2024 was a year of significant growth and impact for Flat River Outreach Ministries. Thanks to the incredible support of our community, dedicated volunteers, and generous donors, we were able to make a real difference in the lives of families in Lowell.
We are incredibly grateful for the support of our community. Your contributions, both large and small, have made a lasting difference.
We’re excited to introduce Haley, our new Development Coordinator!
She’ll bring her talents to our event planning, marketing, and donor relations efforts. Haley has held several other development positions at other nonprofits in the area. Feel free to stop and chat if you see her in the hallways, she is eager to get to know everyone. Join us in welcoming Haley as she helps us strengthen connections within our community and further our mission of serving our neighbors.
More about her:
Haley brings a decade of experience in office administration and non-profit development, where she has honed her skills in helping organizations thrive. She has steadily built her career into a platform that allows her to do what she does best: helping others. Driven by her personal experiences with mental health discrimination and healthcare challenges, Haley is deeply passionate about advocating for equality, dignity, and empowerment for all people. In addition to her professional pursuits, Haley is a talented artist and musician. She sings, plays guitar, and ukulele, and has had her artwork shown at the Gerald R. Ford Museum. Haley lives in Kentwood, MI, with her two furbabies, Moby and Kora.
Welcome Haley!
This year’s Christmas Toy Store and Food Basket programs was a heartwarming success! A total of 257 families with 437 children registered, with adults shopping, free of charge, for Christmas toys to bring a little extra love and excitement to their holiday. Alongside the toys, we also prepared and distributed 378 food bags, so that families in Lowell could enjoy a delicious Christmas dinner together.
The event was made possible thanks to the generosity and hard work of our dedicated volunteers, donors, and supporters. Together, we brought joy, hope, and holiday cheer to our community. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event such a shining success!
March is National Nutrition Month®! The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics put together a whole list of ways you can get involved in March. Our Development Director, Arianne, wanted to share a few with you with examples of how her family is incorporating them into their meal planning.
Try new fruits and vegetables this month!
The next time you’re at the grocery store, pick out a fruit or vegetable you’ve never tried and taste test it with your family. Sometimes at Meijer, we’ll pick up an exotic fruit or vegetable to taste for fun. We’ve tried starfruit, dragon fruit and jackfruit by doing this. Each month in our Food Pantry we feature a different food item. For March, we’re highlighting carrots, as well as this soup recipe!
Get your family (or friends) involved in meal planning. Ask for their ideas!
If your family is stumped, asking friends for their favorite meal on Social Media is a great way to get new recipes, or searching on Pinterest.
Limit your TV/screen time (or take breaks) and incorporate physical activity.
Watch an episode or two of your favorite show, and take a break to clean up the kitchen, take a walk around the block, or play catch for a few minutes with your kids. That extra bit of exercise in the day helps my whole family relax, unwind and fall asleep faster.
Try to stay off screentime during mealtime – including phones, computers, TV, tablets, etc.
Try sitting at the table for your meals and keep all electronic devices out of the room. It’ll help you focus on your meal, and conversations with your family. It’s a great opportunity to share the funny things you read on your phone, or bring up a fun conversation for discussion.
Try more meals without meat.
At Flat River Outreach Ministries our Food Pantry and a number of our food programs we receive a large amount of meatless protein options – including beans, peas and lentils. Our Healthy Food Program Coordinator, Kelly, often highlights meatless recipes in the Food Pantry and offers samples to try. One of our favorite meatless options is a black bean and corn burrito. Check out this Gimme Delicious recipe!
Get your whole family involved in cooking. There’s room for everyone!
My favorite memories of my mom are around meal preparation, she always encouraged us to be in the kitchen with us. And although it can take a lot of extra time, as an adult, I try to bring my 2-year-old to help make dinner. He especially loves making pizza with us and counts while he puts pepperoni and cheese on the pizza.
Try a new spice or flavor to your meal.
