Life Assistance

• Be an Elf: Letters from parents and children to Santa requesting help need to be hand-written or typed and mailed (not emailed) between Nov 1 and Dec 12. More info at https://beanelf.org/seeking-gifts/
• Marine Corps Toys for Tots provides toys for children 12 and under. Go to their website and click on request or need a toy. Participating nonprofits providing toys will be available Nov 1. https://grand-rapids-mi.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/request-toys.aspx.
• Salvation Army Angel Tree provides moderate to low-income families with gift BUT you can’t be receiving any other type of assistance. Apply now through November, the earlier the better. https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/walmart-angel-tree/
• Santa’s Little Helpers: Sign up NOW! You must have a Reddit account. The How-to is found here. https://www.santaslittlehelpers.net/registrations/
• Santa Claus Girls as well as c/o Grand Rapids Press
  The address is 3102 Walker Ridge NW
  Walker, MI 49544
  Telephone number is (616) 957-7335
  Packages are given to kids from birth to 12 years old. There may be both used and new Christmas toys, books, clothing, games, and much more.
• USPS Operation Santa is open to anyone, regardless of income. Write a letter to Santa Clause at 123 Elf Road, Northpole 88888. More info at https://www.uspsoperationsanta.com/

CHRISTMAS HELP

• Baxter Community Center
  Free clothing bank is at 935 Baxter Street SE
  Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506
  (616) 456-8593
  Mostly clothes, but low income or working poor families can get free items at Christmas too. Shoes, small stocking stuffers, winter jacks and other year-round or holiday help.
• Catholic Charities West Michigan — God’s Kitchen
  Location is 303 South Division Avenue
  Grand Rapids, MI 49503
  Telephone number is (616) 454-4110
  The church has a Christmas Day meal service.
• Coopersville Cares
  Main address is 180 North 68th Avenue
  Coopersville, MI 49404
  (616) 997-8602
  The charity has Thanksgiving baskets, meals, gift cards and provides Christmas gifts. They only cover the greater Coopersville School District.
• Holland Rescue Mission – Men’s Ministries Center
  Main address is 166 South River Avenue
  Holland, Michigan 49423
  Call (616) 396-2200
  This is a low-cost Christmas store. The goods (toys, furniture, etc.) are sold at discounted prices to the public.
• Love Inc – Hudsonville
  Main address is 3300 Van Buren Street
  Hudsonville, Michigan 49426
  For information, dial (616) 662-3300
  They also run a low-cost holiday/Christmas store.
• North Kent Community Services
  Main address is 10075 Northland Drive NE
  Rockford, MI 49341
  Dial (616) 866-3478
  Social services, free food or groceries, small gifts and other goods may be offered at Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas.
• Word Of Faith Christian Center
  Food pantry address is 3030 Eastern Avenue SE
  Grand Rapids, MI 49508
  (616) 827-0060
  They have a free food pantry. There may be free groceries for holiday meals, including Easter, Thanksgiving, and/or Christmas as well as year-round help.
• United Church Outreach Ministry
  Address is 1311 Chicago Drive SW
  Wyoming, MI 49509
  (616) 241-4006
  There are Christmas toys, clothes, and other items for low-income Kent County families. the main assistance program is a free clothing closet as well as low-cost thrift store.
• Salvation Army
  There are locations in both counties. There is a food or grocery card for the family, including seniors or single households as well. This is also combined with financial aid, a low-cost thrift store, toys or free Christmas gifts from Angel tree, and more. Also, free Thanksgiving turkey dinners may be offered to seniors, the working poor, and needy.
• United Way
  This is mostly a referral service. It covers the entire region, including Kent County and Ottawa. The non-profit can refer the needy to churches, charities, as well as social services for Thanksgiving meals, Christmas help, financial aid and more.

• Find Kent County Salvation Army programs, including in Grand Rapids.
• Ottawa County, including Holland.

Our goal at Hope for Single Moms is to help stretch your hard-earned money and connect you with resources that help you do that. Here’s our list to help you make that happen.

• Google
  • “free school supplies near me”
  • “churches near me” and
  • “community centers near me.”
• Check with your child’s school district, school—principal, teacher, guidance counselor
• Check with your local police and firefighters. They often have back to school drives.
• Local food banks may or may not have school supplies. But you can check with them to see if they know any organization in the area that does.

Locally, contact www.FeedWM.org                                                                                                                                                                                                 864 West River Center Drive NE
Comstock Park, MI 49321
616.784.3250

• United Way 2-1-1: (800) 887-1107. Call for info about documents need for a referral.
• Kent County Community Action, 121 Franklin St SE, Ste 110, Grand Rapids, MI 49507-1132
• Ottawa County Community Action Agency, 12251 James Street, Suite 300, Holland, MI 49424-9661
• Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids.: Back to School event Aug 18 at 726 Madison. More supplies added at club meetings .Apply to become a member. Tons of fun activities. https://bgcgrandrapids.org/families/

• ONLINE RESOURCES:
  • https://buynothingproject.org/
  • https://freecycle.org/signup
  • https://www.dollartree.com/
  • https://www.walmart.com/lists/back-to-school
  • Facebook Marketplace
• INEXPENSIVE PLACES TO SHOP
• • GOODWILL. Find the location nearest you. https://www.goodwill.org/locator/
  • DOLLAR TREE. Online or visit the store.
  • WALMART. Online, pick up or delivery

• YARD SALES: Search
  • CRAIGSLIST.ORG Search Yard Sales
  • GARAGE SALE FINDER. https://garagesalefinder.com/

• INEXPENSIVE CLOTHES
  • ONCE UPON A CHILD. https://www.onceuponachild.com/locations/
  • PLATO’S CLOSET. https://www.platoscloset.com/
  • STYLE ENCORE. https://www.style-encore.com/

Many teachers use their own money to help their students out. We have a great resource for teachers to get free school supplies for their students. Let your child’s teacher know. https://www.storehousemi.org/products/just-for-teachers

There are also bulk supplies available for free for schools that qualify. If you’re a school principal or teacher, find out if your school qualifies. https://www.storehousemi.org/produts/school-building-bulk

There are many social services and nonprofit resources to help you get some of the necessities for life. Hope for Single Moms does not work in this area because many others do. This is a basic list of links to check out.  Use Google for other resources near you. Many areas have food pantries specifically for residents in their area.

