With the 4th of July nearly upon us, it’s a good time to review certain truths, one of which is that animals become frightened out of their wits when firecrackers pop, crackle and boom. Indeed, tales abound of hounds and cats making a run for it and getting lost in the process. Here’s how to keep your pet safe during this trying time.
But that’s not the only time a family pet can get lost. Oftentimes, a household move will spook Puff or Fido. And that’s just what’s happened to one of WKTV’s volunteers, who now finds her favorite feline missing.
Marisol Martinez recently moved from Wyoming (Michigan, of course) to Caledonia, and sometime during the move, her cat, Lukah, absconded from the new premises on Treadmill Ct. SE. Lukah isn’t familiar with the neighborhood and could quite possibly be biding his time under a porch, in some bushes — you name it, if you know cats, you know that they excel at hiding. Maybe he’s exploring the neighborhood and making new friends, but he could have at least told Martinez, who is worried sick about him.
Martinez hopes that a reader out there might find Lukah, or at least catch a glimpse. So do we. If you see Lukah, please contact Martinez at solcreations96@gmail.com or by phone, 706.271.8704.
We know he’s out there. Lukah, where are you, buddy?
WKTV Community Media has a proud history with the recently retired Rev. Mark J. Bergsma — he’s been a volunteer high school sports announcer for years. But his being one of “the voices” in local sports scene falls pretty far down on his impressive resume of career accomplishments.
Rev. Bergsma served as pastor at Kentwood’s Unity Reformed Church for more than 40 years before he retired in May — and even by church leader standards, 40 years at at the same church is special. But he makes clear that the Unity Reformed community was just as special and that he was been rewarded in so many ways for his longevity.
Rev. Bergsma — Mark, as everybody knows him at WKTV — sat down outside the station recently to talk about his years at Unity and other parts of his past, present and future.
Rev. Mark and Judy Bergsma, at Unity Reformed Church. (Supplied/Unity Reformed Church)
“I really believe that God led me to that church when I was in my mid-20s, graduating from seminary,” Rev. Bergsma said. “I had already spent 14 months there as an intern. I went back to school not intending to return. But the church called me back, asked me to come as their full-time pastor. In the process, they showed great patience with me, as a young man. And it was a tremendously supportive family atmosphere there, and that never changed over the years.”
However impressive was his work at Unity, much of his work and his story takes place outside the walls of his beloved church.
Mark’s years as a pastor also had him serving as overnight Chaplin at local hospitals and with the Kentwood police and fire departments, as well as worship leader at Holland Home Raybrook senior community — experiences which, he says, came with trials and rewards, but he knew it was his calling to also be out of the church and into the community.
Yet another aspect of Mark’s career is his work on the tennis courts at Kelloggsville High School. Yes, he became involved to coach his daughters, but he went on to proudly coach successful teams and mentor great young ladies. And his future plans include supporting the school district’s young tennis talent.
Mark Bergsma, right, with fellow WKTV high school sports volunteer Ron Schultz. (WKTV)
And his work at WKTV? Before and now after his retirement, WKTV’s high school sports coverage team is better thanks to Mark’s work. But how he got started at WKTV? That’s a funny story (see the video).
Finally, what’s next for Mark, at a pulpit, on a tennis court and with his family? Mark will certainly not be slowing down … OK, maybe there’s a little more fishing in his plans.
The Santa Claus Girls have a long history in Kent County, dating from 1909 in fact. These days they operate out of the Knoll Inc. building on 36th in Kentwood.
Over the years, some things have changed but one thing hasn’t — an army of volunteers work to keep up the tradition of buying, wrapping and delivering presents to more than 10,000 kids in Western Michigan. WKTV visited the Santa Claus Girls workshop recently and talked about that legacy with Maggie Moerdyke.
And what motivates that army?
“Why do they do what they do?” Maggie Moerdyke, a buyer for the Santa Claus Girls, said to WKTV in a recent interview. “It is important to them to make sure every child has that gift, no matter what their circumstance.”
While the kids each get a new toy and candy — what else would be expected? They also get hand-made, knitted winter hats and mittens. And those come from an army all by themselves.
The knitted hats and mittens come from “geriatric associations, from just from grandmas on the street,” she said. “Those all come from our community, very lovingly and very givingly.”
Are you looking for help to pay off student loans or save money for college? Do you need to add relevant work experience to your resume? Are you trying to enter or re-enter the workforce? Do you want to make a difference in your community? If you answered yes to any of these questions, consider becoming a member of AmeriCorps or Senior Corps. If you answered yes to any of those questions and would like to accomplish that feat within Michigan 4-H, consider joining 4-H STEAM Corps.
Michigan State University Extension will be expanding its 4-H programming impact through 4-H STEAM Corps, an AmeriCorps program that will place 30 full-time members in MSU Extension 4-H offices across the state to provide science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) enrichment programming via 4-H SPIN Clubs and 4-H Tech Wizards. Through this program, MSU Extension will expand 4-H SPIN clubs by potentially creating 600 new SPIN clubs in 30 counties across the state reaching over 3,200 youth. Members will serve from September 2018 through July 2019. The program is contingent upon funding by the Corporation for National and Community Service and Michigan Community Service Commission. Contact Rachel Puckett at pucket21@msu.edu for more information.
AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs are operated by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency established in 1993 whose mission is “to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.” The Corporation for National and Community Service employs 75,000 individuals across the United States in a variety of public service assignments aimed to meet critical needs in the community. At 21,000 locations nationwide, national service members are making a difference in their community through projects focused on disaster preparedness and relief, the opioid epidemic, youth mentoring, college access and readiness, conserving our environment and improving the economic opportunity of our veterans and limited income families.
In addition to making a positive impact on others and serving your country, there are many other benefits to becoming a national service member. Full-time members typically receive:
Modest living allowance or volunteer stipend
Limited health benefit option
Student loan deferment
Educational award to pay for college, technical school or repay student loans
Skills and training
Furthermore, the Corporation for National and Community Service found service work also spurred personal and professional growth. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service Office of Research and Evaluation 2013 study, volunteering is a positive pathway to employment. They found volunteers in general were “27 percent more likely to find a job after being out of work, and that number jumped to 51 percent for volunteers without a high school diploma” and 55 percent increase for those in rural America. The Corporation for National and Community Service 2017 State of the Evidence Annual Report also found:
9 out of 10 alumni reported their experience increased their problem-solving abilities.
8 out 10 alumni indicated their experienced benefitted their career path.
79 percent are, or plan to become, actively involved in their community after service, compared to 47 percent prior to service.
According to the National Service 2018 Impact Report, locally Michigan has 1,710 service locations with 9,360 AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members hard at work improving lives and communities, with the Corporation for National and Community Service contributing 63.1 million in program funding.
In a recent interview with Kentwood City Police Department Deputy Chief Richard Roberts, and local resident Pam Schichtel, WKTV Journal found out more about the department’s volunteer program as part of our November WKTV Journal newscast.
As a way to give back to the community they love so much, Kentwood residents volunteer thousands of hours annually to the program in order to keep the city safe. Schichtel tells us why she volunteers.
Deputy Chief Roberts and the rest of his department are grateful for the assistance given to them by these citizens and hope to see more involvement in the program in order to better serve the community with excellence. He tells us what the volunteers do and how people can join the team.
WKTV Journal airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times). All interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos. For more information regarding the police volunteer program please click here.
E. Coli, a largely harmless but occasionally dangerous bacteria present in animal and human feces, is found throughout the Plaster Creek watershed. The E. Coli strains present in the watershed from animal waste are likely the product of agricultural runoff. However, when it comes to the E. Coli from human waste, according to professor Kelly DuBois, “it’s really not known where that’s coming from.”
So, does DuBois, a professor of biology, intend to track down the source? “Based on how often they’re finding [E. Coli]—all over the place—it can’t be one source, so we have a really small chance of pinpointing all the sources and shutting them all down,” said DuBois.
Instead, she is working with a group of student researchers to assess if green infrastructure installations could be an environmentally safe solution. In particular, they are looking at the impact of Kreiser pond, a retention basin installed in a residential area of Grand Rapids four or five years ago, “which is essentially a U-shaped little pond,” built to slow rainwater runoff. “We know it slows the flow down, it absolutely works for that,” said DuBois, “but my question was: what is it doing with the microbes in the water?”
A collaborative legacy
While according to DuBois, “it’s been shown in some instances that green infrastructure can be really efficient at removing bacterial contamination,” she hopes to prove that it’s effective in Plaster Creek’s case so that future green infrastructure projects in the watershed can be designed with microbial reduction in mind.
