Big Apple Bagels® in Grand Rapids (6670 Kalamazoo Ave.) will hold their official Grand Re-Opening Open House event to benefit the Kentwood Little Free Pantry on Saturday, Nov. 9, from 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry is a free resource that provides food to community members in need.
Helping those in need
All are encouraged to stop in, see the new Big Apple Bagels décor and receive a free coffee when you donate a non-perishable good to the Kentwood Little Free Pantry. During this one-day event, Big Apple Bagels will be offering bagels for just $0.75.
(Courtesy, Big Apple Bagels)
“We are grateful for the support from Big Apple Bagels for hosting a food drive for the Little Free Pantry. We typically see an increased need for donations around the holiday season,” said Val Romeo, Director of Kentwood Parks and Recreation.
“Whether it’s a collection of canned goods or a financial contribution, all donations help families in our community.”
Big Apple Bagels will be collecting non-perishable goods for the pantry through Nov. 30.
Pantry suggested donations
More information about Kentwood’s Little Free Pantry, including a list of suggested donations, is available at kentwood.us/littlefreepantry.
The Kentwood Police Department is encouraging community members to take part in its National Prescription Drug Take Back Day event on Saturday, Oct. 26.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kentwood Police Department, 4742 Walma Ave. SE. Police Department staff will collect tablets, capsules and other solid forms of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. They also will accept vaping devices and cartridges as long as lithium batteries are removed.
A previous Kentwood Police Department Prescription Drug Take Back Event. (Photo Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
Syringes, sharps and illicit drugs will not be accepted at the event. For these items, community members can utilize the Kent County Health Department’s SafeSharp program, which collects syringes and sharps at the South Clinic, 4700 Kalamazoo Ave. SE.
“The Kentwood Police Department’s Drug Take Back Day event provides community members with a safe and anonymous way to properly dispose of a variety of medications,” Kentwood Police Chief Bryan Litwin said. “By removing expired or unused medications from our community, we are reducing prescription drug misuse, overdoses and accidental poisonings. This effort is part of our ongoing commitment to doing everything we can to help keep community members safe.”
KPD and other law enforcement agencies across the nation partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration to host Drug Take Back Day events every October and April as part of ongoing efforts to combat prescription drug misuse and overdose deaths.
For community members unable to attend KPD’s event, the department offers a year-round drug take back program for the safe disposal of unused or expired prescription medications. This free, anonymous service is available in KPD’s lobby from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Wyoming Public Schools (WPS) has partnered with Feeding America Mobile Pantry to host a Mobile Pantry once a month.
*WHS October Mobile Food Pantry will be held Monday, Oct. 21 from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
What to expect
Though the selection of food varies each month, there are always a variety of fresh and frozen items available at the Mobile Pantry.
The Mobile Pantry is drive-thru style, and families are asked to remain in their vehicles for safety.
WHS Mobile Food Pantry Map (Courtesy, WPS)
Cars enter at the main entrance to WHS (1350 Prairie Parkway). Volunteers will direct traffic in the parking lot to help with efficiency.
Once in line, a volunteer will approach each car to record the name, address, number of people in the household, and the reason the food is needed for each family. Once a car has reached the front of the line, volunteers will load a box of food into the trunk.
Resources
To learn more about Feeding America West Michigan and the services they offer, click here.
For the Feeding America Mobile Food Pantry schedule, click here.
Grand Valley fans are encouraged to join Grand Valley Athletics and its partners, WLAV, SpartanNash and the American Red Cross, in relief efforts for hurricane victims across the southeastern United States.
Donation items
The American Red Cross is asking the public for donations of individually-wrapped snacks such as granola bars; fruit cups; bags of pretzels, chips, popcorn, or crackers; juice boxes or beef jerky.
Help hit GVSU’s goal of contributing 150,000 individually wrapped snacks. Something to eat can make a big difference for someone dealing with the aftermath of a disaster.
Even something as small as a snack can help those in need (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Where and when to drop off
Lakers fans can drop off these items prior to Grand Valley’s home game against Northern Michigan from 3-7 p.m. on Oct. 12 in Parking Lot B2 at WLAV’s location in Tailgate Town.
Three SpartanNash store locations are also accepting donations through Saturday: Family Fare, 6370 Lake Michigan Drive, Allendale; D&W, 1116 Robbins Road, Grand Haven; and Forest Hills Foods, 4668 Cascade Road SE, Grand Rapids.
It’s important older adults – and those who care for them – take action each fall to help prevent severe complications that can come from contracting viral illnesses. (Courtesy, Adobe Stock)
While fall brings with it sweaters, corn mazes and all things pumpkin spice, it also marks a peak in respiratory virus illnesses.
As the new season begins, Care Resources Clinical Quality Manager Bethany Graham says now is a serious time to focus on illness prevention, particularly for older adults.
“Every year in the fall, we start seeing an increase in influenza and COVID in the U.S.,” says Graham, who oversees infection control for Care Resources, a community-based program that serves people 55 years and older. “Flu and COVID are viral illnesses that impact everyone differently depending on age and different risk factors.
“For our more frail, medically complex elderly population, these viruses can be really detrimental, so it’s important older adults – and those who care for them – work diligently to avoid illness each year.”
Medical professionals strongly recommend updated flu and COVID vaccines each fall to provide protection through the winter season when those viruses are more widespread in the community.
While the vaccines don’t fully prevent people from contracting the flu or COVID, Graham says they do significantly decrease the severity of symptoms and the risk of hospitalization – or worse – for vulnerable populations.
“Where grandkids and other family members may be sick for just few days and then recover, for unprotected older adults, getting the flu or COVID could result in hospitalization and severe complications like pneumonia or death,” Graham says. “Staying up to date on recommended vaccines can help prevent those complications. That is why older adults in particular should get vaccinated each fall.”
To help those who are hesitant to get vaccinated, Graham and her team work to educate the community about common myths.
“To be clear: You cannot get the flu or COVID from vaccines. That’s simply not how it works. It is not possible,” she says. “We also want people to understand that some side effects are completely normal and temporary – things such as soreness or pain at the injection site, fatigue, even a low-grade fever – it’s just your body reacting to the vaccine, which is a good thing. Side effects should only last two or three days at most.”
What else can caregivers of older adults be doing to help prepare for flu season? Graham says keeping open lines of communication about how everyone is feeling is key.
“First and foremost, get into the habit of talking about any symptoms they’re having,” she says. “If they are not feeling well, make sure they’re not going near loved ones – and the other way around.
“Get comfortable having discussions about illnesses and symptoms before visits to avoid contact with family members who are sick.”
As the holiday season nears, Graham urges everyone to take personal responsibility of not spreading any illness.
“If you are not feeling well, be honest about your symptoms and don’t visit grandma and grandpa,” she says. “It’s not worth the risk.”
If contact cannot be avoided, particularly for caregivers of older adults, Graham recommends wearing a mask.
“I like to remind people masks are not a COVID-specific tool,” she says. “If you’re not feeling well but need to be around a loved one, wearing a mask will decrease the risk of giving any illness to them and vice versa.”
Handwashing also is very important – especially after coughing or sneezing and before eating. Graham recommends “really ramping up hand washing even more than you might normally do” in fall and winter.
Actual hand washing with hand soap and water is best, but hand sanitizer is better than nothing – and sometimes easier in certain caregiver situations.
“If your loved one has dementia, offering hand-washing reminders can be really helpful,” she adds. “And just modeling it yourself, making it the norm.”
Additionally, Graham says to keep up with regular cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces, such as door handles, bed rails and cane walkers.
Care Resources offers a variety of medical care and home health services, including vaccine clinics for participants, to help older adults stay healthy and independent. To learn more, visit CareResources.org or call 616-913-2006.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its Sensory Room, located at the beginning of Concourse A. This new area is designed to offer support to travelers with sensory sensitivities.
The Sensory Room is intended to provide a therapeutic setting that helps individuals feel comfortable in their surroundings. The space is designed to minimize overstimulation and provide a calm and inclusive environment for individuals of all ages with cognitive and/or development disabilities.
(Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
“We are pleased to continue our commitment to enhancing the airport experience for all travelers,” said Tory Richardson, president and CEO of the Ford International Airport Authority. “This room includes sensory aids that stimulate reactions, encourage communication, and reduce agitation and anxiety sometimes caused by air travel.”
Developed in partnership with Disability Advocates of Kent County, the Sensory Room is intended to provide a calm and controlled setting that offers a sense of familiarity for travelers. The space is divided into four different zones, including:
Transition Zone: Provides a comfortable adjustment from one sensory experience to another.
Active Zone: Engages multiple senses through various activities.
Respite Zone: Offers sensory separation and recalibration in a public setting.
Airplane Simulation Zone: Prepares individuals for new sensory situations to decrease anxiety.
Sensory Room. (Courtesy, Ford International Airport)
“We would like to thank Delta Air Lines and Aero BridgeWorks Inc. for their support of this project and for their donation to the Airplane Simulation Zone, which will help travelers practice the process of boarding a plane, walking on a jet bridge and finding their seat,” Richardson said.
Additional features in the Sensory Room include an activity wall, campfire sitting area, soft surface play area and more.
The Sensory Room is now open to travelers and can be accessed through a call button next to the entrance door.
Brennan Carroll, from left, (Kentwood recreation program coordinator ), Jocelyn Dettloff (The Vibe guest speaker) and Ann Przybysz (Kentwood recreation program coordinator) at The Vibe Fundraiser 2024. (Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
While sledding down a sand dune in Sub-Saharan Africa back in 1997, Jocelyn Dettloff hit a mound of dirt which instantly changed her life.
“I don’t remember flying through the air, but I definitely remember as soon as I hit I could hear people calling my name,” Dettloff recalled. “I looked fine; you couldn’t tell that I was injured in any way. So when I woke up and I couldn’t feel anything, I knew that was a bad sign. I broke my back at thoracic 5 which is about bra line, mid-chest. I have what’s called a complete spinal cord injury. I have no feeling or movement from the point of injury down.
“This trip that I was on, they have you take out this evacuation insurance where they’ll fly you home from anywhere in the world and cover you up to a certain amount. So I actually had a nurse and a paramedic fly down from London to fly back with me to Kalamazoo.
Dettloff said she did quite a bit of traveling after college.
The Vibe guest speaker Jocelyn Dettloff. (Courtesy, Jocelyn Dettloff)
“I went on a trip to Europe, I spent a year backpacking through Australia and New Zealand, and I decided that Sub-Saharan Africa was going to be my next destination. I signed up for a company in England that did overland trips and we started in Kenya, and we were supposed to end up in South Africa. It was a very rustic trip. You just brought your sleeping bag, clothes and a roll mat and the truck had all the equipment that you would need.”
After the accident, she waited 3-1/2 hours for an airplane to get her because they were “literally in the middle of nowhere.”
“One of the drivers had to drive back to the campground, radio for a plane, and I was flown to the capital city of Windhoek (Namibia) and spent three weeks in the hospital there. They did surgery and stabilized my spine, and then I flew home to Kalamazoo and then went to Mary Free Bed for my rehab. And then just stayed in Grand Rapids.”
How long did it take to sink in that this was your new life?
“I say not long because when I got to the hospital my doctor was looking down at me and flicking sand off of me, and even before I knew his name, the very first thing he said to me is, ‘I want you to know you’ll probably never walk again.’ So there was just a little voice inside me that said, okay. But I’m good at compartmentalizing things, too, but it’s just focusing on the next thing to move on.”
Dettloff, now a Major Gift Director with the Mary Free Bed Foundation, was the guest speaker at the City of Kentwood’s Adaptive Recreation Programs fundraiser last Thursday called The Vibe, held in the courtyard of the Kent District Library — Kentwood (Richard L. Root) Branch.
About 10 years ago, Dettloff wrote a memoir entitled, “It Rained in the Desert: One Woman’s Story of Spirit and Resilience,” and recently recorded it through audible.com. You can find it HERE.
A passion for wheelchair tennis
She discovered wheelchair tennis and began playing competitively on a USTA local travel league. Her love for being active led her to trying a variety of other sports, including participating in Kentwood Parks and Recreation’s water ski program.
“Water skiing is one of the first adaptive activities that I did,” Dettloff explained. “They did that in partnership with Mary Free Bed. They do a few things in partnership with Free Bed, and then they have their own programming. But they partner together on downhill skiing clinics, water skiing, archery and golf.
