Multi-Charity Bikeathon

Fall Bike Celebration and Multi-Charity Bikeathon
Saturday, September 18, 2021

On Saturday, September 18, Bike Friendly Kalamazoo is holding their first-ever Multi-Charity Bikeathon, and Ministry with Community is one of their chosen organizations!

The ride starts at 9am at the Vicksburg Community Pavilion, and will be a fun, short-course, social bicycling event.

If you are interested in participating and supporting us, you can ride for our team, make a donation, or spread the word to others who may be interested. Follow this link for more information and registration.

Please reach out to Matt Claus, Development Director, at mclaus@ministrywithcommunity.org if you would like to know more.

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About our Bike Program

We are excited to be included in this event! The cycling community in Kalamazoo has long supported Ministry with Community’s Bike Program, which provides members with refurbished bikes that they can use to get to and from their job.

We accept donations of adult-size bikes in good, working condition. These bikes are generously tuned up by Rick Lee and the wonderful team at Zoo City Cycle & Sport. Once we know that the bikes are safe and ready to go, our Social Work Team pairs them with newly employed members in need of reliable transportation.

In 2020, the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club presented Ministry with Community and Zoo City Cycle & Sport with their Friend of Bicycling Award for “putting workers on wheels” in our community.

Interested in donating a bike? Contact us at 269-343-6073 x122 or at programs@ministrywithcommunity.org for more information.

Rick Lee (L), and Don Jones (R) receiving the Kalamazoo Bicycle Club’s 2020 Friend of Bicycling award.

Kalamazoo Bicycle Club award.

Young Supporters Get Creative to Fight Hunger

Maggie (left) and Marley (right) with one of their dogs.

Lucy Westra modeling a dog bed made from a recycled metal table base.

A wooden sign made by Maggie and Marley. They made several of these and sold them to buy Toys for Tots Christmas presents. They also added other money for Westra’s Wonders to purchase 25 gifts.

Maggie Westra is the CEO of Westra’s Wonders, which she runs with her sister Marley Westra, the company’s CFO. They repurpose old furniture and sell their creations. They’re also generous donors to Ministry with Community. 

Did we mention that Maggie is 15 and Marley is 9? 

Using their company’s profits, Maggie and Marley recently sponsored a meal at Ministry with Community. A sponsored meal covers everything we need to serve a freshly prepared, nutritious breakfast or lunch to hundreds of our members.  

We were so inspired by their generosity that we wanted to learn more about what motivates them. Below is an excerpt of our conversation with Maggie: 

Tell us about your business, Westra’s Wonders. Where did you get the idea?
Well, I’m CEO and Marley is CFO. We buy used furniture and then we try to repurpose it or fix it up. We got the idea because we wanted to make money. When I start to drive, I’m going to need to buy gas and other stuff for the car.  

So we decided to do something we’re both good at. Marley is good at coming up with ideas, and I’m pretty good at working with my hands and just fixing up stuff, so it works out. 

How did you first hear about MwC, and how have you been involved?
When my brother Tate was a little bit younger, my grandpa [Karl Westra] invited him to come volunteer in the kitchen with him. And when Tate went, he actually had a really fun time. Being the little sister, I kept asking, asking, asking until I could go, and then finally about two years ago I was old enough to volunteer. And then we started going almost every Thursday.  

I would take meals out to the members. I like getting to know people and talking to them for a little bit.  

It was fun because I like helping people. But it was sort of a humbling experience. Growing up, I’ve never had to worry about where my next meal was coming from, so just being able to help people was the best part for me. 

What inspired you to give money in addition to your time?
For one thing, we finally had made enough money to do stuff [like sponsor a meal]. This year has been hard on everybody, so I was just like, “Might as well give now. Now or never.” 

How do you decide how much to give?
Typically, every $200 I make I try to donate $100. And we started up a system where it’s every $600 we make we’re going to sponsor a meal.  

I’ve been given so much, so I should probably be able to give back. I like helping out with the community.