The project is in collaboration with the Plaster Creek Stewards, a group of Calvin faculty, staff, and students who have been working over a decade on the restoration of the Plaster Creek watershed. “It’s a fun group to be a part of,” said DuBois, “because there’s so much collaboration, and everyone comes at it from a little different perspective.”
DuBois was inspired to work with Plaster Creek Stewards after doing research through Calvin’s Clean Water Institute last year. “I was really excited to be a part of [the Clean Water Institute], and that has kind of led to [working with Plaster Creek],” she said, “because I developed that skill set last summer with my student, it was like ‘hey, we can apply these [tools] to Plaster Creek too!”
Pursuing proper stewardship
“As biologists, obviously, creation care is something that’s very important to us,” DuBois said, “I honestly love bench science, but it’s nice to have a project [where] it’s easier for students to see the direct connection with taking care of creation.” She added, “we can see, when we measure stuff in that water, that humans have had a negative impact on this little part of creation, and so it’s very practical to say we want to turn that around now.”
One of the student researchers, Kate DeHeer, a junior majoring in biology and biochemistry, has observed firsthand the positive community impacts of the Steward’s work: “we’ve only been out to the pond twice, but have met around five neighbors interested in our work.” She added, “they all seem to be fond of Kreiser and were happy to have it in their neighborhood.”
According to Tobe Ndika, a junior biology major with a pre-med concentration, “[this research] has made me aware of the need for stewardship towards God’s creation.” He added “I feel called to make the world a better place.”
On the latest episode of WKTV Journal: In Focus, WKTV volunteer host Keith St. Clair talked with WKTV Kent County Circuit Court Family Division Judge Kathleen A. Feeney, who took the bench in 2000 and was the first woman judge on the Kent County Circuit Court.
Judge Feeney talks about recent awards she has been given, including the Justice Marilyn Kelly Outstanding Judicial Service Award. She also talks gender equity in the legal world and new programs in the county’s family court.
Also on the episode, In Focus is Michigan State Police Trooper Martin Miller, a community outreach trooper stationed out of Rockford Post 61. Trooper Miller talked with In Focus producer and host Ken Norris about scams targeting our seniors, other common scams and how to recognize and avoid them.
The entire episode of “WKTV Journal: In Focus” airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel.
The episode will debuted on WKTV cable channels on Tuesday, July 10, and will again air on Thursday, July 12, also at 6:30 p.m., and will continue on the same days and times the week of July 16. But all interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal: In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.
Sportsmanship is a way of life. What type of role model are you?
We usually think of sports as a way to teach kids various physical skills, but youth sports can offer many more learning experiences. There is a lot of research and writing concerning performance but there is very little on the impact around the social, emotional, intellectual, and moral impact of participants according to the Josephson Institute of Ethics. Children learn behavior from the adults most important to them. Those important people could be the parent, a teacher, coaches or a good friend. Regardless, it is important that adults model appropriate ways of being a good competitor and spectator.
Sports are a major social forces that shape the quality and character of American culture. It is an opportunity to teach kids how to handle themselves positively in difficult situations. Below are examples of how grownups can teach a child (and maybe some adults) to be a generous competitor, a good loser, and a graceful winner.
Teach sportsmanship — Require participants to demonstrate sportsmanship before, during and after a competitive event. This can be accomplished by following rules, being honest and fair, showing respect, being well-mannered, and accepting outcomes gracefully.
Applaud your children — Be sure to express your appreciation to the children, the other club/group, officials and others you wish to show respect. Examples of this are to accept the ruling of the officials, congratulate all participants, remain positive at all times, and be cheerful and friendly.
Show respect to others — Don’t heckle, boo, make rude and sarcastic comments or insult other spectators, competitors, coaches or officials. Try to keep emotions under control and give others the benefit of the doubt. Again show respect and please refrain from public arguments.
Be a polite participant — Listen, act interested, and remain quiet when participants are introduced or when announcements are made. Stay until the end of the event, even if your child is finished competing. By doing this you are being a positive role model and showing integrity. Be objective and accept the nature of competition.
Show Courtesy to others — Do not block the view of others when taking pictures or videos, standing in aisles, or by jumping and standing up in moments of excitement. Always leave the viewing area clean by throwing away any litter.
By practicing the above examples, any event can be a pleasurable activity for all involved. Most importantly you will become a positive role model for the youth around you!
Michigan State University Extension offers a multitude of classes and resources on stress and anger manage, parenting, conflict resolution and violence prevention.
Calvin College placed second at the 7th Annual Disaster Shelter Design Competition, sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse International, April 19-21, and hosted on John Brown University’s (JBU) Siloam Springs campus. Nine teams from eight universities designed and constructed a rapidly-deployable emergency and disaster shelter, which a panel of judges with expertise in emergency management, engineering, logistics, and manufacturing, evaluated for possible implementation in relief efforts worldwide.
“It was a lot of fun. We got to test our prototype against other schools and other designs, simulate a lot of scenarios, and ultimately we got to see how well our process and ideas came to light in physical form,” said Kyle Sutton, a senior civil-environmental engineering major at Calvin.
Sutton, along with fellow senior civil-environmental engineering majors, Kyra Black, Cameron Carley, and Nate Veldboom, made the 13-hour drive south for the competition. The group, known as Team Dwell, brought with them their handiwork–a project they’ve been working on for their senior design project this year.
The competition scenario they participated in was based on the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2015 that affected more than a million people in Nepal. The shelters were required to address the local climate in Nepal, as well as their mountainous terrain, by retaining heat and transporting easily as well as by being water resistant, cost effective and culturally appropriate. The shelters were also required to be able to house a family of four.
“This competition gives Samaritan’s Purse access to some of the region’s most innovative engineers, construction management and architects, as students provide practical solutions to real-world problems,” said Mark Terrill, associate professor of construction management at John Brown University, and competition coordinator. “Not only does the competition combine classroom learning and real-world application, but it’s also really fun to watch.”
Team Dwell (Courtesy Calvin College)
Each team’s disaster shelter prototypes endured durability testing – including earthquake sustainability, heat retention, overnight habitability, wind turbulence, and water resistance. In addition, teams competed in an emergency shelter construction test, where they were evaluated on their ability to quickly design and construct emergency shelters from given materials.
Teams were scored based on their shelter’s performance in individual events and on their presentations detailing their shelter’s schematics, design, and materials. In addition to Team Dwell’s second place overall finish, they also took top honors in the Best Camp Plan, Best Report/Presentation, and Lightest Shelter categories.
A team from LeTourneau University took first place overall and John Brown University took third place. Other universities who participated this year include: Dordt College, Pittsburg State University, Gyeongsang National University, Murray State University, and University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
Kent County is interested in filling membership on a county committee focused of veterans issues.
By Kent County
The Kent County Board of Commissioners is seeking residents who are interested in serving the community through appointment to the Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
The new Veterans’ Affairs Committee member would fill a mid-term vacancy ending Dec. 31, 2021. Applicants must reside in Kent County and have served honorably on active duty in the United States Armed Forces.
The Veterans’ Affairs Committee meets the first Thursday of each month at 8:30 a.m., at the Veterans’ Services Office, 836 Fuller Avenue NE.
Kent County residents must complete an online application form via the County’s website at accesskent.com/boardappointments. Resumes and cover letters are encouraged and may be attached. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 27.
Please call the Board of Commissioners Office at 616-632-7580 with any questions.
Kentwood’s public trails welcome not only public use but also public volunteers being watchful eyes and ears on the trail. (Supplied)
By Kentwood Police Department
The Kentwood Police Department is looking for volunteers to become part of the Trail Patrol Volunteer Program.
Trail Patrol Volunteers patrol parks and trails in the City of Kentwood by providing assistance to trail users and reporting problems — signs of vandalism, damage, and illegal/suspicious activity. Trail patrol involves observing and reporting issues on the trail including maintenance and ordinance violations.
Volunteers may choose to walk or ride a bike to patrol and set their own schedule. A minimum one-hour commitment per week is requested (weather permitting).
Volunteers must be at least 21 years of age, have a friendly demeanor, undergo application and screening process, pass a background check, and attend a one-hour Department training.
You can make a difference in your community’s parks and trails and have fun while doing it!
For more information, contact Vicki Highland at 616-656-6571 or e-mail highlandv@ci.kentwood.mi.us.
Each week WKTV features an adoptable pet — or few — from an area shelter. This week’s beauty is from Big Sid’s Sanctuary. Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary rescue organizations were founded by Jennifer Denyes, DVM (Dr. Jen), who is on staff at Clyde Park Veterinary Clinic (4245 Clyde Park Ave SW).