“I still think that I should be able to do everything that I used to be able to do in a semi-similar way,” continued Dettloff, who talked about the effect and value wheelchair sports has had in her life.
Adaptive Recreation Water Skiing was one of the many information stations at The Vibe Fundraiser 2024. (Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
Whatever happens in life, you can move on
“I mean, just to show that whatever happens in your life you can move on, you can,” Dettloff said. “I always say, I hit a mound of dirt and it changed my life. Many people have their version of a mound, whether it’s an illness, a different kind of accident, losing a job, divorce. I mean, the list could go on.
“But there is moving on from any kind of tragedy.”
Amongst the hors d’oeuvres and live music provided by Main Street Dueling Pianos, a silent auction was held and many adaptive equipment displays and videos could be seen at the 6th Annual Vibe.
All money raised at this year’s event will help purchase new equipment for Kentwood’s adaptive recreation program, which includes active sports such as archery, kayaking, bowling, water skiing, rock climbing, downhill skiing and pickleball as well as social opportunities such as leisure club and dances.
Adaptive Recreation Bowling was one of the many information stations at The Vibe Fundraiser 2024. (Courtesy, City of Kentwood)
Parks and Rec newcomer Brennan Carroll, a recreation program coordinator, talked about why he enjoys working in the Adaptive Recreation Programs.
“I gravitate to it because it’s a population of people that I love working with,” Carroll said. “It’s just very cool to see how many people love and keep coming back to the same stuff that we’ve got going on, that I could be a part of that.”
Ann Przybysz, recreation program coordinator, spoke about who the Adaptive Rec Program serves.
“We do serve all sorts of disabilities and abilities, we have all sorts of diagnoses, people with physical disabilities, intellectual and developmental disabilities, so there’s really no cut off for who can participate in our programs,” Przybysz said. “We accept everyone and try to help everyone be successful in whatever that looks like for them.”
What do you enjoy most about the program?
“I love being able to connect families of people with disabilities to other families because, really, no one knows what their lives are like except for people in similar circumstances,” Przybysz explained. “I love seeing those connections and that socialization piece, not just with our participants, for their families as well, and really feeling connected, and involved and not alone.
“It can be really hard to know where to start for a lot of families, and so being able to connect them to just one resource here, and share more resources, that’s what I love about it.”
Kentwood’s adaptive recreation program is open to individuals of all abilities in Kentwood and beyond. Learn more and sign up for the various offerings HERE.
To be considered for the honor, organizations needed to be Great Place To Work-Certified™, have under 1,000 employees and provide senior housing or care. To determine the rankings, FORTUNE and Great Places to Work analyzed survey feedback from more than 181,000 U.S. employees on issues from pay and benefits to personal development opportunities and collegiality.
In the past year, Great Place To Work surveyed companies employing 8.2 million people in the U.S. and received 1.3 million survey responses. Of those, over 181,002 responses were received from employees at companies who were eligible for the 2024 Fortune Best Workplaces in Aging Services list.
National recognition – in triplicate!
(Courtesy, Beacon Hill)
This is the third national recognition for Beacon Hill in recent months.
“We are as dedicated to supporting our staff as we are to serving our residents,” President and CEO Jeffrey Huegli said. “We believe each and every employee is a valuable and integral part of our community’s well-being.
“This award underscores our commitment to our team and to creating an exceptional work environment. We are again delighted to receive national recognition in our industry.”
Heart and hospitality
Beacon Hill at Eastgate is a distinctive, nonprofit, continuing care retirement community nestled in the established and vibrant Eastgate neighborhood. The retirement community offers residents a host of tasteful living and care options, including independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing. The nonprofit also provides rehabilitation services.
Beacon Hill at Eastgate is known for their heart and hospitality (Courtesy, Beacon Hill)
Beacon Hill hires for heart and talent – its team of approachable, passionate experts not only provides the highest level of hospitality but also emotional connections, spiritual support and resources residents can use to flourish in their homes and live independently.
The nonprofit helps residents feel at home by giving them access to a variety of on-site amenities that include four restaurants with weekly rotating menus, an indoor pool and state-of-the-art fitness center, art and exercise classes, community gardens and walking paths.
To learn more about Beacon Hill at Eastgate, click here.
The Bridge of Arbor Circle is a safe, no cost shelter program for youth, ages 10-17, who are facing homelessness or considering running away (Courtesy, Arbor Circle)
Join Arbor Circle on Sept. 25 from 4-6 p.m. to learn more about The Bridge of Arbor Circle and services for youth experiencing homelessness during the End of Summer Celebration.
During the event, guests will have the opportunity to tour The Bridge youth shelter and learn more from staff about the different programs available for youth. In addition to a sneak peek of some exciting construction projects underway at The Bridge, this year’s open house will feature snacks from New City Neighbors’ New City Café as well as a mural created on site during the event.
The Bridge End of Summer Celebration will offer sneak peeks of construction projects, snacks and a mural created on site (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Offering youth stable and accessible shelter
The Bridge of Arbor Circle is a safe shelter program for youth, ages 10-17, who are facing homelessness, housing instability, or considering running away. The Bridge offers youth a stable and accessible place to stay. Located in Grand Rapids, The Bridge is open 24/7/365.
“We are excited to open this space to the public for the evening and spread awareness of the important services provided at The Bridge,” shared Monique Carter, Director of Youth Development Services at Arbor Circle. “This space is incredibly special and we want folks to know what support is available to youth in our community.”
Free event registration
For more information and to register for this year’s free event, click here.
Sponsors for this year’s event include Veneklasen Construction.
West Michigan families and their four-legged best friends are invited to attend Paws With A Cause’s fourth annual Retriever Fever! This free, dog-friendly gathering will take place on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Riverside Park located at 2001 Monroe Ave NE in Grand Rapids.
What to expect
This event is centered around a friendly competition between Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever fans with retriever races, raffles, and merchandise sales contributing to deciding which dog breed is named “Top Dog” and raises the most money for PAWS.
Retriever Fever will also include food trucks, games and activities, local community vendors, Dog CPR/First Aid Demonstrations by Blue Pearl Pet Hospital, Pet Headshots by Tailwagger Dog Photography, and the opportunity to get your dog’s nails trimmed. Attendees will also be able to hear about the life-changing impact of a PAWS Assistance Dog from a Client Speaker and see PAWS Assistance Dogs in action through demonstrations.
Dogs enjoy the Retriever Fever Race on the day of the event (Courtesy, PAWS)
“We’re so excited to be hosting this event back to our community for a fourth year in a row,” said Kristy Blackmore, Special Events Manager at PAWS. “There are new additions this year including dog nail trims, CPR demonstrations, new community vendors, and new PAWS Dogs to meet.
“It’s going to be a fun day. We hope people bring their dogs join in on the excitement!”
Supporting the PAWS mission
Opportunities to support the PAWS non-profit in their mission to serve people with disabilities through assistance dogs are available through event sponsorships and donations.
A PAWS Assistance Dog rests at the feet of its owner (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“Thank you to our incredible event sponsors, Blue Pearl Pet Hospital, Dan Vos Construction, Outfront Media, and Chrispy Media. With their support, we’re able to host events like these and continue our mission.”
More information about Retriever Fever can be found here.
Treasured Brown Girl aims to restore confidence, hope and belonging in brown girls with Alopecia by normalizing their condition and unlocking their confidence (Courtesy photo)
September commemorates Alopecia Awareness Month, and a Grand Rapids organization is looking to shed light on the hair-loss disease and bring awareness to those living with it in their day-to-day lives.
Treasured Brown Girl (TBG) was founded by Tyra Thomas after she witnessed a loved one dealing with Alopecia firsthand. TBG aims to restore confidence, hope and belonging in brown girls with Alopecia by normalizing their condition and unlocking their confidence.
Providing confidence and strength
TBG Alopecia wig box with custom contents (Courtesy, TBG)
TBG specializes in “wig boxes” for young girls living with Alopecia. Each box comes with a custom, age-appropriate, natural headband wig, and confidence-boosting supplies that include a mirror, nail polish, pens, and accessories for the wig. Also included in the boxes is a charming story about the impact of Alopecia on a little girl, and a guided journal for girls to process their emotions and examine their strengths.
Boxes can be curated to fit the needs of each individual.
“Treasured Brown Girl came to be because someone I love has Alopecia,” said Thomas. “Alopecia has several stages, and she tried different oils, different shampoo, but nothing was working and the condition kept getting worse.”
TBG journal (Courtesy, TBG)
Thomas, who previously owned a hair salon, found that many of the wigs they were looking into buying weren’t the right texture, or were not age appropriate. Even though vendors Thomas was familiar with through her salon could provide wigs, they did not supply them for children often.
“No one is looking at the whole emotional impact this hair loss has, or what support systems are out there,” Thomas said. “With the emotional toll that Alopecia takes, it’s important that the product feels like your natural hair.”
Giveaway registration details
To honor Alopecia Awareness Month, TBG is giving away a wig box and a makeover for a girl between the ages of 8-16 with Alopecia. The giveaway is supported by Opportunity Empowered.
Registration for the giveaway is online from Sept. 8-18, and the winner will be chosen Sept. 19.
Wyoming Public Schools (WPS) has partnered with Feeding America Mobile Pantry to host a Mobile Pantry once a month.
*WHS September Mobile Food Pantry will be held Monday, Sept. 23 from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
What to expect
Though the selection of food varies each month, there are always a variety of fresh and frozen items available at the Mobile Pantry.
The Mobile Pantry is drive-thru style, and families are asked to remain in their vehicles for safety.
WHS Mobile Food Pantry Map (Courtesy, WPS)
Cars enter at the main entrance to WHS (1350 Prairie Parkway). Volunteers will direct traffic in the parking lot to help with efficiency.
Once in line, a volunteer will approach each car to record the name, address, number of people in the household, and the reason the food is needed for each family. Once a car has reached the front of the line, volunteers will load a box of food into the trunk.
Resources
To learn more about Feeding America West Michigan and the services they offer, click here.
For the Feeding America Mobile Food Pantry schedule, click here.
Ronald McDonald House Charities West Michigan (RMHCWM) is calling on the community to help ensure families staying at the House have access to the comfort of home-cooked meals, easy meals and individually packaged snacks. On Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., RMHCWM will host a collection drive at 1323 Cedar St NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.
Your generous donations keep families nourished with the comforts of home (Courtesy, RMHC)
During their stay, families of hospitalized children rely on RMHCWM for a comforting place to rest and eat. By donating essential food items, you can help ease their burden, allowing them to focus on what truly matters—their child’s health. Your generous donations help stock the RMCHWM pantry and keep families nourished with the comforts of home.
Wish List:
Individually packed shelf-stable snacks: Chips, granola bars, fruit snacks, crackers, mini-muffins, etc.
Easy meals: Kraft macaroni, ramen noodles, soups, hamburger helper, etc.
Rice: Plain and mixes
Pastas: All varieties – 16 or 32 oz. boxes
Pasta sauces: Red sauce and alfredo, jarred or canned
Canned vegetables and beans: tomatoes (all varieties), corn, green beans, black beans, etc
Broths: Beef and chicken
Spices: Garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, parsley, oregano, chili powder, cumin, etc.
Marinades and sauces
Baking chips: Chocolate, white chocolate, cinnamon
Dessert mixes: Cakes, brownies, etc.
If you cannot drop off your donations in person, you can still participate by shopping on Amazon and shipping your items directly to the House. Visit the RMCHWM Amazon Wish List at https://a.co/9nk0vfN to find the items most needed.
Let’s work together to keep the RMHCWM pantry fully stocked (Courtesy, RMHC)
Spread the word!
Share this collection drive with friends and family, and let’s work together to keep the pantry fully stocked, ensuring that every family staying at RMHCWM has access to the comfort foods they want during their stay.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities West Michigan
The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities West Michigan is to keep families together who travel to Grand Rapids when their child is receiving medical or mental health treatment in the hospital.
Since 1990, RMHCWM has been serving families throughout Michigan and worldwide. Families live at the House where they have access to a safe, clean, and comfortable room with bath plus hot meals and transportation to and from the hospital, all at no cost to the families.