And finally, what’s life been like for a 15-year-old during a pandemic?
It’s been interesting—a little bit of a challenge. I tried to get a few [Westra’s Wonders] projects in, but it’s hard to do painting and stuff in the winter. I have been playing a lot of video games. And I’ve been hanging out with my sister more.

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You can help us fight hunger by supporting Ministry with Community Against Hunger during the month of April 2021:

Interning During a Pandemic

“My undergrad degree isn’t in Social Work, so my graduate program recommended that I intern here because they felt it would give me a good knowledge base,” says Elise Layton, Ministry with Community Social Work Intern.

Elise, a student at Michigan State University, began her internship at MwC in September 2020 as part of her master’s degree in Social Work. Previously, Elise spent eight years working in a Michigan congressional office where she connected constituents to resources in their community and the state.

According to Elise, this is what sparked her interest in Social Work. “I got to work a lot with Veterans and I really loved it,” she says, “I’m married to a member of the military. I care a lot about our Veterans and making sure they get what they earned and need. It’s personal and professional.”

In terms of interning during a pandemic, Elise was more concerned with getting hands-on experience. “It was clear when I interviewed that MwC was taking safety very seriously. I knew that I could speak up if I had any concerns. I was just ready to get in and get as much experience as I could.”

Of her internship here, Elise says, “I got to shadow Sarah (Cain, MwC Social Worker) and watch how she interacted with members. I was able to meet with the rest of the Program Team both remotely and in-person and learn from them too. They were all so giving of their time and knowledge. I helped members connect with our Social Workers and other resources in the community including housing. It’s a good environment here. I’m so grateful for it.”

Elise says that one big takeaway of her internship was the complexity of what each of our members are working through. “For people experiencing homelessness, there is never just one cause. It’s multifaceted,” says Elise. “People need to be looked at as individuals. One program does not fit all. And why wouldn’t that be true? That’s true for all of us, of course!”

Next up for Elise will be another year of school and a second internship. “I hope to work with Veterans eventually,” Elise says. “I’m in the Combat Veterans Certificate Program, but I’m open to other possibilities too.”

We would like to thank Elise for her dedication to our members during her internship with MwC. We know that anyone she works with in the future will be lucky to have her on their side.

Underwear Week 2020 Recap

Thanks to our presenting sponsors, Cliff Mulder of Raymond James and Molina Healthcare, for making Underwear Week possible!

Thanks to all of our sponsors for their support of Underwear Week!

The donation drop-off door.

Thanks to Ascension Borgess for being our Christmas Day sponsor!

A big donation of warm items from Greenleaf Trust!

Donation boxes lining the hallway.

A big thanks to Prudence for volunteering to help us sort donations!

Prudence (left) sorting donations with our Volunteer & Operations Coordinator, Megan Hayden (right).

Boxes filling up!

Our Executive Director, Kelly Henderson, sorting and organizing.

New weatherproof boots donated by Taplin Group. They also sponsored the event and donated coats, gloves, hats, and some wheeled luggage!

We received some very nice and warm gloves this year!

Here’s a sample of the gift bag our members will receive thanks to the generosity of our donors!

Thanks to our Christmas Day sponsor, Ascension Borgess, each of our members will receive their gifts in a reusable drawstring bag!

Underwear Week 2020 was a big success! We gathered over 6,500 pieces of clothing and raised over $28,000 to keep our members safe and warm this winter and throughout the year!  

Despite the difficulties that this year has created for everyone, our community came through for our members. Throughout the week (and weeks leading up to it) donors supported the event online, mailed donations of warm clothing to us, rang the doorbell to deliver items in person, and humbled us with an incredible show of support.

As we received the donated items, staff and our volunteer, Prudence McCabe, worked quickly to sort and organize. Normally, we have a team of volunteers that takes over our classrooms each year to sort and wrap all of the gifts. This year, we lined the office hallway and conference rooms with donated boxes from U-Haul and sorted donations as they were dropped off. Doing so kept our classrooms free so that more members could be in the building and stay physically distanced.