Be inspired at the grocery store. Seek out new spices that sound interesting and find a recipe to use it in. When you travel, try to recreate a dish you loved on your trip. My family found a love for falafel and Mediterranean food while on a trip to Israel, and started making them when we realized how easy they were to recreate at home!
There are way more ideas and suggestions on Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, CLICK HERE to read the rest of them.
Last weekend FROM held their second annual Repair & Restore Spring Clean up Event. About a dozen volunteers helped out on outdoor projects throughout the greater Lowell community.
Volunteers worked on 6 projects throughout the day that included cleaning gutters and picking up yards to prepare for summer. The biggest project of the day involved moving a large wooden shed 50 feet up a hill in preparation for a future ramp installation project.
“It was great weather and everyone showed up fully prepared to get dirty and serve our community,” Bob Rogers, the volunteer who leads the FROM Repair & Restore project, said.
The Repair & Restore program provides small home repairs throughout the year, with the Spring-Clean up event being a service area wide outdoor project that happens one Saturday a year in the spring.
If you are a homeowner in the Lowell Area School District and are in need of some small home repairs, please reach out to our Connections Office (616-897-8260 ext 125) to talk to Monica about options available to you. If you love working outdoors and are looking for ways to give back to the community, be sure to sign up to volunteer for the next Repair & Restore event by visiting our website (fromlowell.org/volunteer/).
A big thank you to every volunteer who came out to serve your community on May 20! We are so thankful for your heart to serve your neighbors in need.
340 students walked into their first day of classes in August with the confidence that they had a backpack and school supplies to take the school year head-on.
Kids were able to pick out their backpack and collect school supplies specific for their school, grade and classroom.
A big thanks to all of the volunteers who helped out – including a group from Lowell Family Dentistry – as well as support from our community through school supply and financial donations.
Preparation for the August distribution started in April when the team sat and made the game plan. This included coming up with ideas on how to improve from the previous years.
“We were essentially coming out of a COVID-19 restriction time,” said Monica. “We always ask the question ‘how could we make sure we help everyone involved in the best way?’ Then June-July came and registration began. Registration is important because it helps FROM know how many supplies to purchase, especially ones that are specific to one grade or classroom.
Alongside the Backpack Distribution, the Alto Lions Club offered free vision screenings. This was another effort from the FROM team to make the Backpack Distribution program experience as pleasant as possible. “We are always looking to make the experience as enjoyable for kids as the parents,” Monica said.
“I’ve always been treated with kindness and respect and it is appreciated immensely,” a program participant shared. “It’s hard to admit you’re struggling, but FROM never makes you feel ashamed of asking for help.”
Backpack Distribution happens the second week of August each year and is available to families who live in the Lowell Area School District and make 300% of the Federal Poverty Level or less or have an expressed need. You don’t have to attend the Lowell Area Schools, you just have to live in the district and have a child attending school The Backpack Distribution is one of more than a dozen programs FROM offers throughout the year. The next program requiring registration is our Christmas Toy Store and Food Basket. Registration starts November 1st, 2022 and the program will be held the second week of December. Click here to learn more about the Christmas Toy Store and Food Basket and all other FROM programs.
After a month of friendly but fierce competition, Team South has emerged victorious in FROM’s (Flat River Outreach Ministries) annual Food Fight Campaign.
From May 1 – June 1 the nonprofit encouraged the Greater Lowell community to give from the heart to see who can raise the most resources.
The campaign divided the Greater Lowell Community into two teams – Team North and Team South with M-21 splitting the teams. Each dollar and food item donated to FROM counted as a point for that team. Combined, Team North and Team South totaled 11,000 food items and $145,000 in financial donations. This equaled 156,455 points which surpassed FROM’s goal of reaching 150,000 points.
“Thank you to everyone who participated in Food Fight – whether you made a financial donation, collected food, were a food collection site for us, or shared our Social Media posts,” Arianne Hall, FROM Development Director said. “You make it possible for us to reach our neighbors in need – every day. We truly could not do what we do without you!”