Paws With A Cause (PAWS) celebrated a milestone moment by recently breaking ground for their $9.5 million facility renovation project.
For over 45 years, PAWS has enhanced the independence and quality of life for those with disabilities through the use of custom-trained Assistance Dogs. Since its inception, PAWS has placed over 3,000 Assistance Dogs with people with disabilities.
PAWS is determined to serve even more people within the community (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Determined to do more
Four years ago the PAWS team brainstormed one simple goal: to serve even more people with disabilities.
“By 2030, our goal is to place over 100 assistance dogs with clients annually, and for 90% of our PAWS dogs to go into some kind of working career,” said Sarah Osterman, PAWS Board of Directors Chair and volunteer foster puppy raiser at the groundbreaking ceremony.
There is a growing demand for Assistance Dogs and the lifetime support that PAWS offers. Each year over 400 qualified individuals apply for a PAWS Assistance Dog. Current buildings and facilities limit the ability to address this unmet need.
“PAWS has outgrown our capacity to be able to breed, raise and train more PAWS dogs in these current facilities,” said Osterman. “Renovating our building to address these needs for improvement will allow us to expand our transformational and inspirational work.”
PAWS Assistance Dogs were in attendance at the groundbreaking ceremony (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Embracing the journey
The first step toward attaining these renovation goals was to embark on PAWS’s first community-wide capital campaign, Embrace the Journey, in April 2024.
“The goal for the Embrace the Journey campaign is to raise $9.5 million in charitable gifts, allowing us to improve five critical areas in our existing facilities and to address the growing demand for assistance and facility dogs,” said PAWS CEO, Michele Suchovsky.
“Many community members rallied around our vision for the future. I am thrilled to share that today we have raised over $8.6 million of that $9.5 million.”
To date, more than 700 donors have supported the campaign.
PAWS National Headquarters is nestled amid commercial firms and farmland in Wayland, MI. Though the current PAWS facilities have served them well since 1994, few improvements have been made over the years.
PAWS renovation renderings (Courtesy, Dan Vos Construction, FMD Architects, Journey Construction Group)
PAWS renovation renderings (Courtesy, Dan Vos Construction, FMD Architects, Journey Construction Group)
PAWS renovation renderings (Courtesy, Dan Vos Construction, FMD Architects, Journey Construction Group)
PAWS renovation renderings (Courtesy, Dan Vos Construction, FMD Architects, Journey Construction Group)
The upcoming renovations will include:
Improved kennels
Exemplary veterinary facilities
National breeding center
New foster puppy spaces
Updated training facilities
“With these renovations we’ll be able to place more Assistance Dogs with clients, and place more working dogs in community-focused careers through our purposeful placements department,” said Suchovsky.
But more importantly, the results of these renovations will be felt by current and future PAWS clients.
Life-changing moments
“Each PAWS Assistance Dog opens a world of possibilities, something I can personally attest to as a client,” said Molly Koroleski, PAWS Board Member and client.
After contracting meningitis at the age of three, Koroleski woke from a coma to realize she had lost her hearing. She moved through life unable to hear smoke alarms, emergency sirens or a knock on the door. Though she had family to tell her when those things occurred, it was troubling to be unaware of them when alone.
“Then I discovered PAWS, and my life changed,” Koroleski said. “Through the PAWS custom matching process, I received Mater, an Assistance Dog that was custom-trained to help with exactly what I needed.”
When Koroleski learned she was pregnant with her son, she called the PAWS team.
PAWS staff, volunteers and dogs were available at the ceremony for attendees to meet (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
“Mater had already been my Hearing Dog for two and a half years at that point, and he wasn’t originally trained to the sound of a baby’s cries,” said Koroleski.
Within a few weeks of making the call, the PAWS team had trained Mater to alert Koroleski to her baby crying.
“I felt much more prepared to care for my son with Mater by my side,” said Koroleski. “These renovations will allow PAWS to match and custom-train more Assistance Dogs like Mater for clients like me.”
“These children deserve an Assistance Dog that will help them,” said Suchovsky. “We know how important a PAWS Assistance Dog is for a person with a disability.”
It’s time to give back…
For years, local residents have rallied behind PAWS to help those in need.
Deann and Kevin Hurn, Hudsonville residents and volunteer foster puppy raisers, have been volunteering at PAWS for over 13 years, currently fostering their ninth puppy. Recently, Kevin became a PAWS board member.
The help of a PAWS dog can be life-changing (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
When asked why she became involved with PAWS, Deann said, “To give back, to help somebody else. We just feel very blessed with everything God has given us – healthy children, healthy grandchildren – and it’s great to give back.”
Deann is currently hosting a Visiting House Dog in the PAWS program that she brings to Pine Rest Mental Health Hospital every week to visit with the inpatients.
“I come home every week and tell my husband that I was in tears because of what she did for someone, how she loved on them and what it meant to them,” said Deann. “It’s so cool to see.”
Deann heard about PAWS when she met a woman with an Assistance Dog. The woman encouraged Deann to attend the next PAWS meeting.
“I came home and told Kevin, ‘I’m going to this information meeting, but it’s just information.’” Deann paused. “A week later we had our first dog,” she said with a laugh.
One step closer…
(Courtesy, Deborah Reed)
As PAWS renovations begin, excitement is high.
“We are excited that this project will allow us to serve more clients, and our clients are excited too,” said Suchovsky. “We are one step closer to our goals and to creating thriving communities for us all.”
The event begins at 11 a.m. with a ceremony beginning at 12 p.m. Registration is FREE!
Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a rare motor speech disorder that makes it difficult for an individual to speak. Treatment includes intense speech therapy and sometimes other therapies to help individuals reach their highest communication ability. However, there is no cure.
Raising awareness is one of the most tangible ways communities at large can help children with apraxia thrive. Increased collective awareness means that children will be diagnosed faster, resulting in better, earlier intervention.
Celebrating apraxia stars
The Walk for Apraxia is the largest community event that celebrates the hard work of our apraxia stars, children diagnosed with CAS. The day includes family-friendly activities, a ceremony and a short, inclusive group walk to raise awareness.
Neil Kilby, father of an Apraxia Star, says, “Apraxia Stars need a team behind them. That team includes both parents, family members, SLP’s and organizations like Apraxia Kids.”
(Courtesy, Apraxia Kids)
Participating in the Walk for Apraxia helps show Apraxia Stars that there is a team of supporters surrounding them in their community. Invite friends and family to this community event to meet local Apraxia Stars and show support for all of their hard work!
Funds raised through the 2024 Walk for Apraxia benefit Apraxia Kids, the leading nonprofit that works to strengthen the support systems in the lives of children with CAS. Apraxia Kids educates both families and speech-language professionals so that children with CAS can reach their highest communication potential through accurate diagnosis and appropriate, timely treatment.
Event registration
For more information on how to join the Walk for Apraxia, click here.
Many students feel anxiety as a new school year approaches, no matter their age.
Board certified behavior analyst Katrina Newman of Wedgwood Christian Services (WCS) has developed a 10-point tip sheet to help parents and children prepare for the upcoming school year.
Due to her prior experience as a teacher and currently part of the after school program of the WCS Autism Center for Child Development (ACCD), Newman recognizes that children with autism often struggle with change more than most.
The carefully crafted tip sheet aims to ensure that parents and children – with and without autism – start the year off in comfortable fashion.
Alleviating back-to-school jitters
Changes in routine can be stressful for all ages (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
“Most kids on the spectrum, or even not on the spectrum, feel anxious about going from summer to school,” said Newman. “It’s a big change.
“Anytime there’s a change in routine, it’s really important to have a plan and to practice. That really makes your child more comfortable and helps them to know what to expect.”
Much of the anxiety that comes with starting a new school year can come from not knowing what to expect when they walk in the school doors for the first time.
Some common questions youth have are: Where do we enter the school? Where do we line up? What’s the routine? Did anything change over the summer? Other questions may revolve around getting on the bus for the first time, carpooling for the first time, or having to walk down to the lunchroom.
Having the answers to those questions before the first day of school, Newman says, is really important.
Practice makes perfect
Many schools offer open houses the week before school to help alleviate some of that anxiety. However, there are several other options for parents with anxious children.
“It’s really important to stress that walking through the parking lot and walking through the hallways can be really intimidating, so you want to make sure you practice for safety and that kids know where they’re supposed to go,” says Newman.
Setting up a station at home for notes and permission slips that parents can check regularly also helps. “Have a folder so everybody knows where to put them and parents can check that folder,” Newman says.
Having kids practice their school sleep schedule in advance is also beneficial because it takes 2-3 weeks for our bodies to get used to the change. Even practicing that change a few days in advance can be worthwhile.
“Being consistent, that’s really important,” says Newman. “Whenever you do start it, just keep it going so that their body and their rhythms can get used to getting up a little earlier and going to bed a little earlier then in the summer.”
For children who struggle more with social anxiety, role-playing can be beneficial.
“It’s important to practice introducing yourself and role-play making friends,” Newman says, adding that it can be as simple as telling someone your name, asking for that person’s name, and trying to find something in common with them.
“You might point out something like, ‘You have a Minecraft shirt on – I love Minecraft. What’s your favorite way to play?’” says Newman. “Just looking at those visual cues and trying to connect with people, that’s an important skill.”
Gaining perspective through books
There is also value in reading books to younger children that focus on back-to-school jitters.
Kids might relate to the main character who also feels anxiety or is unsure what to expect. They may also simply feel excitement.
WCS book recommendations to prepare your child for the first day of school (Courtesy, WCS)
“As they read, they’ll have a pretty good idea of what the first day will look like,” says Newman. “[The book] has a lot of details that they might not bring up, but then after reading the book you can discuss that. It’s really good to open up that conversation.”
How to start a conversation with your child
For parents who are unsure how to approach their child about whether or not they feel anxious, Newman says to keep it simple.
School Education Student (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
“Just have a simple conversation where you ask them, ‘What do you think about going back to school? We’re going back next Tuesday, what are you thinking about?’” Newman says. “That way it’s more that they can tell you if they’re excited, they can tell you if they’re worried. They get to tell you how they feel instead of you saying: ‘Are you worried?’”
Is routine necessary?
Humans, regardless of age, lifestyle, or background, thrive on routine and benefit from having an established schedule.
According to the Blue Sprig website, routines are key to helping us thrive because routine comes naturally, provides stress relief and brings order to an otherwise chaotic world.
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Routines are particularly helpful for children with autism due to the repetitive patterns of behavior, activities, and hobbies. The adherence to an established routine can be a powerful tool in bringing stability and comfort to any child’s life.
Foster a genuine sense of ownership over their day
Create an environment of security and comfort
Removing any routine in a child’s life can be stressful. Newman says the most important thing is to talk about all changes in routine with kids, emphasizing what they can expect during that season of change.
U.S. health officials now consider COVID-19 an endemic disease which essentially means that COVID is here to stay in fairly predictable ways (Courtesy, KCHD)
Cases are rising across the United States and many people have experienced the uptick over the past few weeks. They’ve either tested positive themselves or know someone else who has.
Health officials consider COVID-19 here to stay (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
“COVID-19 is one of those viruses that behaves differently than other respiratory viruses like flu and RSV. COVID-19 infections are driven more by human behavior and immunity than weather patterns or seasons,” said Andrew Jameson, MD, an infectious disease specialist with Trinity Health Medical Group in Grand Rapids. “We’re going to have to learn to live with it.”
According to Dr. Jameson, a reason why COVID-19 cases are starting to rise: the virus has evolved to be a very good spreader, allowing it to infect people even if they have several layers of protection from past infection, vaccine, or booster. People become susceptible to an infection again not all that long after their most recent infection or booster shot.
“Despite immunity to new infection waning, most of the recent cases that result in hospitalization are in people who did not get the most up to date vaccine” said Dr. Jameson. “We do find, however, that protection with the vaccine against severe illness does hold up over time for most people.”
Are there new COVID-19 variants this year?
Since the original Omicron variants emerged back in 2021, the virus has continued to evolve and mutate – this is what viruses do.
Currently, the CDC is monitoring a trio of variants — called KP.3, KP.2, and LB.1 — that are on the upswing.
What are the symptoms now, and have they changed?
Many COVID-19 symptoms have stayed the same since 2020: fever, sore throat, coughing.