Thanks to our Christmas Day Sponsor, Ascension Borgess, we were able to purchase reusable drawstring bags to bundle the gifts together for our members.

If you supported our Underwear Week efforts in any way this year, thank you! We would also like to thank our event sponsors! See below for a complete list.

Underwear Week 2020 was presented by Cliff Mulder of Raymond James and Molina Healthcare.

It's not too late! You can also make a financial contribution to support the Underwear Party here:

Bikes Needed

With public transportation limited due to COVID-19, Ministry with Community’s Social Work Team is working harder than ever to get bikes to our members who are essential workers.

We are currently accepting donations of bikes in good working order, or in need of light repair.

Safe Donation Process:
Before donating a bike, contact our Program Director, Don Jones, at 269-366-3093 or at programs@ministrywithcommunity.org to arrange a safe donation.

Thank you for helping our members get to and from their jobs!

Grits or Oatmeal

Bob DeShazo plays the guitar and sings for members during a meal service.

Our good friend and regular volunteer, Bob DeShazo, has written another song about our members! You might remember his last recording, Special Friends, from 2019. Click here for the song and lyrics.

His latest release is Grits or Oatmeal, a song about the question he asks each member that comes through our breakfast line on the days he volunteers.

Thank you for the compassion you have for our members, Bob!

Leap Day Giving Challenge

Did you know that it costs $4,011 per day to run Ministry with Community?

2020 is a leap year, which means that we’re open for 366 days this year. To fund the extra day, we’re holding a Leap Day Giving Challenge! Each gift made between 7:00pm on February 27th and 11:59pm on February 28th will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000, by Clifford J. Mulder Retirement and Investment Planning of Raymond James in Portage, Michigan! 

How can I participate?

Go to ministrywithcommunity.org/makeadonation between 7:00pm on February 27th and 11:59pm on February 28th and make a gift through our website.

Be sure to tell your friends and coworkers about the challenge and encourage them to participate.

What gifts are eligible for the match?

The challenge runs for 29 hours: any gift made between 7:00pm on 2/27/20 and 11:59pm on 2/28/20, or until we receive $5,000. The first $5,000 given during that time period will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, by Clifford J. Mulder Retirement and Investment Planning of Raymond James.

If I drop off a check on February 28, will that count?

Yes, you can drop off a check at our Service Desk on February 28th. Our building is open between 6:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. We are located 500 N. Edwards St. in Kalamazoo.

How will I remember?

We’ll send a reminder email when the challenge opens on February 27th, and we’ll post it on our social media. If you’re on Facebook, you can RVSP to the Challenge on our page and it will remind you of the start time.

If you’re not on our email list yet, you can sign up here.

Still have questions?

Feel free to contact Matt Claus, Development Director, at 269-343-6073 x131 or at mclaus@ministrywithcommunity.org.

About our Matching Gift Sponsor:

Cliff Mulder is a longtime supporter and friend of Ministry with Community. He served two terms on the Board of Directors and is a current member of MwC’s Development Committee. Learn more about Clifford J. Mulder Retirement and Investment Planning of Raymond James here.

Mangia Kitchen + Bar Farewell Fundraiser

After more than 20 years of dedicated service in Downtown Kalamazoo, Mangia Kitchen + Bar (MKB) is moving on to new adventures. To celebrate this milestone, MKB and the Dacoba family are hosting a farewell open house with a fundraiser for Ministry with Community on Monday, December 9, 2019 from 5 – 9pm.  

Admission includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, live music from the Big Lake Trio, and a sendoff to a downtown dining landmark!

Tickets may be purchased here through eventbrite.com, with 100% of the ticket proceeds going to Ministry with Community.

We Welcome All

We welcome all at Ministry with Community. All races and ethnicities, all religions (and those who are not religious), all sexual orientations, all gender identities, all languages, and all disabilities. All who enter our building are welcome, valued, and respected. This has always been true for us, but we think that it’s an important message to be clear about. That’s why we printed it on a couple of colorful banners that now hang in the entrance and dining room of our building.

