Caught up! Muskegon YMCA wins for March 2020

This past Wednesday, we selected Muskegon YMCA's Safety Around Water program, also known as "pool school", as the recipient of our first quarter donations. It's the second time around for pool school after being chosen three years ago. The Safety Around Water program teaches 3rd-graders the skills they need to avoid drowning -- an important skill in a community surrounded by water.

Other nominees this quarter were Hey Radio and debut nominee Solid Rock Housing, which replaced Habitat for Humanity in our community and works to repair homes, refresh communities, and renovate lives.

We're past $350,000 in donations to charities right here where we live and work! Come join us on the first Wednesday of March, June, September and December -- and bring a friend!

Catchup #2: Greater Muskegon Support Services for December 2019

Greater Muskegon Support Services celebrated the first anniversary of being chosen as our charity for the quarter by winning again in December 2019. This group operates out of a church on Jarman Street in Muskegon Heights, providing meals and clothing to children and adults.

Unfortunately I missed this meeting while volunteering for the Singing Christmas Tree. If anyone remembers who the other two nominees were, please comment on this post to let everybody know.

Catch-up #1: The Hope Project for September 2019

Wow, I'm really behind! Let's see if I can catch us up a bit.

In September, the Hope Project won our donations, becoming our second three-time winner. The Hope Project works to help victims of sex trafficking, and also earned our donations in September 2017 and December 2015. Other nominees in the third quarter of 2019 were Community Encompass, whose Sacred Suds program is a two-time recipient, and debut nominee the White Lake Area Food Pantry.

We donated $10,600 to the June 2019 selection, Family Promise of Muskegon County.

Family Promise Chosen as Our First Three-Time Recipient

Family Promise of Muskegon County wins our donations for June 2019. It's the third win for the organization that helps moms and dads find and keep secure housing for their kids, but the first in almost six years: Family Promise also was chosen in September 2013 after being our second-ever selection in March 2012.

Other presentations this quarter were for YEP -- the Youth Empowerment Program at Community Encompass -- and HEY Radio.

Our next meeting is Sept. 4 at Sherman Bowling Center. Bring a friend!

Arc Muskegon wins our donations for Q1 2019

The Arc Muskegon, which last won our quarterly donations in June 2014, won again this month to help with its mission of advocacy and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Other charities presenting this month were March 2017 winner Muskegon YMCA for its "pool school" helping preventing drowning by teaching kids safety around water, and two-time recipient Family Promise of the Lakeshore and its mission of helping moms and dads find and keep secure housing for their children.

Our next meeting is June 5 at 6 p.m. at the Sherman Bowling Center. Sign up here, and bring a friend!

Brand-new charity wins 4th-quarter donations

A brand-new charity called Greater Muskegon Support Services, Inc. earned our donations at our December meeting. This group operates out of a church on Jarman Street in Muskegon Heights, providing meals and clothing to children and adults. The organization has big dreams, hoping to expand to veterans services, transportation to jobs, drivers training and more.

Also presenting on Dec. 5 were Supper House and Big Reds Football. 

Our next meeting is March 6, 2019, at the Sherman Bowling Center. Bring a friend! 

Kids' Food Basket wins for September 2018

Kids' Food Basket has won our donations for the second time with their work to feed children who don't have enough to eat. Our gifts this quarter will help KFB add a fifth school to the list of Muskegon County schools they serve, just as our gifts in June 2017 helped them add a fourth school.

Other nominees this quarter were The Arc Muskegon and Family Promise of Muskegon County.

This quarter we celebrated with the Women of Care of Muskegon County because together we have given over one million dollars to local charities since we got started in 2011. The women's group started two quarters before our group did, but the main reason they out-give us better than 2-to-1 is because there are more of them. So why not bring a friend to our next meeting? It's Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. at the Sherman Bowling Center.