Meet one of the most introverted kitties we have had in recent years — Autumn. Sadly I have to repost her plea for adoption since her ‘happily ever after’ didn’t last.
On March 2, 2018, Dr. Jen received a call from a colleague at our local humane society stating that our pretty girl had been turned in to them by a friend of her initial adopter, stating that Autumn was no longer wanted.
It appears that the initial adopter gave this little lady to a friend (in violation of our adoption contract), and that person decided she didn’t want Autumn after all, despite promising the initial adopter that Autumn would be safe and sound.
Somehow in the shuffle, Autumn contracted FIV, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, transmitted via a bite wound from an infected cat (she was either let outdoors or was housed with a positive cat that bit her). Since she hasn’t a mean bone in her timid tabby body, there is no risk of her spreading it to the other cats that she shares company with, thankfully.
Born in the fall of 2009, Autumn and her still-nursing offspring were originally dumped off in Saranac, and a kindhearted soul swooped in to the rescue.
All were hungry, cold, and flea-ridden. Even though she had just been tossed out like garbage with her young kittens, Autumn was relaxed and ate, fed her babies, and slept. Whoever dumped them did not care that they were pretty much ensuring a slow death to this family. There are so many dangers — including bad weather, coyotes, cars, stupid people, and other wild animals.
Autumn’s kittens grew, were spayed/neutered and vaccinated, then finally adopted out to great homes. Another older brother, Baelfire, was also dumped in the meantime, and was able to charm his way into Crash’s. This left Autumn, who now was suffering from pneumonia that was a result of her poor life prior to finding us and stress from having to remain in our foster kitten room for so long. She beat her pneumonia, and was able to secure her spot at Crash’s also.
Autumn is settling in but is still head shy and uncertain. Potential adopters must be willing to take things slowly, on Autumn’s terms. This sweetie deserves a kind, loving home.
More about Autumn
NOTE: A $825 grant from Lil BUB’s Big Fund for the ASPCA will enable Crash’s Landing & Big Sid’s Sanctuary, to fund comprehensive exams for five Big Sid’s Sanctuary cats before going to their new home. Each exam would include a full blood panel, dental care, radiographs, urinalysis, antibiotics and pain medication, if needed. Big Sid’s caters exclusively to cats who test positive for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) or FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus). FIV and FeLV are viruses that can, if they flare up, suppress a cat’s immune system. The shelter takes cats with FIV or FeLV from all over Michigan.
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.
I used to think I wasn’t a good enough person to volunteer. People who volunteer are happy, generous, full of energy and compassion among a myriad of other things. I always looked up to these people, and still do. I never saw myself as capable of joining such a group of wonderful individuals because I didn’t meet the criteria for what I thought I needed to be to volunteer, and more importantly, make an impact in my community. Then I learned about Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding, a nonprofit organization located in Rockford, Michigan, just 20 minutes north of Grand Rapids.
Equest Center is a therapeutic horse farm that provides riding lessons to children and adults with disabilities. Their mission is to “improve quality of life through equine-based therapy to physically, mentally and socially/emotionally challenged individuals.’’ Equest has a unique program that integrates academic, social and physical skills, using the horse as a catalyst. Kids and adults alike, from ages 2-102 have all benefited from the strength, confidence and skills that come from riding horses.
There are many factors that go into providing these incredible people with what has been lifesaving therapy for some of the riders. Funding, facilities, horses and staff all play a vital role in the operation of the Equest Center, but what stands out the most are the volunteers. I am fortunate enough to be a part of this incredible organization and know many of the volunteers who commit their time to bettering the lives of others.
I never had a great desire to volunteer, and my reason for doing so was selfish. I came to Equest to pad my resume so I looked better to potential employers, plain and simple. Little did I know how much it would impact my life. In order to understand why volunteering at Equest impacted me so much, let me share a little about myself.
Growing up I was smart and athletic, and seemingly happy. I carried a 4.0 in school, achieved every academic award you could think of, started every single basketball game of my high school career and seemed unbreakable from the outside looking in. Ironic, considering how broken I was. Yes, I was smart and yes, I was athletic. I was responsible, I was loyal, and I was a good friend, but I was fighting every single day not to succumb to the anxiety and depression that had a grip so tight on me that I struggled at every breath. Each morning my eyes opened from the restless night before felt like a curse rather than a blessing.
It was my senior year of high school when I had given everything I had to combat the war my own mind was waging against me. I was drowning. I had shame that blanketed my entire being, weighing me down at every step. I put on a facade every day just to keep people at bay, never hinting that anything was wrong.
I forgot to mention, I am stubborn. I shouldn’t be here today, but I refuse to lose.
I packed my bags and moved myself, my scars, my shame and what was left of my pride half way across the country. Some said I was running, but I didn’t care what I was doing as long as I was starting over. I arrived in West Michigan knowing very few people and had plans to work hard and go to school. I instantly began working hard that summer and the next few years as I worked towards completion of my undergrad career. It was my last semester when I realized I was in no way ready for the “real world”. Those forsaken thoughts of not being good enough and the fear of failure crept back into my mind. Over the past few years I have learned to shut them out, but sometimes they were just too loud. I could not go back down that path.
I met with an advisor who assured me my freak out about entering the real world was completely normal. She gave me some tools for success, some internships to look into and left me with the suggestion that I add some volunteer work to my resume. I walked out of the office fully intending on pursuing the tools she gave me as references and the internships she suggested, but thought I would save the volunteering for the happy, generous, full of energy and compassionate people. I was still pretty sure I wasn’t a good enough person to volunteer.
Little did I know.
I found about Equest through a friend and decided to give it a shot. Probably the best decision of my life. Equest is a place that is therapy disguised as fun, and the riders are some of the most fantastic people ever. They have every excuse to quit, yet they persevere in the relentless pursuit of personal and physical growth. It is one of the most inspiring things to witness, and such an honor to be a part of. I’ve crafted relationships with these riders, the beautiful horses, and the absolutely amazing staff and volunteers. Most people think about volunteering as something we give to an organization, but in this case, Equest gave me so much more than I could ever return the favor for. It changed my perspective and gave me a fresh outlook on life. It gave me encouragement, hope and joy. It is a fact that the Equest Center is therapeutic for the riders, but I am here to tell you that it is just as therapeutic for the volunteers.
There is a never-ending need for volunteers at the Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding located in Rockford, and everyone is welcome to come help. No horse experience is necessary, they will teach you! Don’t make excuses, the experience of contributing to this paramount therapy and meeting the tenacious riders who benefit from it is something that you do not want to pass up on. Volunteers are vital to Equest, considering there are just two full time staff members and over 180 riders who come out weekly. There are over 85 volunteers needed to help at Equest each week. Just a few hours of your time will not only contribute to a great cause and enable riders to get the crucial therapy they need, but it just might change your life like it did mine. To learn how you can become a part of this incredible organization go to www.equestcenter.org. You won’t regret it!
By K. Caldwell, Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University
As priorities of government have shifted away from directly providing services and programs, there has also been an explicit and implied expectations shift between government and philanthropy (defined here to include donors, volunteers, charities, and foundations). The partnerships between governments and philanthropy have evolved from working on similar issues independently, to working together or in place of one another. Consequently, there are new challenges in terms of roles, responsibilities, resources, and repercussions that merit exploration.
In recent years, philanthropy has undeniably taken on a larger role in meeting community needs and serving as an economic engine. Nearly one-third of nonprofit sector revenues come from public sources to fund vital services (McKeever, 2015). And one in ten workers in America are employed by a nonprofit organization. That workforce is growing in response to society’s demands (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016).
What is more fascinating (and perhaps alarming), is the many ways, in which philanthropy is now temporarily substituting for, or flat out supplanting, the traditional roles of government. A few examples from Michigan present very different, yet similarly complicated examples of sector role conflation.
Kalamazoo, Mich. launched the Kalamazoo Promise — an effort to provide higher education opportunities for all public-school graduates — with the support of five anonymous donors (Bartik, 2015). In that same community, two other donors have committed their wealth toward the creation of a new nonprofit, the Foundation for Excellence, which provides funds to maintain a stable property tax rate and structure and funds innovative community solutions as defined by city government.
Flint, Mich. experienced one of the nation’s greatest infrastructure failures when the city switched its public water source to the Flint River without proper anticorrosion treatment, thereby damaging the plumbing system, and leaching lead into the drinking water (Bosman, 2016). Foundations and nonprofits stepped up as first responders, delivering bottled water and water filters to residents. A group of foundations ultimately
stepped in to underwrite the costs of switching the water back to the original source, and the community foundation launched a response fund to provide for the long-term nutrition and education needs of the children affected by the increased lead levels (French, 2016).