Many COVID symptoms have remained the same since its inception – however, there are some variants (Courtesy photo)
Other symptoms have shifted: it used to be common for people to lose their sense of taste and smell when they got sick, but that now seems to happen less frequently.
If you’ve been infected before, it’s important to understand that symptoms can vary from one infection to the next. It may actually feel like an entirely different illness. Or, you may experience the same symptoms, but in a different order.
COVID-19 symptoms include:
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
New loss of taste or smell
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
“No two COVID infections behave exactly the same,” said Dr. Jameson. “In general, the more immunity a person builds up – from infections or vaccinations – the symptoms of another infection tend to be milder. But there’s no guarantee.”
How long do test kits last?
If you’re not feeling well and have trouble finding new at-home tests to purchase at your local pharmacy, you may wonder if you can use older test kits you may have.
The FDA says that tests should not be used beyond their expiration date.
“Medical” pieces of a COVID-19 home test kit (Chicago.gov)
I may have COVID. What should I do?
The CDC recommends treating COVID-19 just like other respiratory viruses such as flu and RSV:
Stay home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you have symptoms that aren’t better explained by another cause.
CDC guidelines say people should isolate for five days from their first symptoms, after which they can be around other people if they’ve been fever-free for 24 hours and wear masks inside.
Treatment may help lower your risk of severe illness.
For people whose immunity is impaired by disease or transplantation, there is a new treatment available: a monoclonal antibody called pemivibart (sold as Pemgarda) provides a similar level of protection as vaccines do for everyone else. However, it is expensive and given by infusion.
When should I get a COVID-19 booster shot?
The COVID-19 vaccination can help protect against the virus (U.S. Government)
Vaccines and boosters continue to be the go-to protections against severe illness from the virus.
“For those who are at high risk for severe illness – the very elderly, the elderly with comorbidities, and those who are immunocompromised – go ahead and get a booster vaccine now. The vaccines are still active against some of the circulating variants,” Jameson said.
“By the time the new vaccine comes out in a few months or so, you’ll be eligible to get another shot toward the late fall.
“For those whose risks are a bit lower, you can wait until the fall boosters come out.”
If you have any questions about COVID-19 as it relates to your health, or when it’s best for you to get a booster vaccine, talk to your doctor.
For some children heading back to school this fall, their biggest challenge may not be reading or math but, rather, something else that’s critical to their academic success: eating meals at school.
Children can experience all types of difficulties with eating, from limited diets (“picky eating”) to feeding and swallowing disorders, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Feeding challenges may occur due to a medical problem or in conjunction with other developmental differences or disorders.
Regardless of the reason, all children need appropriate nutrition and hydration to learn and participate in the school day.
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Cafeteria Struggles
The cafeteria can present numerous challenges for children who have difficulty eating. These include:
Overwhelming sensory environment. The cafeteria can be loud, crowded, and hot. The sights and smells may bother some kids. The tables may be sticky, and the cafeteria benches may be uncomfortable. None of these factors makes eating easy or fun. Some students may require a distraction-free environment to safely eat.
Time constraints. Students often have a small amount of time to eat—usually, much shorter than they are used to having at home. Students receiving feeding and/or swallowing treatment may need more time to eat. This accommodation may be included in a child’s individualized education program (IEP).
School-based food restrictions. Some schools have rules about foods that children can or cannot bring, such as no peanut products. For kids who have limited diets, it’s not always easy to find alternatives to a preferred food. Also, some children may not have options if they are provided free or reduced-price meals at school. If a student has a documented feeding or swallowing disorder and requires a modified diet, then the school district’s food services program must offer the meal accommodations recommended in the student’s feeding and swallowing plan.
ASHA offers these tips to parents and caregivers to help their child eat successfully in the school setting:
Make their lunch gear fun. Let kids pick out a lunchbox with their favorite character or theme, or a Thermos® or bento box of their choice. Alternatively, have them decorate or personalize a basic lunchbox or other items that they already have.
Help them prepare. Have kids practice eating in the time they’ll be given at school. Try this for a few days before school starts. If you’re sending in containers or prepackaged food or drinks, make sure that they can open them first before packing such items in their lunchbox.
Go grocery shopping together. Look for new items that they may want to bring—or meal ideas to try. Be sure to try them at home first.
Brainstorm ideas. Write out a menu of options that are reasonable for you to prepare. Make sure that these foods can also be eaten at school easily (e.g., foods that don’t need to be cut up or kept at a very specific temperature). Have them choose their lunch from that menu each day.
Let them pack their meal. Kids love to take ownership and show some independence. They’ll be much more likely to eat what they choose to pack. If you don’t feel comfortable giving them total control, offer choices—let them pick one “main course,” one “side dish,” and one “dessert” out of items that you have pre-selected. Do this the night before, so you aren’t stressed or in a rush the next morning.
Troubleshoot together. Ask your child what makes eating in the cafeteria difficult. For example, maybe they don’t have enough time to eat when they buy lunch. Talk it through with them and see if you can solve the issue together.
Send foods that your child is comfortable eating. You may desperately want to expand your child’s diet, but you also want to maximize the likelihood that they’ll eat at school so they’re nourished properly during the day. Save the experimentation for home.
Aim for foods that will keep them full, but don’t stress over perfect meals. Ideal foods are ones that are protein-rich and/or high in fiber because they’ll keep kids full for longer. But remember, the best foods are the ones that your child will actually eat.
Don’t obsess over what they didn’t eat. It’s frustrating when you spend time carefully packing a lunch—only to notice that it comes home lukewarm and untouched. Ask your child why they didn’t eat their meal: Did they not like it? Or did they just not have time to eat it? Try not to scold them about the uneaten food.
Arrange for your child to have a lunch buddy. Eating with a friend is always more fun. A lunch buddy can be a support—and even a role model—for trying new foods. Talk to the school staff about finding a willing peer for this role.
Talk to the cafeteria manager or other school staff. If your child is provided meals at school and isn’t eating what is served, check with the school about alternative options. If a child is regularly not eating the food provided, then this lack of needed nutrition likely will impact their learning and/or behavior.
Help your child to advocate for themselves. If your child has an IEP with feeding and swallowing goals and accommodations, help them understand what their goals are and what they can safely eat.
(Courtesy, Kids’ Food Basket)
Getting Help for Feeding Problems
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) help children who have difficulties with their feeding and swallowing. Feeding and swallowing disorders can lead to health, learning, and social problems, so it’s important not to minimize these challenges.
SLPs can help children try new foods or textures, can help parents feel more confident feeding their child, and can provide feeding therapy (e.g., using certain exercises to strengthen the muscles in their mouth, moving their tongue around more while eating or drinking).
Children with a diagnosed feeding or swallowing disorder may need additional support eating in school, including modified food and drink consistencies. These students should have an IEP or 504 plan to guide school-based treatment and accommodations.
They also may have a swallowing and feeding program (which is typically designed by an SLP) and/or an individual health plan (which is typically designed by a school nurse).
If you have concerns about your child’s eating, talk to your pediatrician and seek an evaluation from the school-based SLP or from a private SLP who specializes in feeding and swallowing. You can find one at www.asha.org/profind.
Wyoming Public Schools (WPS) has partnered with Feeding America Mobile Pantry to host a Mobile Pantry once a month.
*WHS August Mobile Food Pantry will be held Monday, Aug. 26 from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
What to expect
Though the selection of food varies each month, there are always a variety of fresh and frozen items available at the Mobile Pantry.
The Mobile Pantry is drive-thru style, and families are asked to remain in their vehicles for safety.
WHS Mobile Food Pantry Map (Courtesy, WPS)
Cars enter at the main entrance to WHS (1350 Prairie Parkway). Volunteers will direct traffic in the parking lot to help with efficiency.
Once in line, a volunteer will approach each car to record the name, address, number of people in the household, and the reason the food is needed for each family. Once a car has reached the front of the line, volunteers will load a box of food into the trunk.
Resources
To learn more about Feeding America West Michigan and the services they offer, click here.
For the Feeding America Mobile Food Pantry schedule, click here.
#WOODYWALKS in Murg, Switzerland (Courtesy, Ellis)
One man, 2 feet, 2+ years, 2,000+ miles – and a cause.
Woody Ellis begins his trek across the United States with the Mackinac Bridge Walk on Sept. 2 in an effort to combat stigma surrounding mental illness.
With a family history of dementia and schizophrenia, losing family and close friends to suicide and struggling against depression himself, Ellis often feels overwhelmed by the prevalence of mental illness.
“I’m seeing a lot of these types of things,” said Ellis. “The older you get, the more stuff you see, and more stuff happens to your loved ones. It’s starting to be a lot.”
And when Ellis feels overwhelmed, he travels.
“It takes my mind off things,” said Ellis. “I just need a reset.”
Though that “reset” is an act of mental self-preservation, Ellis battles guilt when he travels and leaves loved ones behind. That feeling of selfishness prompted Ellis to found #WOODYWALKS.
“How can I explore but also help some of the causes that are affecting so many people I know?” said Ellis. “I figured a way to do both things was to do something extreme that would draw attention and raise money for some really good organizations related to these causes.”
#WOODYWALKS was born.
Ellis is expecting the #WOODYWALKS journey to take anywhere from 2 to 3 years. Though he plans to hike an average of 10-15 miles per day, they may not be consecutive miles.
“A big part of it for me is enjoying the experiences I have along the way,” said Ellis. “So I’m going to be open to saying ‘yes’ to things along the way because part of it is interacting with strangers and spreading joy, smiles, laughter, hugs and all that kind of stuff.
“I also may stray away from the trail at times, and then pick back up where I leave off.”
#WOODYWALKS in Guatape, Columbia (Courtesy, Ellis)
Daring to be different
Forty-three-year-old Ellis has never been one to follow the beaten path.
“I’ve always been a unique individual. I really fly by the seat of my pants,” said Ellis, adding that he was not made for the 9 to 5 way of life.
“As soon as they started telling me that’s the only way to do it, I started exploring other ways. That was my initial inspiration to be different.”
In 2016, Ellis took a 60-hour train ride from Chicago to Vancouver, where he lived on a floating wharf on an uninhabited island. He has been solo traveling around the world ever since.
The upcoming #WOODYWALKS adventure will, in large part, also be traveled solo.
“It’s never been a problem to be by myself…that’s the type of person I am,” said Ellis.
#WOODYWALKS in Toubkal (Courtesy, Ellis)
Where’s Woody?
Ellis decided to begin his cross-country adventure with the annual Bridge Walk.
“I looked at the date and it fit my timing,” said Ellis. “Because I’ve lived in Michigan my whole life, I felt like that was a really good way to send me off.”
Ellis will then travel west through the Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin. From there, he will head south, then west again to take advantage of better weather.
#WOODYWALKS in Zambujeira, Portugal (Courtesy, Ellis)
Walking trailers and…a hammock?
“For the most part I’m going to be hammock camping and exchanging services, or cooking dinner, for strangers if they can provide a couple of trees for me to hang my hammock.”
Not only will Ellis be toting a hammock, he will also be hauling a variety of hiking supplies.
Those supplies include a sleeping bag, camping pillow, Jetboil cooking system, one pot, utensils, a headlamp, an extra blanket, clothes, a water filter, a water pouch, hiking boots and camera equipment.
Ellis realized carrying that much weight on his back would not allow him to travel far and began searching for solutions.
Specializing in walking trailers, HipStar designed a hands-free trailer with a belt that fastens around the traveler’s waist.
“It takes all the weight off your back and puts it on your lower half,” said Ellis. “This trailer is definitely a game changer.”
#WOODYWALKS in Hawaii (Courtesy, Ellis)
Smile for the camera!
Throughout his journey, Ellis plans to capture the experience with his iPhone camera and share pictures and short videos.
“I’ll be doing diary videos where I’m talking about my experiences,” said Ellis.
He plans to include footage of setting up camp, making dinner (“I always have to get creative with meals”), getting water from a river with a water filter, interactions with people, campfire interviews related to mental health…and, of course, walking.
“Pretty much a little bit of everything so people can vicariously come along,” said Ellis.
#WOODYWALKS footage will be posted to Ellis’ social media channels and in the #WOODYWALKS newsletter. Social media and newsletter links can be found on the #WOODYWALKS website home page.