It isn’t enough just to be welcoming. Ministry with Community staff regularly attend trainings and workshops to learn more about how we can serve our members and community in the most equitable way. Recent staff trainings have included education about systemic racism, the LGBTQAI+ community, and ableism. In February, an Anti-racism Committee was formed as an official Committee of our Board of Directors. This Committee’s goal is to ensure that our practices and services aren’t oppressing or creating barriers for those we serve, employ, and interact with.

At Ministry with Community, acceptance extends not only to our members, but also to our staff, leadership, volunteers, and anyone who walks through our doors.

Click here for a link to our full statement of inclusion.

Our Summer 2019 Garden

Thanks to the Rotary Club of Oshtemo for making our garden possible!

Thanks to Wenke Greenhouses for donating the flowers that beautify the perimeter of our garden!

Fresh cucumber salad made with the cucumbers from our garden.

The tomatoes on this salad were grown by our members.

We’ve already harvested over 215 pounds of produce from our garden this summer! This is only the second year we’ve had the garden at Ministry with Community, but once again, members are taking excellent care of it and it shows.  

The garden is a great place for members to give back, but it’s also a place where they can feel restored. “It’s not just a garden of vegetables. It’s a garden of human love,” said Debra, a member at MwC and a devoted garden volunteer.

Everything harvested from our garden goes directly to our kitchen to be prepared for meals. In July alone, we served 12,659 meals, so each pound of produce makes a difference in our budget and helps us provide healthy options for our members.

Interested in volunteering in our garden? Click here to fill out a volunteer application or contact Megan Stull, Volunteer and Operations Coordinator at mstull@ministrywithcommunity.org or 269-343-6073 x134.

Open House Save the Date

Ministry with Community
Annual Open House & Award Ceremony
Thursday, September 12, 2019
4:30pm - 6:00pm

Join us for our Annual Open House! This event is a great way to see our facility and our beautiful garden up-close. It’s also the perfect opportunity to learn more about how we serve our community. Self guided tours are available before our Volunteer Awards ceremony starts. See you there!

Chefs Against Hunger 2019 Recap

Thank you to all of our Chefs and Sous-chefs!

People's Choice Winners

Congratulations to Chef Cee Jay Steiner of Senior Services, and Local Celebrity Sous-chef, Sydney Parfet for taking home the People’s Choice Award by raising the most tips!

Chefs Against Hunger Winners

Congratulations to Chef Betsy Ruth of The Union Cabaret & Grille, and Local Celebrity Sous-chef, Carly Robbins for winning Chefs Against Hunger 2019!

Chefs Against Hunger 2019 presented by Zhang Financial, was a success! Congratulations to our winners, Chef Betsy Ruth of The Union Cabaret & Grille, and Local Celebrity Sous-chef, Carly Robbins! Taking home the People’s Choice Award for the evening was Chef Cee Jay Steiner of Senior Services, and Local Celebrity Sous-chef, Sydney Parfet!

Click here to check out our dedicated Chefs Against Hunger page for more photos and information about the event.

Special Friends

Volunteer Bob DeShazo plays the guitar during a meal sponsored by the Irish American Club last St. Patrick’s Day.

Bob DeShazo is a regular volunteer at Ministry with Community. Bob loves to serve meals and often plays the guitar for our members during lunchtime. Recently, Bob wrote a song about our members called Special Friends, and we are happy to share the audio and lyrics below.

Thank you, Bob, for knowing our members and serving them with so much kindness.

1,803 Pounds of Vegetables

On November 6, 2018, MwC staff harvested the last of the vegetables grown in our garden. Several baskets of red potatoes were dug up as rain fell and wind blew. Despite the inclement weather, it was a celebration for us.

This was the final harvest from the first garden we ever grew as an organization, and one that we will never forget. The garden itself was maintained almost entirely by self-organized members. They showed up early to water each morning, kept weeds to a minimum, and helped us harvest from each plant. Members also assisted in weighing everything we picked from the garden and logged the amounts in a notebook.

