This agency will pursue a practice where the education, health and human service needs of residents within our service area are addressed without regard to age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, or any other classification or category. | | |
2025 was a year of unprecedented need and steady resolve at Christian Neighbors.
As more neighbors turned to us for food, emergency financial assistance, skill building, and guidance during times of uncertainty, our staff and volunteers responded with compassion, flexibility, and determination. Rising costs and increased demand stretched our resources, yet this community continued to show up through generous donations, volunteer hours, and unwavering belief in our mission and programs. Looking ahead, we remain focused on strengthening pathways to long-term stability, expanding case management support, and ensuring every neighbor who comes through our doors is met with dignity, care, and hope. Together, we will continue building a stronger, more resilient community that truly reflects the power of Neighbors Caring for Neighbors.
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Jennifer Collins
Executive Director
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As 2025 comes to a close, we give a heartfelt Thank You for the tremendous outpouring of support for the food pantry this year.
A question I get asked often is “where do you get all your food from?” Churches, businesses, local grocery stores and restaurants, individual donors, schools, and various organizations. Multiple people and places coming together to ensure that our pantry is continually stocked ensuring that families who come to us leave with plenty of food.
In 2025, we had over 2869 visits to our pantry. Families of all sizes and age ranges including veterans and homeless people. Our goal is to give enough food for a family to have 3 meals a day for 5 days including hygiene items such as toilet paper, toothpaste, laundry soap, etc…
We look forward to partnering with all our supporters in 2026 continuing to ensure that families in our community do not go hungry.
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We have had an extremely active year here in the financial assistance department. The need in 2025 was far greater than anticipated but we made it through thanks to our churches, individual donors and community partners! We were able to help many seniors, veterans, single parents, disabled individuals and others in 2025 keep their lights on; the heat running and stay in their homes with housing assistance. In total, we helped 150 households with their rent, totaling around $60,000 worth of assistance. In addition, we were able to help with 226 utility bills, totaling around $49,000.
The team at Christian Neighbors is refreshed and ready for 2026 and will continue be a beacon of hope for our neighbors in need!
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Purpose Statement:
Christian Neighbors Education Resource Center (ERC) provides programs, classes, and services free of charge to anyone in our community, regardless of their income. We connect community members through shared learning and life experiences.
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The Christian Neighbors Education Resource Center continues to flourish for 2026!
Many of the programs and classes run out of this building are an asset to the community
and vital for those who partake in the services.
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Resource Workshop every Monday
Every Monday between 10:00am-12:00pm
Location: Christian Neighbors
Education Resource Center Computer Lab
Weekly Resource Workshop that gives community members FREE access to a computer, internet and printer (there is a printing cap allowance). No registration required, just drop in on any Monday between 10am-12pm. Case Managers are also hand to help with signing for local and state resources, including DHHS benefits, WIC, housing applications, job applications and more. We also have notary services available during this time.
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The Education Resource Center (ERC) has had a very active year in 2025. The mission of the center is to bring the community together for shared experiences. We offered programs and events for everyone from preschoolers to senior citizens – and many in between, for a total of 1,802 participations. Young chefs in the community were able to learn beginning kitchen skills, veterans came together for an appreciation luncheon, families learned meal planning and budgeting tips, and seniors had everything from Medicare counseling to a high tea social event.
We have a dedicated group of over 50 volunteers who volunteered for a total of 1,410 hours this past year. The success of all the programs at the ERC are due in large part to these faithful volunteers.
As we celebrate 2025 coming to a close, we look forward to a new year of connecting our community through shared experiences, social engagements and life skills opportunities.
We would also like to extend a huge thank you to those who have partnered with us on various programs, classes, and activities.
These include, but are not limited to:
Meals on Wheels of Western Michigan, Community Action of Allegan County, Allegan County Community Foundation, Kalamazoo Community Foundation, Help Me Grow, Allegan County, Public Defenders Office, Plainwell Community Schools Food Service Program, Mobile Secretary of State, Allegan County Friend of the Court, Four Roses Café, Portage Zhang Senior Center, MSU Extension, VFW Post 3030, Safari Circuits, Bennett Family Agency
OMPT, Perrigo Foundation, Heart of West Michigan United Way, and Plainwell Counseling Center
We always welcome you to come and check out the programs and classes we offer at our Education Resource Center. If you have any questions or would like to collaborate with us on a class or event, please contact Kim by calling 269-685-4166 ext. 102 or click below to email.
| | Upcoming Events at the ERC | | Christian Neighbors is partnering with Mary Free Bed to bring you a free educational event where experts from Mary Free Bed will present about living with chronic pain and understanding treatment options. A free boxed lunch will be served while listening to the presentation. Use this button to register for this event. | | The Mobile Secretary of State is visiting Christian Neighbors on Monday, February 2nd. If you have business with the secretary and want to save yourself a trip to Allegan or Kalamazoo, please use this button to make your appointment today! | | |
It’s been just over two years since Christian Neighbors hosted its first class in the Education Resource Center where five women worked in the demo kitchen as area resident Donna Church taught them how to pack festive mason jar soup and cookie mixes.
Since then, hundreds of participants have attended scores of classes to learn about a wide range of topics. We’ve made jams and soups, pastas and lentils, stovetop pizzas and stovetop stuffing, fruit salsa and homemade baking mixes plus dozen of other recipes. Little Chefs have made energy bits and mini pizzas while Young Chefs have made pancakes and gazpacho. Teen Chefs have tackled pizzas and pies. There was a meal planning and budget shopping series plus holiday budgeting and gifts classes, a Young Money Managers class and numerous Talk Abouts that featured conversations about different topics. Exercise classes, potluck meals and special events also were held.
Today, the ERC calendar is filled with opportunities for clients and community members to connect with other people, learn new skills and embrace life.
The new year will bring some special programs focused on helping people develop gardening skills, learning how to preserve foods, incorporating plentiful – and inexpensive –ingredients into healthy and budget-friendly eating, and more.
Check out the events calendar on the Christian Neighbors website to learn about the scheduled programs and register to participate. And drop a message to scarper@christianneighbors.org or (269) 685-4166 ext. 107 if you’re interested in helping deliver a hands-on cooking program.
| | 2025 ANNUAL FUND CAMPAIGN UPDATE | | |
Thank you to all of our wonderful donors who contributed to our 2025 Annual Fund Campaign. With your support, we were able to raise over $78,000 to continue supporting our mission of providing a safe place for people in our community who need food, rent and utility assistance, education, or other resources to help create stability in their lives.
Thank you so much and we look forward to partnering with you in 2026!
| | Click on the staff name above to send an email to them. | | |
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