#WOODYWALKS in Dubruvnik (Courtesy, Ellis)
Join Woody’s adventure!
#WOODYWALKS is a community endeavor, with several options for people to support mental health charities and interact with Ellis on his journey.
“There are multiple ways on my website to support,” said Ellis. “I have charities picked out and have pages for each charity. They can donate directly to the charity.”
There is also an option to donate directly to the #WOODYWALKS project to help alleviate trip expenses.
“I’m not going to be working any of my current jobs; this is going to be my full-time job. I’m going to be editing movies and content, which is work on its own.”
People can support the charity of their choice by signing up to walk with Ellis. “If people join me, whether it be for a week or a month at a time, I will focus entirely on the charity of their choice during the time they’re with me.”
#WOODYWALKS in the village of Mousehole in Cornwall, England (Courtesy, Ellis)
“If people are aware that I’m coming ahead of time, they can tell me where they are along my route and I can stop for a night or two,” said Ellis.
Brand sponsorships are available for businesses, and #WOODYWALKS t-shirts are available for purchase as well, with proceeds supporting the #WOODYWALKS mission.
Ellis will be wearing #WOODYWALKS t-shirts throughout the journey to ignite curiosity and interest.
“I want [people] to ask me what I’m doing and strike up conversations.”
Where will Woody walk next?
Though Ellis has no concrete plans after completing #WOODYWALKS, he will continue to travel – and give back.
“I would like to do other projects similar to this where it involves giving back, and also related to things that I’m passionate about,” said Ellis. “It’ll definitely involve traveling and doing something good for communities.”
World traveler Woody Ellis talks about his upcoming 2,000+ mile hike across the United States with WKTV Managing Editor Deborah Reed
Local pastor and founder of the nonprofit Esther’s Hope Ministries (EHM), Joan Cornelison, is changing the lives of young women in Africa – one girl at a time.
Every day, young women are dropping through the poverty cracks in Africa. EHM’s mission is to change the destinies of these young women, ages 13-18, through academic scholarships and mentoring services.
A life of quiet service
EHM was named in honor of Cornelison’s mother, Esther Jonathan Wandeka.
“My mother was a very compassionate woman. After she died, we discovered she had secretly been educating people’s children,” said Cornelison.
Students pump water (Courtesy, EHM)
As people stepped forward to reveal how Esther walked alongside them, Cornelison began to think about her own life.
“When I looked at what a difference my mother made in people’s lives, it kept calling to me,” said Cornelison. “I wasn’t satisfied with climbing the corporate ladder. I wanted to make a difference.”
In 2016, Cornelison chose to step out of her comfort zone and established Esther’s Hope, investing the modest inheritance she received from her mother into the lives of disadvantaged young women.
Women in Africa often come from homes of polygamous parents with 30+ children. This makes it extremely difficult for families to survive, much less gain an education.
“I decided, in honor of my mother, I am going to educate 10 girls,” said Cornelison. “I’m going to go to the nearest school in the village where she was born, and I’m going to look for girls who truly need financial support. I cannot save the world, but I can make a difference in 10 lives.”
Over time, EHM has been able to increase that number to 100 annual sponsorships.
One simple act of kindness
Born in a rural village in Kenya, Esther’s prospects for a successful future were dim. One of eleven children, Esther grew up in a traditional male-dominated culture.
However, the trajectory of her life changed through one simple act of kindness.
Githeri students having lunch (Courtesy, EHM)
An American missionary came to Kenya, noticed Esther’s family was struggling, and provided funds to educate Esther and her sister.
“Because of that missionary, she was able to establish herself and become a leader in the nation,” said Cornelison.
Esther became part of the first airlift after Kenya gained independence in 1963. She completed her studies in the U.S. and traveled back to Kenya to serve her home country.
Because of Esther’s influence, EHM is now changing an entire culture.
Breaking the cycle of poverty
EHM gives underprivileged young women in Africa the opportunity to break out of the cycle of poverty and achieve successful futures.
“My prayer is that every girl we take through this program will be a leader in their own right, will be able to impact their own community, maybe change perspectives,” said Cornelison.
Girls hold up letters written as part of the scholarship application process (Courtesy, EHM)
Cornelison intentionally seeks out young women from rural areas of Kenya where tradition continues to dictate their lack of worth.
“I meet girls who cannot look you in the eye because, in traditional cultures, the girls don’t really matter,” said Cornelison, adding that many men only acknowledge sons as their children.
In those male-leaning communities, women are expected to live quietly – and they do.
“When I interview them, I have to keep lifting their chin so they look at me,” said Cornelison. “I remind them that they’re beautifully and wonderfully made by God Himself.”
Ole Tipis Girls listening intently during class (Courtesy, EHM)
Cornelison studies the girls in their first year of high school to see who struggles financially. The second year, Cornelison and her team visit communities in Kenya, interviewing girls for prospective scholarships.
EHM does not provide 100% support, choosing instead to come alongside the girls as partners.
“They just need a hand up. I think we do a disservice when we treat people like total destitutes who have nothing to contribute,” said Cornelison.
“They have potential. Not a single child has been unable to meet their 50%. They do their part.”
An emotional investment
Cornelison is not shy about her emotional investment in the EHM young women.
“These girls fill me with such joy,” said Cornelison. “For me, every girl is that one girl. I cannot save everybody. But I can make a difference in one life.”
Joan Cornelison (center) and Girls OTGHS in 2019 (Courtesy, EHM)
With that care comes mutual respect.
“By the fourth year, they are all calling me ‘mummy,’” said Cornelison. “Because they look to me as a mom, they listen.”
Cornelison utilizes that relationship to help the women recognize their worth and potential.
“We remind them who they are. It’s not what society says you are, it’s what your Maker says you are,” said Cornelison.
By the fourth year of high school, the girls feel a sense of accomplishment. That sense of worth is important as they strive to find the financial resources needed to complete their schooling.
Esther’s Hope students plant trees (Courtesy, EHM)
“The Kenyan employment system is terrible,” said Cornelison. “Sometimes you have to bribe to get a job, and sometimes you have to sell yourself to get a job.”
Because many Kenyans are affluent, the culture of sugar daddies has crept in. Men will pay for several girls’ education, but they are kept women.
Cornelison reminds the girls that they do not need to settle for that life. Instead, EHM girls often sell secondhand clothing or vegetables, or clean homes to fund their education.
Cornelison worked as a janitor to make ends meet when founding EHM.
“I use my example to say, don’t be too proud. Any work that you do as a Christian woman is noble.”
And the girls are thriving
Cornelison has seen the transformation of shy girls who cannot lift their heads to confident women with careers.
“Don’t judge a book by its cover,” said Cornelison. “Every child has potential.”
Students of Home Science lighting Jikos during practical exam (Courtesy, EHM)
That transformation benefits the girls’ families as well.
“In Kenya we help our parents; it’s tradition. If you get a good job, everybody’s going to eat. Families are changing because these girls are finally reaching their full potential.”
It also produces cultural change.
But it will take time
Though some tribal practices are inhumane, the traditions are deeply rooted. Opposition from outside the tribe is not welcome.
Esther’s Hope mission trip in January 2019 (Courtesy, EHM)
“But if one of their own becomes successful, they understand the culture and perhaps can communicate a little better,” said Cornelison.
“Change takes a long time. But because this first girl’s mind has been transformed, the children she raises will be raised differently. Their minds will be transformed, and that will continue until they get to a place where positive change truly exists.”
Planting those seeds
Cornelison looks at the EHM girls and knows this is only the beginning.
Esther’s Hope: Kolanya Girls’ SS Class of 2018 (Courtesy, EHM)
“Judge not by what you sow. If you touch one girl’s life, she will touch another, and so on,” said Cornelison.
“I believe change will happen, but I can only take charge of what I feel my calling is. I’m doing my part, instilling in these young women that we are seeds planted in the world to make a difference.”
For more information about EHM and how you can help the young women of Kenya, click here.
About Joan Cornelison
Joan Cornelison grew up in Kenya, East Africa with her parents and four siblings. She is an ordained minister, conference speaker, and currently serves as the Vice President of Spiritual Care and Church Partnerships at Baruch Senior Ministries.
Erna Bajgoric gives a shot to Florine G. at the clinic inside the Care Resources day center in Grand Rapids. Participants like Florine can see primary care providers and receive treatment without having to schedule appointments or wait at the doctor’s office as part of the nonprofit’s approach to provide wrap-around care. (Courtesy, Care Resources)
Imagine having a medical need, and instead of enduring a long wait at urgent care or the emergency room, you visit a clinic where you’re seen within minutes. You’re diagnosed and then provided everything from an IV to wound care to lab work to meds and more.
You’re referred, as needed, to a social worker, therapist or any number of other health professionals. And you don’t pay a dime.
It’s not make believe.
You’re inside the clinic at Care Resources, a community-based program for adults 55 and older that promotes healthy, independent living and helps people avoid nursing home placement. It’s available to those who meet the nursing facility level of care established by the state of Michigan.
The clinic, located in Grand Rapids at Care Resources headquarters at 4150 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, boasts a medical team of seven primary providers, as well as a host of nurses, therapists and clinicians who treat participants on site and are equipped to address everything from hangnails to heart issues.
“We have a lot of resources right here at our fingertips,” says Nancy Baker, a registered nurse, clinic and day center manager, “and we’re able to serve them quickly and help them avoid trips to the ER.”
Laura Hall, a nurse practitioner and associate clinic director, notes: “They walk in, fill out a form and they’re seen often immediately by a doctor, a physician’s assistant or a nurse practitioner. A lot of our participants are amazed at the level of care – and the continuity of care.”
The Care Resources medical team collaborates closely with social workers, pharmacists, dietitians, transportation workers and others – all on-site – to make sure the participant is getting critical follow-up care as well.
Indeed, the entire Care Resources staff at the Kalamazoo Avenue address is trained to safeguard all its participants, many of whom visit the facility’s day center and spend time there eating, socializing and taking part in organized programs and activities like bingo and group games.
“Our day staff is really good at letting us know if something is changing or something is wrong with one of our participants,” Hall says. “We’re good at recognizing needs.”
At Care Resources, the aim is to “centralize care,” says Hall, although it doesn’t stop there. It includes being purposeful about communicating with participants’ guardians and caregivers as well, spending time on the phone to fill them in or inviting them to attend appointments to serve as a second set of eyes and ears.
Health care is also extended to participants in the comfort of their homes, where they can qualify for physical and occupational therapy, visits from a social worker or nurse, and help with anything from light housework to meal and grocery delivery – anything that eases their burden and helps promote a healthy lifestyle.
The clinic is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A primary care provider is on call evenings, weekends and holidays.
“The responsibility is on us to deliver their care,” Hall says. “And our goal is to always spend quality time with every participant. “So we’re never in a rush. And there’s never a wait.”
For more information about Care Resources, call 616-913-2006 or visit HERE
Chef O uses his talents in the kitchen to educate others on healthy meal options (Courtesy, Meals on Wheels)
Chef Oliver Hale, a Grand Rapids resident affectionately known as Chef O, has recently been awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for his 4,028 hours of volunteer community service.
They celebrate those who have committed countless hours to the betterment of society and acknowledge volunteers who go above and beyond, giving their time to address critical needs and making significant impact through their efforts.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor given by the program, recognizing individuals who have dedicated over 4,000 hours of volunteer service.
During his lifetime, the beloved chef has worked with several organizations to serve those around him, including:
“When I first learned about this award, I knew that this was something that Chef O deserved,” said Lisa Wideman, CEO and President of Meals on Wheels Western Michigan. “Nominating him for this was an incredibly obvious thing that I needed to do.”
A life of service
Hale began working with Meals on Wheels in 1993 because he loved the idea of helping people through food.
Chef O has inspired countless people with his positive energy and giving heart (Courtesy, Meals on Wheels)
“I wanted to help people, and I was looking for an organization that I fit into,” said Hale. “Meals on Wheels was providing healthy and fresh food done right. I liked the nutritional value they put into it.”
“He really lights up the kitchen when he comes in and volunteers,” said Wideman. “He brings such an incredible, positive energy with him wherever he goes.
“I know the trials and tribulations he’s been through, and he never talks about himself. It’s always about giving to others. He is true-hearted.”