Although Food Fight is over, the community can still get involved by donating on our website at https://www.fromlowell.org/donate/
For Treasures Thrift Store, Mondays have always been bustling with volunteers excited prepare the shop for the week and interact with one another. Now the community will be able to join in the excitement that Mondays bring. We are excited to announce that FROM will be opening Treasures Thrift shop on Mondays starting June 6. Rather than locked doors, shoppers will be met with open arms of volunteers and employees eager to serve the community.
Shoppers will have the opportunity to start their week by browsing our shelves packed with a variety of items. Big promotional sales will be held each Monday to help celebrate the opening. June 6 will be a 10$ red bag sale and all other Mondays will be 75% off clothing.
Treasures Thrift Store has already seen improvements such as new front room displays and signs, the expansion of several departments, and a new community bulletin board. The thrift store has played an important role in both the lives of our customers and the support of our other programs. All of the proceeds from Treasures Thrift Store help support the mission of FROM. That means funds help serve the more than 600 families who utilize programs at FROM each year. We are excited for this opening to be another way FROM can serve the community and continue the thrift shop’s recent success.
“I am excited to have this opportunity to provide our customers with more options to fit their shopping needs. The additional funds will support our mission and provide additional resources to our community,” said Laura Bradeen, the thrift store manager.
To help support Treasures Thrift Store, come shop on Mondays or sign up to volunteer. We are in need of people to run the cash register or sort donations on Monday. Having a full roster of volunteers is important to provide the necessary time and care needed to give our customers a wonderful shopping experience.
The store will be open on Monday starting on June 6 from 10AM-6PM. This is in addition to being open Tuesday-Saturday 10AM-6PM and Saturday 10AM-2PM.
Currently in our Medical Equipment Loan Closet, the regular team of volunteers who clean our donated equipment, are collecting items to be sent to Ukraine.
FROM periodically receives items that we are not able to use, so these items will be shared with communities who most need them.
“Life is so difficult there right now and we want to do our part to help,” lead medical loan volunteer, Denise, said. “We don’t want any of our donations to go to waste, so we are sending the items FROM is unable to distribute to Ukraine.”
Denise is working with St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church in Grand Rapids to get supplies to Chicago, where it will be sent out to Poland, to care for the injured Ukrainian refugees and to be dispersed into Ukraine.
The items being collected include unused ace bandage wraps, gauze, suture kits, and bandages. If you have items you’d like to donate to this cause specifically, please bring them to our front office, and Denise and her team will make sure it’s included.
Our goal is to use your gifts to cause the maximum amount of good in not only our community, but also the world at large.
Welcome Pastor Nate Gray to the FROM Board of Directors!
What drew you to FROM and how did you get connected?
We have been in the community for twelve years now and from the beginning I wanted to personally, and lead my church, to be a part of where God was at work in the community. It didn’t take long to realize FROM was engaging in Kingdom work! I wish I had taken more of a hands-on approach long ago, but we have been part of FROM initiatives for years. Lately, the opportunity to serve by being a part of the board presented itself and I sensed God’s leading. I also recognized how much I could learn and grow by rubbing shoulders with the great people involved at FROM. I also wholeheartedly agree with FROM’s guiding beliefs and core values. I appreciate an organization that desires to come alongside others, to equip, empower and help people experience wholeness and health.
What are you most excited about as you begin your role on FROMs board?
I am excited to learn and grow! I am excited to add my voice, passions, gifts and service! I also look forward to living into my unique role as providing a pastoral presence and spiritual guidance in any way I can on the board and to those in the FROM network. I love to walk with people on their journeys and listen to their heart’s cries, questions and passions. It is a privilege to be able to walk in these sacred ways. God is always present and at work and we get to join him!
What’s a random fact about yourself?