When Detroit, Mich. filed for bankruptcy in July 2013, its debt was estimated at $18-$20 billion. Several foundations pooled their resources to help ensure that pensioners could survive on their fixed incomes, while the Detroit Institute of Arts (which was otherwise headed for the auction block) was reinvented as a nonprofit with a solid financial footing. A new fund was developed through the local community foundation to disperse settlement funds to various individuals and organizations involved in the settlement. (Ferris, 2017)
If paradigm shifts such as these are a good thing for the sector and demonstrate the versatility and leadership philanthropy can demonstrate, there are important questions to address as these new “muscles” are exercised. Can philanthropy’s assets substitute for those provided through the public sector? If so, are the sector’s current fiscal and operational systems ready to deal with the change? What are the accountability and transparency responsibilities of philanthropy if it is asked to step into leadership roles traditionally occupied by elected bodies? It is important to be cognizant of the challenges that unclear boundaries and unrealistic expectations can bring to such paradigm shifts.
Reprinted with permission from Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University.
It would have been easy for Metro Health-University of Michigan Health to just dispose of the huge banners created as temporary building signs when the two health care providers joined in 2016. But that’s not their way of doing business.
So, when permanent signage was placed on the healthcare providers’s hospital, located at 5900 Byron Center Ave SW in Wyoming, the temporary signs were put into storage and discussions started on how to recycle them in some way.
That is when Metro Health Foundation’s impACT Board, and a burgeoning relationship with Mel Trotter Ministries, came up with the answer — make blankets to help the homeless in our area.
On Feb. 16, a total of 145 weather-resistant blankets, along with several bags containing personal care items, were delivered to Mel Trotter Ministries in the Heartside of downtown Grand Rapids.
Dean Herried, Mel Trotter Ministries (WKTV)
“These blankets are going to be utilized by individuals and families here to help keep them warm during these cold winter months in Michigan,” Dean Herried, chief engagement officer for Mel Trotter Ministries, said to WKTV. “We are so thankful for our partnership with the impACT Board, with the University of Michigan Health Foundation, with Metro Health Hospital Foundation, for their generous donation of these blankets. We would not be able to do this without their help and assistance.”
The four original banners were made to be weather-proof — they hung on the hospital for more than six months and took a lot of beating — and, with the addition of the felt, the blankets now can provide some protection from the cold as well. Some of the material was also turned into bags to be filled with a blanket and other personal needs, also to be given out to the homeless through Mel Trotter Ministries.
“This really helps Mel Trotter fulfill our mission of showing the compassion of Christ through programs of restoration and rescue in our community,” Herried said.
In a different way, the donation — and the work put into turning banners into blankets — fulfills the mission of Metro Health-University of Michigan Health.
Trevor Mier, Metro Health-University of Michigan Health. (WKTV)
“This donation really came about as a result of us having a long history of sustainable practices at the hospital,” Trevor Mier, Support Services administrator for Metro Health-University of Michigan Health, said to WKTV. “We hated to think about these temporary banners being thrown away once we are done with them. So we came up with the idea of recycling them into something, but we were not exactly sure what that was going to be.”
The healthcare provider had some discussions, decided it would be a good idea to establish a relationship with Mel Trotter Ministries, through the impACT Board, to support the ministries’ efforts to help the homeless. And the idea was born.
“What if we took those banners and turned them into blankets for the homeless at Mel Trotter?” Mier said. “So we reached out to a vender we had used before in the past, and they cut up the banners into 3(foot) by 5(foot) sections, sewed a little bit of felt onto them, and turned them into these great blankets for those in need downtown.”
The goal of the Metro Health Hospital Foundation’s impACT Board, according to its website, is “Mobilizing community through change-makers, who use their skills and careers to drive vital change. … Many people want to make a difference, but turning good intentions into tangible impact can be hard. With the Foundation impACT Board, professionals and community do-gooders become the most effective change-agents they can be by taking on community health projects, volunteering at organizations with like causes and building a strong network of brand ambassadors for Metro Health Hospital Foundation.”
The two winners of the Daniel VanDyke Volunteer of the Year Award were Kate Pyles of Sterling Massey — State Farm Insurance, and Juliette Cowall of Guided Communications. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)
The 37th annual meeting of the Wyoming-Kentwood Chamber of Commerce was a night for recognition of local business leaders, local government leaders who support the business community, and the wide array of volunteers who support the chamber — volunteers ranging from the chairman of the chamber board to the people who make sure everybody has name tags at such events.
“Volunteers are very important to the chamber, without them we could not do a lot of things we do, including this event,” chamber president Bob O’Callaghan said.
The evening event, held Friday, Jan. 26, at the Doubletree by Hilton on 28th St. SE, included “state of local business” reports by O’Callaghan, Kentwood Mayor Steven Kepley and Wyoming City Councilor Kent VanderWood — all three of which made light of a changing big-screened image of the chamber logo which alternated between reading “Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce” and “Kentwood-Wyoming Area Chamber of Commerce”.
Chamber board chairperson Michelle Born-Fischer also introduced the 2018 chamber Board of Directors.
But it was the nights award winners who were the buzz of the evening. (And O’Callaghan talked about the awards and other chamber activities to WKTV Journal earlier that day.)
The Business of the Year awards went to Dyna-Plate Inc. for Manufacturing, Wyoming’s Buffalo Wild Wings for Retail, and – in probably the most widely applauded award winner of the night — JA PR Group, and Jessica Ann Tyson, for Service.
The Daniel McLaren Committee of the Year Award went to the volunteers behind the 28th Street Metro Cruise, and the Gerald E. Fessell Distinguished Service Award went to Mike Zomerlei of Diversified Protection and Investigations LLC.
But seeing as how the chamber — from its board, to many of its committees, to much of its event management staff — is a volunteer “opportunity”, there was special appreciation given to the all the chamber’s volunteers including the two winners of the Daniel VanDyke Volunteer of the Year Award: Kate Pyles of Sterling Massey — State Farm Insurance, and Juliette Cowall of Guided Communications.
And both Pyles and Cowell, after receiving their awards, spoke on the importance of the volunteer work.
“It is as way to give back, it is a way to support my business and to support the chamber,” Pyles said. While Cowell added: “For me it about getting involved with the chamber, establishing relationships with other people in the chamber.”
For more information on the WKACC visit southkent.org . For more photos of the event, visit the chamber’s Facebook page at @wkaccambassadors .
Entrepreneur Luzmita Mendez de Leon shared a heartfelt story during Migrant Legal Aid’s(MLA)7th Annual Harvest of Justice Luncheon at Versluis Orchards on Sept. 13.
Several years ago, Mendez de Leon, an undocumented migrant and a victim of domestic violence, found her pleas for help ignored by several West Michigan agencies. Then she turned to MLA for help.
Now, years later, Mendez de Leon is a successful entrepreneur and owner of La Cosinita restaurant and catering company. In fact, she catered this year’s Harvest of Justice Luncheon.
“In addition to catering, she delivers 200 lunches every day to migrant camps,” said MLA executive director and lead attorney, Teresa Hendricks.
Migrant Legal Aid provides legal services to migrant farmworkers who face substantial barriers to justice. These willing, hardworking, and economical workers are vital to Michigan’s economy, but a migrant family’s life is far from easy. Many work 15-hour days in the hot sun with little or no access to bathrooms or fresh water for drinking and washing. A delay in starting work, a missed hour of work, or one missed paycheck can upset their fragile existence. Worse, the confusion and uncertainty surrounding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals(DACA)andcurrent attitudes toward immigrants in America make a migrant’s life even more fragile.
Hendricks and her team advocate on behalf of migrant and seasonal farmworkers in Michigan for basic human dignity, on-the-job and environmental safety, safe housing, health care access, and myriad other needs.
And each year, MLA celebrates and honors businesses in the community who treat their workers humanely. Awards are given for Responsible Retailer and Good Grower.
As part of the Fair Food Project (FFP), MLA partners with area grocery stores who sign a pledge to buy from growers who treat their workers humanely. FFP is a partnership among farmers, farmworkers, and retail food companies that ensures humane wages and working conditions for the workers who pick fruits and vegetables on participating farms. It harnesses the power of consumer demand to give farmworkers a voice in the workplace, and to eliminate the longstanding abuses that have plagued agriculture for generations.
Spartan Nash received the ‘Responsible Retailer Award’ this year — 200 Spartan Nash stories pledged, and 80 independent stores supplied by Spartan Nash also signed pledges.
Other awards were given to MLA staff and board members.
We often hear the request for time, treasure or talent from organizations serving others in our community.Volunteering your time and talent can make as much, if not more, of an impact as making a donation. Many organizations couldn’t do the good work they do without the help of volunteers.