A beacon of resilience
An award-winning chef with a career that spans over 50 years, Hale is also a two-time kidney transplant recipient.
Because of his own experiences, Chef O is an active advocate for organ donation (Courtesy, Meals on Wheels)
“Chef O is not only a culinary expert, but also a beacon of resilience,” said Wideman. “His determination and tenacity have truly inspired me over the years.”
The receipt of that first kidney on Jan. 28, 1985 is what sparked Hale’s mission to give back. And he hit the ground running.
Hale went back to college and began volunteer work in Toledo. When he moved to West Michigan, he continued to pay it forward by helping those who could not help themselves.
In 1999, Hale was invited to host his own TV show, “Chef O’s Place,” on WKTV Community Media.
“We did 315 shows over 11 years,” Hale said of his time at WKTV. “They were like family to me. We came together once a week…and we had fun taping it. The show was all volunteer, and that’s what I loved about it.”
But that’s not all…
(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Chef O retired in 2010, but continues to dedicate his time to cooking competitions – through which he has won several awards, judging, speaking engagements, recipe writing and healthy cooking demonstrations across the country.
“I love challenges,” said Hale, adding that he recently checked two items off his bucket list: cooking a nine-course dinner for 10 people, and accepting an invitation to be a guest chef at a five-star restaurant in England.
Since 1987, Hale has participated in the World Transplant Games, traveling to nine countries and winning 35 medals – 19 of them gold medals in track & field, tennis, fencing and pickleball. Hale recently added two more silver medals to his collection at the 2024 National Transplant Games in Alabama.
A profound impact
The Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony was held at Meals on Wheels Western Michigan in Grandville.
Several members of the community were present at the award ceremony to celebrate Chef O and his accomplishments (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Wideman began the celebration by reading a message from President Joe Biden:
“You are helping discover and deliver solutions to the challenges we face. We are living in a moment that calls for hope and light and love. Hope for our futures, light to see our way forward, and love for one another. Through your service, you’re providing all three.”
Carly Swanson, Community Engagement Specialist for the Office of Governor, presented a letter from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Edye Evans Hyde (left), popular West Michigan jazz singer, greets Chef O (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
In that letter, Whitmer commended Chef O on his commitment to serving his community:
“Your remarkable achievements and contributions have had a profound impact on the community of Grand Rapids and beyond. Your commitment to service…is nothing short of extraordinary.
“Michigan is great because of individuals like you who embody the spirit of hard work, diversity and perseverance.”
Family values
Hale credits his parents for his many accomplishments – especially his mother.
“My mom and dad were the backbone of my values of what I do and what I learned how to do – especially when it comes to cooking.
“She’s the one who had me in her kitchen at five years old…She planted a seed in me, and I didn’t turn back.”
Chef O enjoyed his time filming “Chef O’s Place” at WKTV Community Media (Courtesy, Meals on Wheels)
But Hale’s mother imparted more than just cooking advice – she also had words of wisdom about life.
“When I got ready to leave home to travel…she looked at me and said, ‘Oliver, who you are is God’s gift to you. What you do from this point on is your gift back to God.’ That has stayed with me for all these years when I go to do things.”
Hale was notified that his mother had passed away 24 hours before he received the phone call informing him of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Though moved by news of the award, Hale said it took two months for it to truly penetrate the grief surrounding him.
“I am moved beyond belief,” said Hale. “This has been an unbelievable journey that I’ve had for the last several months.”
Simply…living
Terri Lynn Land, former Michigan Secretary of State, chats with Chef O (Courtesy, Deborah Reed)
Hale encourages community members to consider being an organ donor.
“I’m standing here because of that day on January 29, 1985. If you are not an organ donor, if you don’t have a heart on your driver’s license, please consider it.”
When asked what he considers to be his biggest accomplishment, Hale’s answer is simple: “Living.”
And he has no plans to stop.
Carol Glanville, State Representative – 84th District, with Chef O (Courtesy, Deborah Reed)
“God has blessed me with two transplants, and I’m very happy that I can continue showing the world what organ donation can provide,” said Hale.
“I’m not stopping here. I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing because God gave me an opportunity. I believe in everything I do.”
Wideman says Hale has inspired countless people to volunteer within the community, and she urges everyone to get involved somewhere: “It can fulfill your heart just by giving back.”
Youth homelessness is rising, and AYA Youth Collective is rising to the challenge by providing support for at-risk youth in the Grand Rapids area.
The local non-profit organization has been building their resources to help youth ages 14-24. Working with youth and community partners to break cycles of homelessness, AYA centers their mission around the voices of local youth.
(Courtesy, AYA)
AYA stands for As You Are, and is a commitment that every youth will find resources and authentic relationships. The organization believes that building relationships, identifying valuable resources, and finding safety come from being accepted and celebrated as you are.
Rising to the challenge
In 2012, AYA founders Jonathan and Lauren VanKeulen met two young men experiencing homelessness and asked how they could help. The answer?
Housing.
At the time, there were only two apartments (four beds) devoted to ages 18-24 in the Grand Rapids area.
“We have over 200 youth sleeping outside every month in Grand Rapids, or in emergency shelters,” said Andy Allen, Vice President of Advancement at AYA Youth Collective.
(Courtesy, AYA)
The VanKeulens quit their jobs and bought a duplex from the Kent County Land Bank – now the State Land Bank Authority – for $10,000. The VanKeulens lived on one side of the duplex while the young men lived on the other.
The couple asked the men how they could help them achieve stability. The answer was immediate: a mentor, affordable rent, and housing that is not time-limited.
With that feedback, the VanKeulen’s formed 3:11 Youth Housing available to ages 18-24.
The housing program rent is set at $300 a month. Twelve mentors live with the youth in those homes. Weekly house dinners and one-on-one talks to create life goals and assist with financial literacy, therapy, etc. are required.
“93% of our youth exit our housing program into stability because of that diligent relationship-focused, agency-compelling work that says, You’re the author of your story – where do you want to go next? Let’s figure out how to get there.”
In 2014, Mars Hill Church created Grand Rapids HQ, a drop-in center where youth can get away from the noise of life.
AYA drop-in center (Courtesy, AYA)
AYA drop-in center (Courtesy, AYA)
AYA drop-in center(Courtesy, AYA)
AYA drop-in center (Courtesy, AYA)
AYA drop-in center (Courtesy, AYA)
AYA drop-in center (Courtesy, AYA)
“Every place they went to would be designed for adults or little children,” said Allen. “It’s vitally important to create this space where youth can go.”
3:11 and HQ merged in January 2020. Since then, the organization has grown to 12 homes and 35+ community partners that help with financial literacy, counseling, therapy, drivers training, medical, psychological and mental health care, access to education and employment services – and more.
The drop-in center welcomes ages 14-24, and offers free services such as food, laundry, showers, hygiene products and clothes. AYA recently expanded drop-in center hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays for ages 14-18.
Equal parts head and heart
The drop-in center and mentor housing is a unique model for helping at-risk youth.
“In terms of long-term, low-barrier housing for youth ages 18-24, there’s not really another place in Grand Rapids like it,” Allen said.
Though Allen would like to have more beds available for youth, he also knows the importance of sustainable growth.
“The people who work here are industry experts and understand what it takes to get a young person from instability to stability,” said Allen. “AYA is a special place that does good work that is equal parts head and heart. That’s really important.”
(Courtesy, AYA)
Finding paths to stability
AYA is on track to see 700 youth this year. Approximately 2000 youth in Grand Rapids are experiencing a level of instability.
Aging out of foster care, being born into poverty, inflation and being kicked out due to identifying as LGBTQ+ are only some of the reasons there are so many at-risk youth.
“80% of our youth are people of color, 40% identify as LGBTQ+. We talk about that openly, and that belonging is vital, and also that systemic injustice and discrimination are still present.”
AYA strives to ensure that youth immediately know they belong when they walk into the drop-in center.
“That’s the work – to figure out how we can support every single young person that walks in the door and make sure they get resources, accountability, grace, and circles of support in their lives,” said Allen.
Ultimately, the youth need to choose those resources and relationships. AYA is there to remind them that they are the author of their story – and what they want is possible.
And Grand Rapids needs them, Allen says.
“Grand Rapids needs their voice, their intellect, their contributions. Reminding them of that is vitally important.”
Patience and consistency
(Courtesy, AYA)
Allen said AYA is slow, diligent work. Relationships and trust are formed by asking about the needs of each individual – and listening to the answer.
“We want to be relationship-focused, but also innovative, thoughtful and equitable in how we support people. It’s going to be different for every young person,” said Allen.
“Not every day is going to be a good day, and not every day is going to be a win, but consistency and accountability are vital to this work. Most of our youth have been abandoned in some way. To know the people at AYA aren’t going to evict them or abandon them is a really good first step.”
“It’s really hard…and it’s beautiful…and it’s a lot”
While AYA cannot eliminate youth homelessness, Allen said, “We can end youth homelessness for an individual that walks through our door, slowly but surely. And that’s going to make a big impact on the city, and more importantly, on those individuals and their families’ lives.
“We need Grand Rapids to know that we exist. We need Grand Rapids to know that youth homelessness is an issue.”
Gain a better understanding of AYA’s mission and book a tour of the facilities by clicking here.
For more ways to get involved in helping AYA’s mission, click here.
WKTV Managing Editor Deborah Reed talks with AYA Youth Collective CEO Lauren VanKeulen about the rising number of youth at risk of homelessness – and how AYA provides support through relationships and resources.
University of Michigan Health-West invites you for an evening of running, walking, and philanthropy at the Metro Way 5K & YMCA Youth Races on Wednesday, July 31. This family-friendly event will be held at 1980 Metro Court, Wyoming, starting at 6 p.m.
Funds raised through the Metro Way 5K support UM Health-West’s community health and wellness programs, which provide vital services to the community, including free and low-cost health screenings, fitness classes and educational sessions.
“This event exemplifies our commitment to West Michigan,” said Greg Meyer, UM Health-West executive vice president and chief community officer. “The Metro Way 5K reflects our legacy of making a lasting difference in the health of our communities. It’s a celebration of our past and a commitment to our future.”
Participants of all ages and abilities are welcome. The event includes a 5K run/walk and YMCA Youth Races, making it an excellent opportunity for families to engage in a healthy and fun activity together. Your participation will directly contribute to community health and wellness programs, helping patients and their families cope with chronic illness, teaching healthy habits, and promoting safety.
For more event details and registration, visit Metro Way 5K
Metro Way 5K
Fee: $35
Start time: 6:30 p.m.
Check-in & late registration: 5 to 6:25 p.m. (Cost: $40)
YMCA Youth Races
Fee: Free
Start time: 6 to 6:25 p.m.
Registration deadline: 6:05 p.m. July 30
Open to ages 17 and younger
YMCA Youth Races
Fee: $35
Race Day Overview
5 to 6:25 p.m. – Race check-in & late registration at race headquarters
6 p.m. – YMCA Youth Races (warm-up at 5:45 p.m.)
5 to 8 p.m. – Photo opportunity, sponsors and food tent
6:30 p.m. – Metro Way 5K race start
7:15 p.m. – Awards Ceremony
Awards will be presented to the top male and female finishers in both open and masters categories. Age group prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in each group. All registered 5K finishers receive a finisher’s medal.
In an effort to provide local women with the resources necessary to be confident in their everyday lives, Reggie Macon of Battle Ground is offering a free EmpowerHer self-defense class (Courtesy, Reggie Macon)
Globally, an estimated 736 million women aged 15 and older—almost one in three—have been subjected to physical violence at least once in their life, according to UN Women. This figure does not include sexual harassment.
Reggie Macon, owner and instructor of Battle Ground JKD LLC, is dedicated to ensuring women and children are able to protect themselves from these senseless acts of violence.
In an effort to provide local women with the resources necessary to be confident in their everyday lives, Macon is offering a free EmpowerHer self-defense class. The class will take place at Boston Square Christian Reformed Church on Friday, July 26, from 6-8 p.m.
Why self-defense is important
At Battle Ground, Reggie Macon (center) is focused on helping women and children defend themselves (Courtesy, Reggie Macon)
“As an instructor, I think it’s important to learn some type of self-defense skill,” said Macon. “I’d rather have the women know it and not need it, than need it and not know.
