and a $5,000 Fremont Area Community Foundation grant.
“The focus of the program was to enhance White Cloud by repairing and improving a group of homes in the same neighborhood," said Brad Hinken, Health and Community Solutions Division Director for TrueNorth. “This is an investment in the community’s quality of life and is part of CNH's commitment to affordable housing.”
“You don’t know how happy I am that TrueNorth came to do this for me,” said Marilyn, one of the homeowners, about the improvements.
Jasmine pointed to her home’s enhancements, which now allow her to budget for things like birthdays, holidays, future home repairs and daily living expenses.
Ron, a Vietnam War veteran, says he looks forward to enjoying his home’s new metal roof, which will keep him warm and dry.
Dawn, another homeowner who benefitted, said: “God must have sent you!”
CNH is committed to ensuring access to quality affordable housing in our community, one home at a time. To discover more, contact CNH at 231.924.0641, ext. 207, or info@cnhousing.org; or visit CNH's website.
| |
|
Santa and S'mores
Camp Newaygo embraces Christmas on fun-filled day
| |
| Families enjoyed a fantastically festive start to the holidays at Camp Newaygo's annual Santa and S'mores.
The Christmastime activities on a wintry Saturday in Lang Lodge included portraits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, reindeer, holiday crafts, goodies and a crackling fire with s'mores for the 285 children and their families taking part.
To make a day of their visit, several families arrived early to construct gingerbread houses and decorate their sweet creations in the Health & Leadership Lodge on December 7.
Next up for the holidays at Camp Newaygo is New Year's Eve at Lang Lodge. Get your sparkle and ring in 2020 on Tuesday, December 31, from 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. The festivities include a surf and turf buffet by Ridge Specialties, music by The Bri Baron Band, a DJ, a ceiling full of balloons dropped at midnight and and a cash bar. The cost is $55 per person or $275 to reserve a table of six. To make reservations or for more details, visit https://campnewaygo.org/events/nye/ or call (231) 652-1184.
| |
|
| The generosity shown by our youth in Newaygo County is incredibly heartwarming. Our programs, including Children's Christmas Programs & Toys for Tots, Coats for Kids (& Adults) and TrueNorth Food Programs, improve the well-being of children and families in our community. Students from Newaygo High School's National Honor Society, Newaygo Middle School's National Junior Honor Society and Project Citizen, Fremont Christian School, White Cloud Junior High School Band & Choir and the Fremont Area Community Foundation's Youth Advisory Committee generated volunteers and donations for those TrueNorth programs. We're very thankful for their contributions.
| |
|  | Photo illustration: Aaron Burden/Unsplash
| |
| | |
|
- Friday Piano Showcase, December 20
- Winter Reunion at Camp Newaygo, December 28
- New Year's Eve at Lang Lodge, December 31
- National Mentoring Month with TrueMentors, January (dates vary)
- January Fitness Series, January 8, 15, 22 and 29
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, January 20
- Krop for Kids, January 24-26
- Feeding America West Michigan Mobile Food Pantry, January 29
- LunaFest at Camp Newaygo, February 7
- Daddy Daughter Dance and Dinner, February 9
- Dam to Dam Ice Fishing Tournament, February 15
| |
|
|
|
|