Yes, volunteering helps the organization by providing no-cost labor. Yes, volunteering helps the community because with more help, organizations can do more. Yes, volunteering makes you feel good because you are giving back. But the benefits don’t stop there.
Reduce stress and increase well-being. Volunteering provides a sense of purpose and accomplishment that has been found to have a positive effect on mental health. Those who volunteer regularly are found to have lower rates of depression.
Improve your health. Studies have found that states with higher volunteer rates have less incidence of heart disease. People who volunteer also spend 38 percent fewer nights in the hospital.
You’ll live longer. Mortality rates have been found to be lower in groups who volunteer regularly. Studies show that individuals who volunteer at least 40 hours per year live longer than those who volunteer less or not at all.
Help you get a new job. Volunteers learn new skills that could open up new employment opportunities. Volunteering also keeps unemployed individuals active while building their resume. Some organizations even turn volunteers into employees because they already understand the organization’s mission and culture.
Make new friends. Volunteering leads to developing new friendships and support networks. This is especially important for older adults who benefit the most from volunteering. It can reduce feelings of isolation and create a network of caring individuals who also support one another.
Are you ready to volunteer? ACSET Community Action Agency (CAA) relies on volunteers for a variety of programs. From boxing food for emergency assistance distributions to serving meals to seniors, you can help your neighbors and gain the many benefits of giving back. Contact ACSET CAA at 616.336.4000 to learn more.
Your Community in Action! is provided by ASCET Community Action Agency. To learn more about how they help meet emergency needs and assist with areas of self-sufficiency, visit www.communityactionkent.org.
Whether we’re young, middle-aged, or elderly, the 28th Street Metro Cruise brought smiles to all. It was a fantastic weekend, Aug. 25-26, for the great city of Wyoming! And, also Kentwood and Grandville. I covered a half mile stretch, from Clyde Park to Michael/DeHoop avenues, and saw hundreds of classic cars. If you are a car enthusiast, this was — and is each year — a MUST SEE.
Some of the many volunteers who helped with programming, from an August volunteer appreciation event. (WKTV)
By WKTV Staff
news@wktv.org
WKTV, community television for Wyoming and Kentwood, will be heading out on the road this fall for high school sports coverage of football, swimming, water polo and soccer — as well as youth equestrian competition. And for all events volunteer crews are being welcomed, trained and occasionally feed pizza.
Not a sports fan but want to get involved? There are many opportunities such as helping to produce a newscast, a public affairs talk show, and other special community events including concerts.
If it wasn’t for the commitment and participation of our community volunteers, WKTV programming would not be possible. Volunteers are trained and operate the latest technology in cameras, and other video recording and editing equipment.
For more than 30 years, high school sports has covered countless local football and basketball games. And now other sports including baseball, softball and hockey games have been added. WKTV sports crews also work the annual Golden Gloves tournament held in West Michigan.
Typically, WKTV sports covers Tuesday and Friday night contests that are aired later that night, and again the following Saturday morning. Usual commitment of time, after training, is 2-to-3 hours a night.
Newscast and public affairs show taping are typically on Thursday afternoons, also with a commitment of 2-3 hours for each show.
To get more information on volunteering for sports, contact Bill at bill@wktv.org or Davin at davin@wktv.org. For information on volunteering for newsroom projects, contact Joanne at joanne@wktv.org or Ken at ken@wktv.org .
By Metro Health-UM Health/U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Scores of homeless veterans from throughout West Michigan are expected to gather for the second year in a row on the Wyoming campus of Metro Health – University of Michigan Health to connect with resources that can help them rebuild their lives.
The veterans will be participating in a Stand Down event coordinated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Held throughout the year and throughout the country, Stand Downs bring homeless veterans together in a single location to provide convenient access to community resources.
The local Stand Down will be held Friday, Aug. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the Granger Green in front of the hospital at The Metro Health Village, 5900 Byron Center Ave. SW.
“We’re honored to host these veterans on our campus,” says Emil Hannesson, director of community outreach for Metro Health. “These individuals have pledged their lives to the country and now need the community’s assistance. This event is a great way to remind them how much they are valued, and that people do support them.”
Tiyanna Payne, a supervisor with the VA’s Health Care for Homeless Veterans program in Grand Rapids, adds: “Stand Downs are the nation’s most valuable outreach tool for veterans who are homeless or marginally housed.”
Nearly 50 service providers plan to participate, including federal, state, and community agencies, as well as veteran support groups. Homeless veterans will have access to food, clothing, medical care, housing assistance, job counseling, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services.
In addition, military surplus items will be available for eligible vets, including sleeping bags, rucksacks, cold weather gear and personal hygiene products. The event also offers breakfast, a lunch prepared by Metro’s chef, and free haircuts.
“Veterans won’t have to go from one agency to another to access the services they need,” Payne says. “For one day, everything will be in one place, and everyone will be here to provide them with aid.”
The name of the event has its origins in the Vietnam War, when “standing down” referred to soldiers being taken off the lines to rest and recover.
“Our Stand Down is designed to give veterans an opportunity to renew their spirit, health and well-being,” Payne says. “Here’s our chance to surround this vulnerable population with the services they need.”
The event gets underway at 10 a.m. with a Color Guard presentation and national anthem. The anthem will be performed by Joyce Jones-Davis, a nurse manager with the Wyoming VA Health Care Center. Lisa Martin, director of the Wyoming VA clinic, will follow with a welcome address.
This event is for veterans only. If a veteran needs assistance getting to the event, please call the Health Care for Homeless Veterans service center (616-356-1746).
One of the resources that allows ACSET Community Action Agency (CAA) to address the most urgent needs of Kent County residents is its diverse board. CAA boards are made up of representatives from the private and public sectors as well as consumers of their services.
Public and private sector representatives bring a wealth of experience, resources and community connections to the board. They represent government, business, religious organizations, welfare, education, law enforcement or other groups and interests in the community served.
Consumers provide meaningful input and insights that are essential to fighting the causes and symptoms of poverty.
By bringing together this diverse group of individuals, the CAA board can:
Help ACSET CAA better understand the needs of the community
Ensure ACSET CAA focuses on the greatest needs of low-income families in Kent County
Make a difference for everyone who seeks the services of ACSET CAA
ACSET Community Action is currently seeking new consumer sector members. Consumer representatives must be low-income and qualify for a CAA service at the time of their appointment.
This is a great opportunity to make your voice heard, gain leadership experience and help others.
Questions? To learn more or find out if you qualify, contact Sarah at 616.336.2228.
Your Community in Action! is provided by ASCET Community Action Agency. To learn more about how they help meet emergency needs and assist with areas of self-sufficiency, go here.
Summer is knocking on our door, and Blandford Nature Center seems as busy as ever. As we close out the end of the school year, prepare for Summer Day Camps, and develop our Community Programs for the upcoming months, we have many openings for volunteers to come out during this busy, sunny season. Check out the Volunteer Opportunities below to get a sneak peek of all the things happening around Blandford!
Farm Day Open House
When: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, May 27
Don’t miss this family friendly event down on the farm! Meet the goats, chickens, and pigs; say ‘hi’ to your local farmers; check out our plant sale; listen to a story; and play some games. This is a great option for a Memorial Day ‘stay-cation’.
2017 marks the 6th year of Blandford Nature Center’s fundraising trail run/walk! Join us for an evening of fitness, food, and fun. Run or walk the trails through Blandford’s property. Afterwards, celebrate the summer solstice with us at our Summer Celebration!
As the temperatures rise and the sun shines brighter, Blandford is preparing to take on a few landscaping projects in the various gardens and green spaces around BNC. We need help planting.
We’ll be making several trips to buy/collect native plants from local nurseries so there will be a variety of days available for planting. Please specify a time frame during that day’s open hours so we can plan accordingly.
Eco-Stewardship work focuses on habitat restoration, trail restoration, stream clean-up and removal of invasive species on several sections of our 264-acre site.
NEW THIS YEAR! Perfect for volunteers who want to get their veggies on and hands dirty. Currently offered once a month with the potential to add more days as the season becomes busier.
Blandford Nature Center is located at 1715 Hillburn Ave. NW in Grand Rapids. For more info, call 616.735.6240.
All registration fees and donations will be used to further Blandford Nature Center’s mission to engage and empower our community through enriching experiences in nature.
In preparation for an upcoming Poverty Simulation, volunteer staffers Mary, Cindy, Tom and Rhoeda were busy at work compiling participant packets and organizing materials.
The Poverty Simulation is just one of many programs at Access of West Michigan to create solutions to poverty through education and collaboration. The goal in these seminars is to bring awareness of the realities of poverty and to encourage people to get involved.