I grew up doing lumberjack contests with my dad and brother and still enjoy those to this day. However, I also love to sit in a coffee shop and discuss deep things! I have varying interests and hobbies and l think it allows me to meet and get to know people from all different walks of life!
Pastor Nate will be another valuable asset to FROM, and we look forward to the new progress we will be able to make with him on our team!
FROM (Flat River Outreach Ministries) is launching a new food program September 9th! The program, called the Farm Market, will offer locally sourced fresh produce along with pantry staples, including milk, honey, and eggs.
For many years FROM participants have expressed the difficulty in affording fresh fruits and vegetables. This paid model program will help ensure families have access to healthy produce at affordable prices. This is similar to how the Food Pantry helps current participants access healthy food, as one food pantry participants shared, “the [Food] Pantry helps me eat better and be able to direct my fixed income toward necessary expenses.”
The Farm Market will be located in the FROM Treasure’s Thrift Shop and the produce will be sourced from their partnering local farmers. This program follows in the footsteps of other local nonprofits including North Kent Connect and UCOM (United Church Outreach Ministries) who launched similar programs nearly 5 years ago.
The Farm Market is focusing on making sure locally sourced produce is accessible to families in the Greater Lowell Community who are earning less than 300% of the federal poverty guidelines.
Families and individuals above this income level are welcome to shop as well! Purchasing produce will help ensure the long-term sustainability of the program.
“Although we have many farms surrounding Lowell, it can be hard to get that produce into the hands of families in our community who need it most,” Kelly Glas, FROM Healthy Food Program Coordinator, said. “By working directly with local farmers, we have the opportunity to bring fresh produce to a community hub location. This also gives us the opportunity to sell the produce at affordable prices so that those in our community who don’t have access to, or can’t typically afford healthy fresh produce, can come and purchase quality items for their families.”
Do you want to help make the Farm Market thrive? You can also show your support for the new program by volunteering at the Farm Market visiting the market, purchasing items, and spreading the word.
This program wouldn’t be possible without your support and support from King Milling Co. and Lowell Area Community Fund who have helped launch the Farm Market.
The Farm Market will be open during Treasures Thrift Store hours (Tuesday – Friday 10 AM – 6 PM and Saturday 10 AM – 4 PM). For more information, or to sign up to volunteer please visit www.fromlowell.org or reach out to FROM directly at info@fromlowell.org or (616) 897-8260.
Throughout the month of May we held our annual friendly but fierce competition – that’s right – our annual Food Fight!
This once-a-year fundraising campaign splits the Lowell Area School District by M/21 / Fulton Street into the North Team and South Team. The campaign helps stock the food pantry, and raises funds to support all of the programs at FROM (we have more than a dozen!). Teams collect 1 point for each dollar or food item donated to FROM.
The team with the most points at the end is crowned the winner.
Together the teams raised more than 137,800 points this year – the most ever!
Generous matching sponsors helped provide a $31,750 match base that matched every financial gift until the match was completed.
We were blown away by the kindness of our community; the match was fulfilled before we were halfway through the fundraiser!
We celebrate the South Team for winning the 2021 Food Fight and tieing the teams for total overall wins to 6-6.
We are so thankful for each and every one of you who participated in Food Fight 2021. Because of you, we were able to touch the lives of families right here in our community.
Families like one of our food pantry participants who recently shared the impact the food pantry made in the lives of them and their family.
“When my husband lost his job we had to utilize the food pantry because we couldn’t afford food and was denied financial assistance through the federal government,” FROM participant shared. “Without the generosity of FROM my kids may have went hungry.”
Thank you to all our donors, including our Matching Sponsors (listed below) and Head Coach business spsonsors: Dery Physical Therapy Serivces, Chimera Design, McDonald’s, Metric Manufacturing, Timpson Transport, Canfield Plumbing & Heating, Doughtery Farms, Ada Bible Church and Lowell Area Schools.
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