“With everything that goes in the world, it will also give them a sense of awareness and confidence in their everyday life.”
At the EmpowerHer event, women will learn basic strikes, situational awareness, how to read body language, and tips on maximizing verbal and nonverbal communication.
“Self-defense is important as a woman because it gives you the confidence to defend yourself against an attacker,” said Macon’s wife and co-owner of Battle Ground, Chandra Macon.
“As a mother, it’s important to make sure our daughters have the knowledge of how to get away from an attacker as we cannot be with our children all day, everyday – especially as they get older and want to hang out with friends at the mall.”
A local youth learns self-defense techniques with Macon (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
Chandra went on to say that class participants will gain a better understanding of the tools they can use when in uncomfortable situations, generating confidence.
“This can also help you in everyday life where you may have been struggling to speak up before, but now have the confidence to speak up for your piece,” said Chandra.
“I’ve seen firsthand at sporting events where other kids navigate toward the larger crowds to fit in. Not my child; she decided not to. Proud moment for sure, because that tells me she’s okay to stand on her own – as that’s what leaders do! Anything can happen in larger crowds, and you don’t want to be guilty by association.”
Macon encourages local women to attend this free event and gain tools and resources to help protect themselves and their loved ones.
Battle Ground offers a variety of classes and programs for all ages, and personalized experience to fit the needs of each individual.
Whether looking to get in shape, build self-discipline, defend against an attacker, or become the next boxer or MMA fighter, individuals can reach their goals through Battle Ground JKD.
Many parents are already considering what they need to do to prepare their children for the new school year. While what they will wear and do after school is essential, ensuring they know what to do about back-to-school bullies should be at the top of every parent’s priority list.
Bullies will head back to school as well, and they will be ready to start picking on kids from day one.
“Summer is a great time to get kids ready for the new school year, including with how to win against bullies,” says Kirk Smalley, co-founder of Stand for the Silent. “Addressing it now will ensure the school year will be smooth and bully-free.”
It is important to raise awareness now
Help reduce bullying incidents by raising awareness now (Courtesy photo)
Smalley and his wife, Laura, started Stand for the Silent following their 11-year-old son ending his own life due to bullying. They turned their pain and loss into a mission of helping others.
Smalley travels the country giving presentations at schools about bullying, providing bullying prevention, giving out scholarships, offering intervention strategies and more.
Over the summer, parents can do a lot to raise awareness about bullying in their home and community. Making it a priority may help reduce the incidents of bullying in school and in the community. Proactive communities can make people more aware of the issue, which can help reduce incidents.
According to the National Institutes of Health, a few risk factors may make people more vulnerable to being bullied. These include a kid being seen as different from their peers, being seen as weak or unable to defend themselves, having low self-esteem, being less popular, not socializing well with others, and suffering from disabilities.
Tips for preparing kids now for back-to-school bullies:
Discuss bullying now. Discuss bullying, including what it is and what to do about it. Talk about the different types of bullying, how to address it, and what to do if they see someone else being bullied.
Role-play. Act out some bullying scenes with the kids so they can practice responding to them. This will help put them more at ease if the real situation ever comes up.
Get others involved. Parents can start anti-bullying groups now, which will get more kids involved in helping to keep bullying out of the school. Kids can get together to discuss the issue and ways to respond.
Contact the school. Most schools have staff working over the summer. Contact the child’s school to inquire about having an anti-bullying campaign kick off when school starts. Help them bring in a speaker, such as Stand for the Silent, and get together a group of kids for the anti-bullying task force.
Teach self-defense. It’s never a good idea to encourage your child to fight, but there are some self-defense moves that they can learn to protect themselves should it get physical. Bullies tend to pick on those they feel won’t stand up for themselves. Teach kids self-defense over the summer, such as enrolling them in karate. When kids are confident, they are more likely to stand up to a bully, and then the bully loses interest in that person.
Launching Student Stand Out
“This school year, we are going to be rewarding students who help with anti-bullying at their school,” added Smalley. “We want to encourage students to set the example and help create a kinder, more accepting school atmosphere.”
Students will be rewarded for their kindness and efforts to end bullying (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Stand for the Silent is launching a program called Student Stand Out. Teachers can nominate students who they feel stand out by being kind, addressing bullying, being a positive role model, having good leadership, having respect and integrity, and demonstrating actions that show initiative to end bullying at the school.
Each week through the school year, one nominee will be chosen to receive a $50 Visa gift card. At the end of each semester, one person will be selected to win a $100 gift card. The nomination period runs from Aug. 1 to Dec. 1 and Jan. 1 to April 1.
For more information about the program, click here.
How you can help prevent bullying
Stand for the Silent travels the country, providing seminars and talks for communities and schools. They also offer materials online to help people with bullying issues. Each year, they give scholarships to students who help address bullying at their schools.
From the moment of birth, temperature regulation is critical for all newborns—especially those born prematurely or have health conditions and are admitted to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Babies in the NICU are placed in an incubator or warmer right after birth to help control their temperature and support their growth and healing.
The Trinity Health highly skilled team in Level III NICU in Grand Rapids provides round the clock expert care for an average of 250 of the most fragile preemies and newborns each year. And now, the babies have 16 new state-of-the-art incubators waiting for them.
“Starting with transport from the delivery room to the NICU, these new incubators allow for more precise thermal control for our smallest infants,” said Steven Gelfand, MD, FAAP, Regional Medical Director, Newborn Medicine and Section Chief, Neonatology, Trinity Health West Michigan. “Once in the NICU, we continue to regulate the thermal environment until a baby can regulate their own temperature.”
The new incubators also allow parents comfortable, close access to their babies and provide family-friendly information about their babiesʼ progress.
A complex matter
Dr. Gelfand shared that his team is also implementing cycled lighting for the babies in the NICU.
When it comes to premature babies, light is a very complex matter. Too much exposure and brightness can be extremely damaging to a newborn’s development. It is important to closely control and manage the amount and types of light in the NICU environment.
Dr. Gelfand explained that cyclical light exposure has a nighttime phase and a daytime phase of 12 hours each, imitating naturally occurring circadian rhythms (our biological clock).
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Studies show that cycled lighting provides benefits to the babies, including better growth and hormone regulation. These babies are less anxious, cry less, sleep better and are more active during the day. They go home sooner, establish feedings earlier, and have better language and motor skills scores at two years of age and beyond.
The challenge? Nurses in an NICU need light 24/7 to work and care for the babies.
A special coverlet for each incubator, however, can protect the babies from light and allow the caregivers to adjust when and how much light each baby is exposed to.
At the end of July, a group of expert sewers from Abagail’s Attic are creating 16 custom coverlets for the new incubators.
A mission of comfort
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Abigail’s Attic is a local volunteer organization that turns donated wedding dresses into burial or grievance gowns for stillborn babies. They also use flannels, fleece, and other donated items to create kimonos, wraps, cocoons, blankets, baby bracelets, angels, and precious tiny teddy bears, placing them all in keepsake bags for grieving parents to cherish.
This group of ladies has been supplying Trinity Health Grand Rapids and other area hospitals with these items since 2016.
Judy Fields founded the group. Her niece, Abigail, was stillborn in June of 2000. More than a decade later, Judy launched a special effort in her honor, aimed at helping other parents who lose a baby.
“I was working at Joann Fabrics and a lady brought in a wedding dress,” said Judy. “We had a conversation about making burial gowns and such out of donated gowns. I did some homework, and Abigail’s Attic was created in October 2015.”
“For sewing the incubator coverlets, I put out an SOS to my group to see if they were interested and I had instant YES responses,” said Judy. “Byron Center United Methodist Church sponsors us and gave us a huge room to work in.”
Donations welcome
Abigail’s Attic takes donated wedding dresses, along with flower girl, bridesmaid, and some prom dresses. The group also accepts donations of gift cards to JoAnn Fabrics and Meijer.
For more information, contact Judy Fields at 616-516-5984 or judyfields8487@gmail.com.
The July 20 fundraiser is organized by lung cancer survivor Savannah DeGraaf and will benefit the American Lung Association (Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)
The event will feature a free 60-minute yoga flow on the Blue Bridge, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Yoga will be led by Malina Adler from Inner Alchemy and all levels are welcome.
Other activities include breath work, shopping local vendors, raffle prizes, music, refreshments and more. There is still time for community sponsors and vendors to get involved as well.
An unexpected tragedy
The event is organized by local lung cancer survivor Savannah DeGraaf, who was diagnosed with lung cancer at age 22.
“Anyone with lungs can suffer from lung cancer or lung disease, and I think the Lung Association does a great job with providing resources,” said DeGraaf. “After graduating college, a doctor found I had a tumor on my left lung that had likely been there for quite some time. Initially, the plan was to remove the lower left lobe, but due to the cancer cells in my lymph nodes, the tumor’s size and location, they removed the entire lung.
“It’s been a journey, and I’m grateful for my health and activity, which aided my recovery.”
A sense of community
Regarding her life post-diagnosis, DeGraaf is grateful she had the Lung Association’s resources to help her through her journey by providing her with a sense of community throughout the process.
“Getting involved with the events and the community made me feel less alone,” DeGraaf said. “That’s why this fundraising event is all to support the Lung Association and their mission to save lives and help people live a more healthy lifestyle.
“At the event, we’ll have lots of local vendors that support that healthy lifestyle, along with a yoga flow.”
Learn more!
To learn more about the event or to make a donation, click here.
Wyoming Public Schools (WPS) has partnered with Feeding America Mobile Pantry to host a Mobile Pantry once a month.
*WHS July Mobile Food Pantry will be held Monday, July 22 from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
What to expect
Though the selection of food varies each month, there are always a variety of fresh and frozen items available at the Mobile Pantry.
The Mobile Pantry is drive-thru style, and families are asked to remain in their vehicles for safety.
WHS Mobile Food Pantry Map (Courtesy, WPS)
Cars enter at the main entrance to WHS (1350 Prairie Parkway). Volunteers will direct traffic in the parking lot to help with efficiency.
Once in line, a volunteer will approach each car to record the name, address, number of people in the household, and the reason the food is needed for each family. Once a car has reached the front of the line, volunteers will load a box of food into the trunk.
Resources
To learn more about Feeding America West Michigan and the services they offer, click here.
For the Feeding America Mobile Food Pantry schedule, click here.
Women at Risk, International (WAR, Int’l) will lead a teen class on the true nature and dangers of human trafficking (Supplied)
By Deborah Reed
WKTV Managing Editor
deborah@wktv.org
Women at Risk, International (WAR, Int’l) has spent decades providing healing and safe spaces for trafficked women. They also work tirelessly to educate communities about the true nature and dangers of human trafficking.
On July 13, the WAR Chest Boutique in Wyoming will host a teen S.T.A.N.D. class for ages 11-17. The class aims to give the next generation tools they need to stand with confidence against the challenges of the world today.
The teen S.T.A.N.D. session will take place from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and is led by Liz Midkiff, WAR, Int’l Ambassador and human trafficking survivor. During the class, attendees will make a handmade bracelet they can take home with them.
Session cost is $10 and includes the class, resources and bracelet. Due to limited space, registration will close at 12 p.m. on Friday, July 12. Parents are welcome to come and observe the class.
(Courtesy, WAR, Int’l)
Created and designed by Midkiff and Rebecca McDonald, founder and President of WAR, Int’l, the S.T.A.N.D. acronym teaches youth safety awareness (S), trafficking signs (T), age appropriateness (A), that it is okay to say no (N), and determination (D).
As a human trafficking survivor, Midkiff has spent the last several years under the guidance of McDonald and WAR, Int’l staff, healing and finding her voice. Both have been found in telling her personal story and educating youth and adults about human trafficking.
Liz’s story
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
“The number two trafficker is a fake friend, male or female,” said McDonald.
In Midkiff’s case, she was trafficked by the manager at her place of employment.
“He groomed her,” said McDonald. “He got closer and closer to her, and she trusted him because he was her boss. Then he had her move to Tennessee, away from her family. He started trafficking her, and threatened her family.”
Fortunately, Midkiff was able to escape and call her parents. Her father drove through the night to reach Midkiff and bring her home.
Now, Midkiff wants to speak.
“My passion is to help them find their voice.”
“We have many survivors who want to speak,” said McDonald. “They reach a point in their healing where they want to give voice.”