The “Living on the Edge” poverty simulation provides an opportunity for participants to walk in the shoes of someone living in a low-income environment. The participant must navigate with their “family” how to provide for expenses, make ends meet and be sustainable throughout the event.
As staffers of the events, Tom and Rhoeda have been working with and learning from these simulations. What began as a way to simply get involved with the community has become a meaningful experience of inspiring participants to engage and learn.
Both Tom and Rhoeda, married, retired and living in Muskegon, volunteer to prepare for the simulations by preparing the packages of money and ensuring all participants will have what they need. At the simulation events, Rhoeda loves interacting with the “family members” working hard to stay afloat.
“I like interacting with the participants,” she said, “watching them get into their roles, with their comments, discussions — they’re deep in thought.”
Tom has also been moved by his experiences of being a part of the simulations.
“I heard a participant comment on how she really thought about it when she had to go do the different things, like leaving her child home to go work,” he said. When families are involved, things get personal.
Rhoeda gets excited about these events, because they’re so important.
“The way it changes people’s attitudes,” she said. “The way they treat people in poverty can make a big difference.”
Mary and Cindy also volunteer in the preparation for the simulation, and equally appreciate the opportunity to watch people’s attitudes change.
“I like to see the interactions with the families,” Mary said. “They cooperate with families, make a community of their own.”
After an afternoon of packing, planning and preparing, the team of volunteers was ready for the upcoming event. For them, it’s not just hours to fill their time, it’s an opportunity to create an awareness of poverty — on a personal level.
And these staffers would know. Some have lived it.
Each year, ACSET Community Action holds it Walk for Warmth to raise funds for emergency heating assistance for low-income families in Kent County. And each year, students at Sibley Elementary participate in activities to support the walk and help their neighbors in need.
For more than 10 years, second graders engaged in the social studies unit Learning About Communities, have worked together to make positive changes in their community. The students, known as the “Sibley Warmth Force,” write letters to local businesses to ask for donations for the annual Walk for Warmth.
“Our studies focus on citizenship and building community,” explained Bernice Wisnieski, a second grade teacher at Sibley. “This service project is an awesome way to bring the lesson to life.”
This year the second grade students wanted a way to get the entire school involved. They worked with the principal and scheduled the first Sibley Walk-a-thon for Warmth. Along with the Walk for Warmth on February 11th, all students at Sibley Elementary took turns walking on March 14, holding signs with the names of businesses that helped support the cause. Many of the older students remembered this project from past years and were excited to participate again.
In addition to the walk-a-thon, the students made and sold fleece blankets and brought in pennies for a total of almost $2,000 in donations. ACSET Community Action is grateful to the students for their hard work and warm hearts; to the businesses for their generous donations; and to the Sibley teachers for creating a community that cares for those less fortunate.
Your Community in Action! is provided by ASCET Community Action Agency. To learn more about how they help meet emergency needs and assist with areas of self-sufficiency, visit www.communityactionkent.org
Health professionals gather in “families” in preparation to experience a “month” in poverty. Photo by Ellie Walburg
By Ellie Walburg, Access of West Michigan
Reading a news article about someone living in poverty is one thing.
Actually experiencing it is another.
Metro Health Hospital Servicesrecently hosted a poverty simulation workshop with Access of West Michigan. The goal of the poverty education program is to create awareness of the realities of poverty and bring inspiration for change in an experiential way.
Participants in the ‘Living on the Edge’ poverty simulation at Metro Health were assigned profiles detailing their name, age, family, income level and other related details. Each “family” then completed four weeks, made up of 15-minute increments, in providing groceries, paying bills, attending doctor’s appointments and other requirements as outlined on their profiles.
Afterwards, participants engaged in small group discussions to debrief and learn from one another’s insights.
Linda Bos is a registered nurse with Metro Health and attended the workshop. She, along with Heather Rayman, were given the roles of a 75- and 72-year-old couple struggling to make ends meet. Bos, playing the role of Anthony Xanthos, and Rayman playing his wife, Zelda, spent each “week” trying to keep up on their mortgage payments, provide $50 for food and make it to expensive doctor appointments.
At one point during the four weeks, they couldn’t buy groceries. Towards the end of the month, they were evicted from their home as they couldn’t provide proof of their mortgage payment.
Mobility was also a major issue for them.
‘We were struck that we were always concerned about traveling places,” Bos said. “We were never together — it split us up. We never did things together.”
Conversations about how they were doing or if they wanted to plan a vacation never arose during their time of balancing their meager budget and keep all their bills afloat “We sure didn’t talk about anything fun,” Bos added.
To accompany the small social assistance check they received for the month, Bos sought out other options.
“I also tried to get a job, but there was age discrimination,” she said. “There were forms to fill out that were difficult.”
Access of West Michigan Staffers share their own story of poverty during group discussions. Photo by Ellie Walburg
Not having an opportunity for additional income made balancing finances even more troublesome.
“There was no way out for us,” Bos said. “Neither one of us could get a job.”
Rayman was reminded, “Don’t forget we have to eat at some point in our life,” as she recalled the struggle of purchasing weekly groceries.
For both Bos and Rayman, living life as an elderly couple with little money was an eye-opening experience.
“Everything was tension-producing rather than pleasurable,” Bos noted.
That tension is something Bos knows first-hand. While currently employed and doing well, she has felt that same stress.
“There was a time when I didn’t have money to buy diapers, when we didn’t have money to pay the mortgage,” she said
Bos and Rayman agreed that this simulation could change the way they work with their patients and others they encounter.
“I think for me, I’ll be much more cognizant of transportation needs,” Bos said. “I’ll think, ‘What can I do to relieve some of those transportation issues.’”
Bos’s work as a nurse involves serving moms and newborns.
“I try to be very intentional with younger moms,” she said. “I’ll ask, ‘Do you need anything else for your child?’ ‘Do you have diapers?’ ‘Do you have formula?’”
She said she anticipates building upon that intention with those she sees.
“I think so often we don’t want to offend people,” she added. “But it’s really just about asking, ‘I want to help, what is it that you need?’” That intention, she said, can come through her following up with her clients through phone calls or other additional conversations.
Staffers Candice and Cindy are ready at their “health clinic” table to help participants. Photo by Ellie Walburg
Rayman added, “I feel like this makes me much more aware of things like transportation, medication, samples, getting them to a care manager or something like that — things I didn’t really think of before.”
As the simulation event drew to a close, attendees were reminded that while they stopped playing a role in a fictitious family, there are so many in the community who must continue with that difficult reality everyday. And now that the participants had experienced the frustration and stress of living in poverty, they, and all, are left with the question Bos wondered, “What might you do differently?”
Here’s what Dr. Jen had to say about Maury Pawvich:
Sometimes you cross paths with a cat so flipping adorable and outgoing that you cannot fathom why on earth he was wandering around town, aimless and abandoned. Seriously, this guy right here? Totally AWESOME! You all know my affinity for the fat-heads, but it just isn’t my penchant for pinchable cheeks that drew me in, but rather magnificent Maury’s alluring aura and his gentlemanly nature. Born in late 2010, the marvelous specimen of all things feline somehow ended up homeless and in search of a place to call his own, when a Wyoming resident took it upon herself to take him in temporarily until we were able to.
Although upsetting, it was really no big surprise when this studmuffin tested a very strong FIV+, considering he was ‘all boy’ and had been roaming the mean streets for who knows how long. I don’t think Maury was the aggressor in any skirmishes he was involved in, but he did suffer a nasty injury to his left rear foot that tore one of his claws completely off, leaving him with a nasty, smelly infection that needed immediate treatment, lest he lose that toe. After antibiotics, neutering, flea treatment, vaccines and deworming, my handsome tuxedo (former) tomcat was ready, willing and able to head on down to our sanctuary and become an official Big Sid’s Kid.
Again, not astonishing that he made fast friends with anyone he came into contact with, charming the other cats and the volunteers alike with his come hither gaze, affability and eagerness to be best buds — forever! Of all of the newbies we had taken in in December of 2014, Maury adapted the easiest, settling in like a champ and quickly learning and engaging in the daily routines and rituals with great enthusiasm.
He is SUCH a gracious, gorgeous guy that you can’t help but fall for him, hook, line and sinker, within mere minutes of making his acquaintance. Maury is absolutely delightful and I speak for all of us when I say how thrilled we are to have him as one of our own, that is until we to find him the kind of purr-fect home he deserves!
Can’t adopt, but still want to help? Find out how you can sponsor a cat!
