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. | | |
Offering Supports Across the Spectrum
Many of the neighbors we serve are part of the ALICE population: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These are working households who earn more than the federal poverty level but still struggle to afford the basics of housing, childcare, food, transportation, and health care.
As prices continue to climb, many ALICE families work two or three jobs and still must choose which essential bills to pay, knowing that a single unexpected expense could push them into crisis. This is why Christian Neighbors does the work we do: to help keep families fed, housed, and their utilities running, while offering a listening ear and a steady partner on the path to stability.
With Gratitude,
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Jennifer Collins
Executive Director
| | Help Support One of Our Greatest Pantry Needs | | |
One of the most requested items here at the pantry is fresh/frozen meat. Meat serves as one of the primary sources of protein, along with dairy products that we provide for each pantry visit.
With your help, we can purchase meat from a local farmer, and help provide local families and individuals with fresh/frozen meat throughout the year.
Will you consider donating an extra $10, $20, or $50 to help stock our coolers and freezers for the upcoming months?
Please click the link below, which will direct you to a specific campaign page, where you will be able to donate any amount you choose. You can also mail or drop off a check to Christian Neighbors, PO Box 53 or 282 12th Street, Plainwell MI. Please note that it is for our Fresh Meat Initiative.
| | 10th Annual PATH Walk a Growing Success | | |
Our 10th Annual PATH Walk to Stabilization was held this past Sunday, October 5th. This year PATH Walk was held at First Congregational Church in Otsego. We had 74 walkers, with 28 being brand new to the event. Special thanks to Boniface Heating & AC, Plainwell Ice Cream, Winkel Funeral Home, First Congregational Church in Otsego, Martin Lions Club, Culver's, and Otsego City Manager Aaron Mitchell.
Funds raised during this event will go towards supporting the programs and services that Christian Neighbors offers year-round from food, utility/rent assistance, education, and other resources to help create stability in the lives of our clients.
For more questions about PATH Walk or a sponsorship for 2026, please contact Eric Hoffman, Fund Development & Volunteer Manager at 269.685.4166 x 100 or click the button below to send him an email.
| | Group from Safari Circuits came complete with little buttons that said "TEAM SAFARI." Thanks for walking in PATH Walk! | | Not just adults walked, so did several young people, as well as their furry four legged friends. | |
Culver's & Biggby to Help Raise Funds for Christian Neighbors
On Monday, September 29, eight volunteers and staff participated in a SHARE Night at our local Culver's. Volunteers and Staff worked from 5pm-8pm in different areas from cleaning tables/chairs, running orders out to drive-thru as well as in the lobby, and welcoming customers to Culver's.
We raised approximately $483 from our Share Night. The donation total depends on participation. We appreciate everyone who came out to support Christian Neighbors this past Monday night.
Here is another opportunity if you missed Culver's or want to support us more, plan to stop by BIGGBY on Saturday, October 25 for their Round -Up & Donation Event!
Please see the flyer below for more information. Thank you for your support, we appreciate it tremendously!
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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. | | Education Resource Center | | |
The Christian Neighbors Education Resource Center continues to flourish for 2025!
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. Below are ongoing monthly and special events for October.
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It was a great summer at the Education Resource Center! Our demonstration kitchen held a food preservation series. Participants learned many techniques and skills, such as canning, freezer spaghetti sauce, dehydrating foods, and pickling vegetables. Everyone was able to take home all the wares they made during these classes, along with some of the tools needed for these techniques, such as canning kits.
In July, we hosted our first ever Veteran Appreciation Luncheon. Local veterans were invited to attend this free luncheon – which had a yummy BBQ buffet, door prizes, and time for socializing with fellow veterans. This event is our way of giving back to our local heroes who served our country. It was popularly attended and will become a recurring event each summer!
In August, we held our 2nd annual Expungement Clinic in partnership with the Allegan Public Defenders Office. We were able to help 112 individuals clear their nonviolent criminal records for free, so they can have better access to jobs, education, and housing.
We started partnering with Meals on Wheels to offer a monthly pop-up luncheon for area seniors to come together for a delicious lunch and time for socializing to catch up with old friends and meet new people. This luncheon will happen on the first Wednesday of each month. Please register to join us in the future if you wish!
| | Thank you to this group of wonderful volunteers who shared their time at the Expungement Clinic to help positively change the lives of others. | | |
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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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Meals on Wheels Western MI
WHEN: Wed, November 5, 12-1pm
WHERE: Christian Neighbors
282 12th Street, Plainwell MI 49080
You're invited to enjoy a warm meal, including sides, while connecting with others in a welcoming space. Come for the lunch, stay for the community.
Please RSVP by October 30 so we have enough food for everyone. Call Kim at 269.685.4166 x 102 or scan the QR code below.
Suggested donation for individuals over 60 is $3.50 for the meal, Under 60 is a required fee of $5.00 for the meal.
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Our financial assistance program helps a wide variety of households with different economic circumstances. ALICE families are those that are above the poverty level, which disqualifies them for many assistance programs, but they make too little to survive and pay for basic expenses.
The chart shown below is an example of the monthly expenses for households here in Allegan County. To qualify this year for DHHS state of emergency utility assistance, the income cap for a single adult is $1882 and for a household of 4 the income cap is $3900. This amount is far below the amount needed for basic survival expenses. When a crisis hits, Christian Neighbors is, in most cases, the only safety net for financial assistance for those families in Plainwell, Otsego and Martin. St Vincent de Paul partners with us as well to help our local families get back on their feet. When you donate to Christian Neighbors, you are providing a lifeline to many households that are working and doing their best to survive that are unable to get help elsewhere.
| | October is Soup-tober! Christian Neighbors is part of the Allegan County Food Collaborative which is made of up 19 food pantries in Allegan County. Their goal is to collect 12,000 cans of soup county-wide! You can drop cans of soup here at Christian Neighbors, or at McPherson Plastics, Gun Plain Township Hall or any of the Parker Hannifin locations in Otsego. You can donate monetarily online. Thank you for your support! | | Current needs in the pantry are cereal, baking mixes and jelly. Any donation of any type is welcome anytime. Our donations remain strong due to our many community partners and for that we are extremely thankful. | | Mobile Food Distributions | | |
Thank you to members of Friendship Wesleyan Church for volunteering in September
(pictured below), and for members of First Congregational Church (Otsego) who will be volunteering in October 2025.
If you know of a group interested in helping to distribute food in 2026,
please call Amy VanPutten at (269) 685-4166 ext. 103.
| | Hope Lutheran Mobile Food Drive-Thru | | Royal Estates Mobile Drive-Thru | | Click on the staff name above to send an email to them. | | |
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| | If you have any questions or need more information, please contact us! | | | | |