Including the final harvest of potatoes, the MwC garden produced 1,803 pounds of vegetables! Each vegetable picked went directly to our kitchen where staff prepared it for our members to eat at mealtimes.

We would like to thank our members, volunteers, and the Rotary Club of Oshtemo for making our dream of growing a garden possible.

19th Annual Underwear Party Recap

The 19th Annual Underwear Party, presented by Cliff Mulder of Raymond James, was a lively event that brought hundreds of generous community members together at the Radisson in Kalamazoo on Monday, December 3rd, 2018. 

We are thrilled to announce that more than 5,000 items of warm clothing were collected that night! Those items are now being sorted by some of our fabulous volunteers to be wrapped and given to members on Christmas Day. 

In addition to the clothing, the event has raised nearly $25,000 so far! 

If you attended or supported the event, we would like to thank you for your generosity. The success of our organization, and our ability to help our members to rebuild their lives is thanks to you!

We're Growing!

Ministry with Community is growing a garden! Thanks to a generous donation from the Rotary Club of Oshtemo, on May 23, 2018, a group of members, volunteers, and staff came together and built 20 raised beds. A week later, we dedicated the garden and started planting. Plants were sprouting up through the soil within days, and we're now picking vegetables and serving them to members from our own kitchen. Click through the photos to catch a glimpse at the process and read more about the experience in our next newsletter. Also, stay tuned to our Facebook page for an upcoming video of the build day and dedication courtesy of Hi-Tech Electric Company and their incredible staff members Tony Gaudio and Greg Monette!

A special thanks to:

• The Rotary Club of Oshtemo for generously donating $5,000 to make the garden possible
• Hi-Tech Electric Company for allowing Tony and Greg to spend an entire day filming us build
• All of the members that have helped throughout the process and continue to look after the plants
• Each volunteer that donated their time on a hot day to help build the beds

Our New Mural

Our once blank dining room wall is now covered by a beautiful new mural. Local artist, Margy Hunter, led members in creating the beautiful café scene using paint that was generously donated by Douglas & Son Inc. owner, Roger Storteboom. The project was started in late May and was completed recently. Check out the photos above to see the amazing work our members and Margy put into the project, and be sure to read more about the effort in our next newsletter.

A special thanks to:

• Each of the members that worked on the project
• Douglas & Son Inc. for donating the paint, brushes, and materials to make this project possible
• Margy Hunter for her time, creativity, and leadership

Chefs Against Hunger 2018

Chefs Against Hunger 2018 was a success! Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Zhang Financial for making the event possible! We are so grateful to everyone that attended, volunteered at, donated to, or supported the evening! 

Kelly Henderson is MwC's New Executive Director!

Kelly Henderson stands outside of MwC. Photo courtesy of Encore Magazine.

We are thrilled to announce that Kelly Henderson is Ministry with Community's new Executive Director! Kelly has been with the organization for nearly a decade and was most recently in the position of Associate Director. 

"During her ten years at MwC," says Board President, Tom Schlueter, "she has consistently shown her compassion and professionalism in dealing with our members and dedicated staff. We are grateful for her leadership." 

We couldn't agree more! Kelly was instrumental in the construction of our new facility and says that she is "looking forward to working with our fantastic staff to ensure that we are using this new space to continue providing critical basic services as well as helping those who are ready to make meaningful strides in achieving greater independence. We are forever grateful to our community for recognizing the needs of those struggling more than most."

For more information on Kelly Henderson, follow this link to an article in February's issue of Encore Magazine.

To contact Kelly Henderson, Executive Director, please call (269) 343-6073 x130 or email her at khenderson@ministrywithcommunity.org. 

"They give me more than I give them."

Carol stands in the MwC Kitchen Pantry. Photo courtesy of UWBCKR.

We often brag about our amazing volunteers. This time, The United Way of Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region did it for us. Check out this wonderful story about one of our favorite volunteers, Carol Hindbaugh, at changethestory.org.