Crash’s Landing and Big Sid’s Sanctuary have a common mission: To take at-risk stray cats off the streets of the Greater Grand Rapids area, provide them with veterinary care and house them in free-roaming, no-kill facilities until dedicated, loving, permanent homes can be found.
Registration is now open for the 3rd Annual Buck Creek Cleanup, which will be held this year on Saturday, August 13 from 8 am to noon and includes a free lunch. Check in at Lemery Park (4212 Byron Center Ave. SW in Wyoming) at 8 am.
Spend the morning cleaning up trash along and in Buck Creek while meeting new friends. Start with a Biggby coffee and Marge’s Donut Den breakfast, meet your team leader to get directions and a super cool t-shirt, then head out to various sites along the creek.
Car pool with your neighbors and wear clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty, comfortable shoes, waders, or boots are great. (Flip-flops are poison ivy-friendly.) Bring bug spray and a reusable water bottle (stainless steel is eco-friendly.) Gloves will be provided unless you have a favorite pair. Supervised children are welcome.
All volunteers are invited to an Osgood Brewing lunch, compliments of Grandville Mayor Steve Maas.
Contact Pete Miller 517.420.4003 for more information or to sign up, or go here to register. For more info, go here.
This event is being organized by Schrems Trout Unlimited and the newly formed Friends of Buck Creek. Friends of Buck Creek is a group of concerned residents, businesses and governmental units that are interested in improving Buck Creek. Buck Creek is more than 20 miles long,and has an approximate watershed area of 50 square miles. Currently Buck Creek is a cold water resource that is highly threatened because of its urban nature.
At seven years of age, when the bullets came flying and people said, “Run!” Augustin Nsabimana ran. As he and family members fled the advancing troops of the RPF, this Rwandan youth saw what no child should see: decapitated and decomposing bodies of the sick, the slow, and the unlucky. Underneath it all was the terror that bespoke his family’s flight: Run! Run, or you could be next. In this story of loss and redemption, grown-up “Auggie” tells of the national chaos that was 1994 Rwanda and the parting words of his brother, which became the title for his book, “See You In Heaven.”
Alan Headbloom hosts Feel Like You Belong, a show filmed at WKTV focused on sharing the life stories of immigrants, expatriates, and refugees to the United States.
Wyoming Public Schools closed the doors last weekend and ushered in the end of the school year. This Monday, churches and volunteers from around the area will reopen the doors to Wyoming Jr. High School and welcome in over 200 kids to participate in a worldwide, faith-based movement called KidsGames.
The idea started over a decade ago in the Middle East and Spain to give children an experience in a sporting event over the summer. Since then, KidsGames has expanded and evolved all over the world, including right here in West Michigan.
“One of the founding fathers of KidsGames International, Michael Wozniak, is local here in West Michigan,” said Jack Ponstine, the founder of KidsGames in Wyoming. “There was already an event in Byron Center, so he reached out to me to get one started in Wyoming. That was nine years ago.”
KidsGames is a free event for children entering 1st-6th grade. It is focused on making the week as fun as possible while building strong character and building a relationship in Christ. Each night starts with the whole group (kids and volunteers) meeting in the gymnasium to talk about the mission for the year. Past years have worked with Feeding America and sending sporting equipment to low-income areas. This year, the goal is to raise money for water for Flint.
After the opening meeting, kids are broken into three different groups to learn about nutrition, stories from the Bible, and play experimental games with life lessons incorporated throughout. Kids are then placed into small groups for Bible Discovery Time with a small group leader.
Following small group, it’s time to get active again as kids can choose between many different activities or “Tracks.” The Tracks are led by volunteers and include different games, sports, and crafts. Tracks for this year include basketball, beauty 101, crafts/scrapbooking, drama, jewelry making, karate, legos, painting 101, painting 202, soccer, and wacky science.
“We have more volunteers and Tracks than ever before,” said Ponstine. “We couldn’t do it without the volunteers”
Last year, 64 volunteers from 13 different churches helped out at the week-long event. All 64 were needed to help make the experience as positive as possible for the 181 students, from 57 different schools, that attended.
Things don’t look like they’re about to slow down in 2016 either.
“We already have over 100 that have pre-registered. That doesn’t include the large number who will register on Monday when we start,” said KidsGame coordinator Shane Buist.
When the week is over, Jack Ponstine hopes each family leaves having checked all four boxes:
1. They had a great week with the other children and the leaders.
2. That parents enjoyed dropping their kids off knowing the fun they were about to have and the lessons learned.
3. A positive relationship was built with the small group leader.
4. A strong relationship with Jesus Christ was built upon.
In the end, it all comes back to spreading the word.
“My goal is to get churches to come together to spread ministry,” said Ponstine.
Details about the event are below:
Who: 1st-6th graders and volunteers from churches throughout Wyoming What: KidsGames: West Michigan When: Monday, June 13 – Friday, June 17 from 6:00-8:30pm (Registration opens at 5:30 Monday night) Where: Wyoming Jr. High School (2125 Wrenwood SW, Wyoming, MI 49509) Why: Building character, making new friends, learning about the Bible and having FUN Cost: FREE!
High school students have learned many interesting tidbits about the residents they are getting to know at American House Senior Living Community in Kentwood.
Each resident has a story, they’ve learned: Betty Reynolds was the first teacher at Battle Creek Christian School; Lois Laffey was a pilot. Margie Halstead is an artist who has 10 children, 35 grandchildren and 53 great-grandchildren. Margaret Gazella’s husband had to leave on their wedding day to fight in World War II.
“I love talking to the residents,” said Kelloggsville freshman Miles Thomas-Mohammad, while crafting glittery cardboard flowers with several ladies, and learning even more details about their lives. “They are so nice.”
They’ve learned other things as well while joining residents for crafts, games and snacks. Kelloggsvile senior Thu Nguyen, who is from Vietnam, said special moments happen over Bingo and just getting to know each other. “I want to make them feel happy so they don’t feel lonely,” she said.
And residents like it too. “It makes you feel young again,” said Elaine Wigger.
Added Ginger Kay, “It’s nice to have young people here, because they are so positive.”
Kelloggsville freshman Miles Thomas-Mohammad sets up crafts for senior citizens
A group of about eight Kelloggsville students, many who are English-language learners, visit the assisted-living and memory-care facilities monthly to spend time with seniors. Coordinated by EL teacher Susan Faulk, the volunteering opportunity is a way for students to give back and step out of their comfort zones and get to know others.
“The students gain patience and confidence as they work with the seniors,” Faulk said. “Many students are really shy and feel awkward around the seniors at first. I see their confidence grow as they realize that they are able to help someone else. I also see them having to learn patience, as a game of Skip-Bo and Rummikub can take a long time with a senior who has to think for a long time before taking action.”
For the past two years, Faulk has also coordinated a volunteer group at Women At Risk International Volunteer Center, a Grandville-based nonprofit organization that unites and educates women and children in areas of human trafficking and sexual slavery.
American House staff said the visits are very meaningful to residents.
Kelloggsville High School senior Dim Ciin eyes her Bingo board
“It’s always exciting to see people cross age barriers relationally,” said Susan Faulk’s husband, Steven Faulk, American House chaplain.
Activities assistant Betty Torres said the residents “love relating to the younger crowd. They have a lot of good stories to tell, our residents. They get so exited about a group coming in. It fulfills their whole being.”
Be sure to check out School News Network for more stories about our great students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan!
With April being National Poetry Month, and yesterday being Haiku Poetry Day, a few citizen reporters tried their hand at the art of the traditional Japanese poetry and its 17 syllables.
by Dylan Rettler
I ask for insight
Ashen sky of you and I
On this phoenixed flight
by Kathryn Gray
Stories to be told
Warm fingers on the keyboard
Awake hearts and minds
by Katelyn Kohane
No worries or cares
Relaxing beside the water
Watching waves roll by
And WKTV News editors Mike DeWitt and Victoria Mullen even gave it a shot!
by Mike DeWitt
Recruiting Writers
Take it one step at a time
To write from the heart
The WKTV community gathered at Stony Brook Country Club on April 1 – and that’s no April Fools – to celebrate the volunteers to who make the station so special.
Since its inception as only the second community media station in the country in 1974, WKTV has given everyday citizens a platform for their voice and message to be heard. Volunteers have access to state-of-the-art video and editing equipment, studio space, a television channel, and an online newspaper to help mold their messages and stories about the communities they live in.
The best part? It’s all free!
Over 300 volunteers take advantage of the services WKTV has to offer in production, recording, editing, writing and filming. The Volunteer Appreciation Banquet is one way for the station to say thank you.
The banquet started with cocktails and a meet and greet before everyone sat down for dinner. The presentation of the awards followed dinner, but not before the premier of the annualvolunteer appreciation videos courtesy of Nate Diedrich and the WKTV Production Staff.