Having watched Midkiff teach her own young son about safe relationships, as well as share her story with older youth, McDonald is confident in the survivor’s ability to teach and bring awareness to this important topic.
“I’ve seen her grow in her ability to share her story,” said McDonald. “She makes it very kid friendly. We’re giving her an opportunity to do that, and to find her voice.”
(Courtesy, WAR, Int’l)
Midkiff recently left a career in banking to take on speaking engagements full-time.
“Our mission is circles of protection, and we’re another concentric circle around her, helping her leave a career in banking and go into this full-time,” said MacDonald. “It’s our delight to help, see her spread her wings and flourish.”
Child and teen S.T.A.N.D. classes
Midkiff teaches two S.T.A.N.D. classes, one for children ages 5-10, and a teen session for ages 11-17. The messages in both classes are tailored to the kids who attend, offer a question and answer period and a craft.
The child class contains age appropriate material regarding safe relationships, stranger danger, private parts and personal privacy.
The teen class material can feature content around drugs, money, phones and social media.
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Midkiff also touches on mixed messages regarding stranger danger and complying with a perpetrator versus consenting.
The number one trafficker, said McDonald, is family.
“Kidnapping is 3% of trafficking,” said McDonald. “Stranger danger is a dangerous message by itself because 95% of the time it’s going to be somebody you know.”
Teaching a child to say no is important. However, our bodies have three different responses to trauma: fight, flight and freeze.
If a child does not say no when faced with a traumatic situation, it is not because they did something wrong, it is because their body shut down.
“To freeze is a normal, actually healthy, response to trauma. You’re trying to be quiet and not bring attention to yourself.”
That does not, McDonald continued, mean you were consenting.
“[The class is] a wonderful opportunity to hear from a survivor,” said McDonald. “It’s very practical, and it’s very age appropriate.”
Your story has power
“When it’s your story, no one can argue with you. That’s the power of a survivor,” said McDonald, adding that she urges Midkiff to speak from the heart when telling her story. “What she brings to the table is personal experience, and experience as a mother.”
Midkiff’s story gives hope, something McDonald believes is desperately needed.
“We need to know that there are happy things to get us through brokenness,” said MacDonald. “It’s very addictive when you see women who have been to hell and back put their life back together, rise up, and do something very productive, redemptive and full circle.”
(Courtesy, pxhere.com)
How you can help survivors of human trafficking
Every $300 WAR Int’l sells in product provides a woman a month in a safe house overseas. If a consumer spends $10, they support a woman for a day in the safe house.
Every size contribution creates an impact, whether via donation or shopping.
Class attendees are invited to peruse the boutique before or after the S.T.A.N.D. event to see all the products made by, or sold in support of, at-risk and rescued individuals from around the world.
For additional questions, email info@warchestboutique.com, or call 616-530-1234 and speak to Joy.
Kent County residents will have the opportunity to vote on several party nominations and millages in the Aug. 6 primary election.
On the ballot will be the renewal of the Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage, which is funded by a 0.25 mill property tax increase. For example, the owner of a home valued at $300,000 will pay approximately $37.50 annually, or $3.13 per month.
If passed, the millage will run through 2030.
(Courtesy, FSK)
Think long-term investment
The Ready by Five millage is facilitated by First Steps Kent (FSK), an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to giving children access to the necessary policies, programs, and support systems to thrive and be developmentally on track when they start kindergarten, according to their website.
The economic impact of an early childhood millage can yield some results in the short-term, but long-term results are the true goal of the millage, according to Jennifer Headley-Nordman, President of First Steps Kent.
“Some of the research that we share is from economist James Heckman looking at longitudinal data,” said Headley-Nordman.
Results of the James Hekman study (Courtesy, FSK)
“If you make investments in early childhood later on when they are 18 and beyond, you begin to see improved graduation rates, lower incarceration, seeing individuals having better attainment in continued education or in the workforce.”
Ready by Five funds a wide range of early childhood programs, including services for expectant parents, play-and-learn groups, and intensive therapy for children grappling with behavioral health issues.
“For individual programs, returns can be anywhere from $3 to $7 for every $1 spent. You are getting more than double in return. If a child has additional needs and layers, services can return $12-$15,” said Headley-Nordman.
Pennies today can save thousands in the future
A child who receives help for early childhood delays at a young age can often overcome those delays more effectively than if they are addressed later in the school system.
“If you can remediate speech and language delays and improve fine motor skills when kids are young and eager to learn, they are less likely to need robust special education services that can be extremely expensive,” said Headley-Nordman.
Receiving help at an early age can save money in the future (Courtesy, FSK)
How the millage works
In order to receive funding through the Ready by Five millage, community programs are required to first submit data and receipts to FSK for review and approval.
“Our process is a reimbursement model,” Headley-Nordman said. “When organizations request funds, they spend their own money first, and then provide us receipts and evidence that they have spent money in accordance with how they said they would as part of the contract.”
2018 millage produces change
The Ready by Five millage was approved by Kent County voters in 2018, and its first class of kindergarteners have excelled due to that funding.
“We finally had a group of kids reach kindergarten, so we had a group of kids that received Ready by Five funds, and we are able to see there is positive momentum with the kids that did benefit from funding,” Headley-Nordman said.
Supporting the community
Some in Kent County may be hesitant to add more to their taxes, but Headley-Nordman urges them to think about the long-term benefits to the community when it comes to the Ready by Five millage.
Working together helps the entire community (Courtesy, FSK)
“Being able to share the cost of supporting programs and services that individuals in the community need for their children makes a lot of sense,” said Headley-Nordman. “If you look at this from an economic standpoint it allows those services to be low cost or free to everyone, not just for particular individuals that are benefiting from it.
“We all need help at one time or another. It’s who we are in Kent County. Kent County has a history that we all help each other out.”
First Steps Kent resources
FSK offers various resources and initiatives, and provides funding opportunities for early childhood programs and initiatives. FSK also seeks parent leaders to serve on its Resident Proposal Review Board.
Community members are encouraged to learn more about First Steps Kent, and sign up for updates, at firststepskent.org.
Learn more about the Ready by Five millage in this short WKTV Journal interview with Jennifer Headley-Nordman.
Alzheimer’s is still a mystery to those in the medical field (Courtesy, pxhere.com)
Few diagnoses are more frightening than hearing that one has Alzheimer’s or another disease that causes dementia.
The Alzheimer’s Association estimates about one in nine Americans over 65 have Alzheimer’s disease. This number is expected to more than double in 25 years.
“Alzheimer’s is a complicated disease,” said Kevin Foley, MD, FACP, AGSF, Medical Director of the Trinity Health Medical Group Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Program at Trinity Health Hauenstein Neurosciences – Grand Rapids Campus. “Even though it was discovered more than 100 years ago, we have yet to really understand what causes it, whether genes, environmental triggers, or something else.
“The formation of amyloid plaques in the brain is a hallmark of the disease, and the process can begin up to 10 years before a person shows any symptoms.”
While advances in treating cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, have been made in recent years, nothing seemed to have worked as well for treating Alzheimer’s.
Hope for slowing cognitive decline
Lecanemab can slow the progression of mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia (Adobe Stock Photos)
In 2021, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved aducanumab, an amyloid-beta-attacking monoclonal antibody—a lab-made version of an antibody found in the human immune system.
Aducanumab was the first drug ever approved for slowing cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients. But trial data showed – at best – hints of a possible, small average slowing in cognitive decline.
In 2023, the FDA approved lecanemab (Leqembi®) using the Accelerated Approval Pathway (AAP). Under the AAP, the FDA may approve drugs for serious conditions where there is an unmet medical need and a drug is shown to have an effect on a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict a clinical benefit to patients. In this case, the surrogate endpoint is removal of amyloid.
“Lecanemab can slow the progression of mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease by eliminating amyloid protein from the brain,” said Dr. Foley. “It is classified as a ‘disease modifying’ drug, and the evidence so far shows a modest effect on slowing memory decline by several months.”
This treatment may be effective for patients in the early stage of the disease when symptoms, such as difficulty remembering names and completing tasks, are still manageable without much daily support.
Procedure and cost details
Dr. Foley and his team have two patients currently undergoing lecanemab infusions. More patients are going through the screening and approval process to see if they are a candidate for the treatment.
Trinity Health Grand Rapids (Courtesy, UMHW)
If a patient is approved, lecanemab is given as IV infusion every two weeks for 18 months. Brain MRIs will be done along the way to monitor for side effects. Patients also must be re-certified at six months to continue the treatment.
Health insurance plans will cover some of the expenses associated with the screening and treatment. There is no cost for the recertification at six months. An annual estimate for all non-covered expenses associated with screening and treatment is $6,000 – $7,000. The actual amounts covered are insurance company specific, so actual out of pocket costs could be less than this estimate.
Hope for the future
“For patients with Alzheimer’s, the hope of staying at the same level longer and slowing how fast it progresses, so they can keep doing what they enjoy, is important,” said Dr. Foley. “While this is not a ‘cure’ for disease, further studies may lead to an even more successful treatment.”
Reggie Macon (right) leads a a Battle Ground fitness event (Courtesy, Reggie Macon)
“I think it’s very important for us to be as active as possible,” said Reggie Macon, Founder and CEO of Battle Ground JKD. “The healthier we are, the better we are.”
From 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., participants can enjoy light fitness activities, learn self-defense skills and observe demonstrations from Battle Ground staff, teens and trained MMA fighters. A healthy snack and water will be provided for event attendees.
Fitness in the Park is free to attend and all ages are welcome.
Macon said the Fitness in the Park event is a way to give those interested in starting a fitness journey a safe, controlled environment to learn, have fun and bring families together.
“If [families] work out together, have fun together, you tend to create a habit a bit more than you would if you were by yourself,” said Macon.
A passion for helping others
Reggie Macon with daughters Leilani (left) and Kailani (Courtesy, Reggie Macon)
Macon trains often with his wife and three children. In fact, Macon’s passion for teaching martial arts and fitness began with his two daughters.
“One of the main reasons for starting in the martial arts world is having two daughters and wanting them to be safe because we’re not always around them as parents,” said Macon. “Giving them the knowledge and know-how to protect themselves to make it back home.”
Macon himself has over a decade of experience in Jeet Kune Do. He has also learned additional styles within the martial arts industry including: Kali, Savate, Panantukan and boxing.
“My purpose is to use my experience in fitness and martial arts to help people have a better quality of life,” says Macon on the Battle Ground website. “Sharing my love of training and teaching has been a blessing and a dream come true.”
A one-stop shop to fitness
Battle Ground offers a variety of classes and programs for all ages, and personalized experience to fit the needs of each individual.
Whether looking to get in shape, build self-discipline, defend against an attacker, or become the next boxer or MMA fighter, individuals can reach their goals through Battle Ground JKD.
“My goal with Battle Ground is I want to be a one-stop shop,” said Macon, adding that many fitness centers only specialize in one area of fitness. “It takes driving from place to place out of the picture.
“By offering options, having a passion for developing and helping a person become one percent better every day, and being blessed to have different talents and knowledge, I said, why not? If not me, then who?”
Impacting others through community programs
Macon is currently in the process of registering Battle Ground Impact, a nonprofit fitness organization. He hopes to offer even more options to the public through community events.
A local youth learns self-defense techniques with Reggie Macon (Courtesy, Deborah Reed)
“I want to take the whole concept of not having financial backing to do a class out of the picture,” said Macon, adding that finances are a large part of why people do not begin a fitness journey.
“If I can take that off the table, then that leaves no excuse for people starting a fitness journey – or anything else when it comes to being active.”
Macon also hopes the nonprofit will help open doors to partnerships with other organizations.
“People see the LLC and all of a sudden they think of price,” said Macon. “It’s not about that all the time.
“I’m different. I want to make sure everybody gets the quality, but I don’t want money to be an issue, or that they’re thinking I’m just there for the money. My whole passion is to make sure people are able to protect themselves.”
Look for Battle Ground Impact updates and launch information on the Battle Ground JKD website.
Bring family and friends!
Macon encourages the community to try out Fitness in the Park – and to bring family and friends.
“Come out to have a good time – it’s going to be fun,” said Macon. “Bring family. It’s good for people to show up by themselves, but I want people to actually have someone there with them so they can go through it together.”