“Producing these videos for the volunteer appreciation event allows us to express our sincere gratitude for all the effort our volunteers and producers put into creating quality content throughout the year,” said Nate.
When the room finally quieted down from all the laughter, the awards were ready to be handed out.
Volunteer of the Year – Doug Remtema
Volunteer of the Year was rewarded to Doug Remtema for his willingness and ability to help out on multiple projects at the station. Doug is a real pro and makes life easier on whichever project is lucky enough to utilize his talents.
Doug Hansen was recognized for Lifetime Achievement. Doug started at the station back in the 80s and has continued to be a resource for both volunteers and staff members.
Kathryn Gray was chosen as Citizen Reporter of the Year for her ability to make individuals come alive through the written word.
Community Service Programming went to Thomas Hegewald. The Community Service award is given to the volunteer who not only creates their own programming, but is also willing to volunteer on other projects as well.
On top of the four individual awards, volunteers were recognized for their individual service at the station.
23 volunteers were first year volunteers, 16 joined the 100 hour club, six citizen reporters in attendance were recognized for their yearly contributions, four volunteers were recognized for five years at the station, two volunteers were recognized for 10 years, four volunteers were recognized for 15 years, and two volunteers were recognized for 20 years of service.
20 years of volunteering at WKTV
19 shows were recognized for Program Dedication Awards.
WKTV is run by the volunteers who make everything possible. The volunteer banquet is one more night for them to shine.
Full list of volunteers recognized:
Volunteer of the Year: Doug Remtema
Citizen Reporter of the Year: Kathryn Gray
Community Service Programing: Thomas Hegewald
Lifetime Achievement Award: Doug Hansen
100 Hour Club
Terri Rees – 711
Doug Remtema – 494
Gary Vande Velde – 480
Alan Dunst – 446
Mike Bacon – 279
Barb VanDuren – 278
Thomas Hegewald – 249
Tom Sibley – 220
Sophia Maslowski – 190
Phil Moore – 172
Carrie Bradstreet – 149
Dan Simone – 122
Kristyn Miller – 117
Nathan Krzykwa – 111
Doug Hansen – 110
Athina Morehouse – 103
Program Dedication
A Day in the Dirt – Gary Vande Velde
Catholic Forum – Alan Dunst
Community Awareness – Donna Smith
Feel Like You Belong – Alan Headbloom
Fools for Christ – Jim Dohm
High School Sports – Paul Kableman
Is That Really Me on TV – Melanie Evans
OnPoint – Thomas Hegewald
River Reflections – Rosemary Burns
Senior Exercise – Chris Rush
Silent Voices – Dennis Lawrence
So & Mo Presents – Sophia Maslowski
Sounds of Summer – Patty Williams
Talking God & Guns – Janice Brown
Tips, Tricks & Techniques – Chef Terri Rees
Veteran’s History Project – James Smither
Whittlin’ Time – Mike Bacon
VMTV – Hung Nguyen
You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me America – Carrie Bradstreet
First Year
Dan Davis – Whittlin’ Time
Gina Greenlee – OnPoint
Robert Gonzalez – Sports/Plus
Wendy Jenkins – Silent Voices
Mark Kelly – Sports
Mark Lange – Sports
Linh Le – VMTV
Cameron McCargar – Sports
Brice Miller – Sports
Athina Morehouse – OnPoint
Angela Peavey – Indie Films
Reid Petro – Indie Films
Steve Pham – VMTV
Bill Roelfsema – OnPoint
Eric Sheler – OnPoint
Michelle Sheler – OnPoint
Downie Streahl – Sports/Plus
Kevin Ton – VMTV
Lillie Towns – Silent Voices
Barb VanDuren – Chef Terri Right Hand
Arturo Varela – Mision Evangilistica
Chris Williams – Sports
5 Years
Ray Boisvenue – Fools for Christ
Karen Graham – Schubert Chorus/Plus
Mike Moll – Sports Announcer
Ron Schultz – Sports Announcer
10 Years
Mark Bergsma – Sports
Anne VanDreumel – Shubert/Plus/Plus
15 Years
Girbe Eefsting – Digital Cinema Guild
Eddie Grover – Various Shoots
Gary Vande Velde – Day in the Dirt/Sports/Plus
Mike VanDreumel – Mr. Fix It/Everything
20 Years
Mark Tangen – Dream Wheels/Festivals of Chefs
Dick Visser – Board/Direct: Reading Train/Beanie Babies/Crafty Ladies
For many, human trafficking seems like something that takes place in a faraway land when in reality it could be happening right next door.
“There was a mother who was human trafficking her own daughter,” said Women At Risk Youth Ambassador Jenn Amo, who is the featured guest of the Community Awareness’s upcoming show on Women at Risk, International show set to air this month.
Amo tells Community Awareness host Donna Kidner-Smith that there is a lot of misconceptions about human trafficking in that those involved in the trade will target just about anyone: age, race, income and gender really don’t matter.
“In West Michigan, at any given time, about 2,400 minors are for sale,” Amo said, adding that while most of these are online, the number is appalling.
The goal of Women at Risk, International (WAR), a non-profit headquartered in Wyoming, is to provide protection around at-risk women and children. The organization hosts a number of programs designed to help those in need along with educating the public on a variety of issues such as human trafficking.
Amo visits schools and other organizations talking to students and parents about the signs of and how to prevent becoming a victim of human trafficking.
“We call it our wheel of risk because everybody, no matter who you are, faces multiple things in a lifetime,” Amo said. “Sometimes you can handle it on your own and at other times you don’t know where to turn.”
Through the Community Awareness program, Amo discusses the signs of human trafficking, safety steps people can take to avoid or prevent it, and the importance that the entire community must stay vigilant in reporting questionable activities.
“The traffickers have always been there,” Amo said during the program. “As marijuana was legalized, people thought it would just eliminated what the traffickers do. Instead, we saw an increase in human trafficking. They basically just changed what they were trafficking.”
Amo also discusses what WAR is about, volunteer opportunities and the WAR Chest Boutiques located at 2790 44th St. SW, Wyoming, and 25 Squires St. Square NE, Rockford. These stores are the retail arm of the non-profit featuring hand-crafted items created by at-risk-women (and some at-risk-men) in WAR’s partnering programs that are in more than 40 countries including the United States.
For more about WAR, visit www.warintertnational.org. The Community Awareness program featuring Women At Risk runs Monday, March 7, at 9 p.m. , Wednesday, March 9, at 11 a.m. and Friday March 11, at 10 a.m.
Some of the volunteers from the 2015 Appreciation Dinner who were recognized for their contributions.
For more than 40 years WKTV has been providing quality programming for the communities of Wyoming and Kentwood thanks in large part to the many residents who volunteer their time at the station.
On April 1, the station will honor those volunteers at WKTV’s Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at Stonewater Country Club, 7177 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Caledonia.
“It’s an opportunity for us to express our appreciation for all the hours put in by the volunteers in all the various aspects to the station,” said WKTV Community Media Coordinator Nate Diedrich.
In 2015, about 319 volunteers logged almost 9,000 volunteer hours. Through the effort of those volunteers, WKTV has been able to provide a variety of programs including the very popular Senior Exercise program, which was started in 1993, and High School Sports, which has been a part of the station’s line up for more than 30 years. A few years ago, seeing the need for hyperlocal news, WKTV added a citizens reporter section, now.wktv.org.
At the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, volunteers will be recognized and honored for programs and projects done at the station in 2015.
Some of the awards that will be resented at the dinner include the Lifetime Achievement Award, Community Service Programming Award and Volunteer of the Year. Years of service are recognized and there is a 100-Hour Club awarded to those who have volunteered more than 100 hours within the year at the station.
The April 1 event starts with cocktails at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the award presentation at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $10. Reservations must be made by March 24. To RSVP, visit www.wktv.org or mail to or visit in person, WKTV, 5261 Clyde Park SW, Wyoming, Michigan, 49509.
Time to give the creek some love!
After the opening meeting, kids are broken into three different groups to learn about nutrition, stories from the Bible, and play experimental games with life lessons incorporated throughout. Kids are then placed into small groups for Bible Discovery Time with a small group leader.
When the week is over, Jack Ponstine hopes each family leaves having checked all four boxes:
With April being National Poetry Month, and yesterday being Haiku Poetry Day, a few citizen reporters tried their hand at the art of the traditional Japanese poetry and its 17 syllables.
Over 300 volunteers take advantage of the services WKTV has to offer in production, recording, editing, writing and filming. The Volunteer Appreciation Banquet is one way for the station to say thank you.