Financial Resources:

Kent County DHS 121 Franklin, SE, Grand Rapids, MI  49507, 616-248-1000

Salvation Army 1800 SAL ARMY

TANF

United Way 2-1-1  Call 211 from your cell phone

Food & Personal Necessities:

YWCA Domestic Violence Services 616-459-4652,
24-hour crisis line 616-454-9922

Baxter Community Center Serving the Baxter neighborhood of Grand Rapids

Catholic Charities Baby and Toddler Pantry 616.454.4110

Essentials
Store for families in need of basic home essentials
$20/year membership for families. with any type of public assistance.

Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program

Feed America West Michigan

Hispanic Center of West Michigan

Lean on Me Ministry
Call to register as a client (616) 866-3999
Personal care items, clothing, baby, furniture, appliances

Love Inc (In the Name of Christ) Also furniture. Rides to appointments. Serving Hudsonville, Jenison and Grandville

Kent County food access sites

Michigan Department of Health and Human Resources

Salvation Army Food Pantry 1.800.SAL.ARMY
Monday-Friday: 9 am – 4 pm

Steepletown NW Grand Rapids

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

The Emergency Food Assistance Program

United Way 2-1-1

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Pregnant or nursing, or your children are under the age of 5

Other

Amazon Prime for 50% off Amazon Prime

SPAOA (Single Parent Alliance of America) Membership needed. Information resources, programs and savings for single parents. Information about financial planning, advice, articles, information, and other services.

Next to rent, childcare is a major expense. In fact, Michigan has one of the highest childcare costs in the country. Listed are links to childcare resources.

Just because you qualify for childcare assistance doesn’t mean it’s easy to get. Many centers that accept DHS assistance have a waiting list of 12-18 months. So, get on the list NOW, while you get everything ready to go back to school.

Some schools have daycare scholarships for single moms in their program. Oftentimes, you can find this information in student services. You may have to ask a financial aid advisor.

Hope for Single Moms encourages you to be creative when looking for childcare options.

Many schools have evening or online classes. If you work during the day, are you disciplined enough to take class at night or on the weekends? Know yourself. If you need to be in a classroom, then that’s the way for you.

Can you take turns doing childcare with another single mom? Do you have family who can help in the evening? Does your church have a daycare, or do you know someone who does in-home childcare?

Childcare options and assistance is one of the costs Hope for Single Moms helps clients with. Find more information on our program qualifications. 

Child Care Aware

Child Care Access Means Parents In School (CCAMPIS)

Camp Fire West Michigan 4C, 233 East Fulton; phone: 1‑800‑448‑6995.

Michigan Depart of Education

​U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children and Families

YMCA​

Boys and Girls Club

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Kent County Head Start (Preschool)
This is a link to the step by step process to determine if your child is eligible to attend a FREE preschool program in Kent County–Great Start Readiness Program or Head Start.

After School Resource:  Expect a Miracle

Savvy Ladies: Free Financial Advice

https://www.savvyladies.org/free-financial-helpline/

There never seems to be enough money, does there? You have to make cuts somewhere. But you need to keep yourself healthy. And you need to keep your child healthy. If you are pregnant, a few of these clinics provide free pregnancy care. You can also receive free ultrasounds and referral to ob-gyn doctors at a pregnancy care center.

Listed below are links to healthcare assistance. Please take advantage of these resources.

Medical & Dental Clinics

Baxter Community Center

Catherine Health Center Provides medical, dental, behavioral (including counseling, depression and anxiety support), health insurance navigation, medication assistance and health education and coaching. Offers several translations.

Cherry Health link is for Grand Rapids locations. Also offers vision and pediatric care.

Christian Healthcare Center

Clinica Santa Maria:

Exalta Health

Mental Health/ Counseling

WMU counseling

Prescriptions

Need help paying the bills?

Exalta Health

Vision

AOA Foundation

Cherry Health

Exalta Health

Zennioptical

Insurance

Christian Care Center

Christian Healthcare Ministry

Michigan Department of Health and Human Resources:

Samaritan Ministries

Hope for Single Moms does NOT have housing or help you find housing. We do need you to find a stable living situation before applying to be a client in our education program. That is so you can better focus on school.

If you are homeless, contact the Salvation Army.

1120 Monroe, NW, GR, 49503

616.454.5480 or email: victoria.arnold@usc.salvationarmy.org

or call 2-1-1

Listed are some helpful links to help you find housing or pay for rent and utilities.

Arbor Circle 616-451-3001 You must be 16-20 years old

Catholic Charities of West Michigan

Community Rebuilders 1120 Monroe Ave. NW Suite 220, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, 616 458-5102

Covenant Place You must be 18-24 years old

Dwelling Place 616-454-0928

Fair Housing Center of West Michigan

Habitat for Humanity Kent County 616-588-5239

Housing Assessment Program (HAP):
M-Th 8:30-5, F 9:30-4
Call 2-1-1 or 1.800.887.1107

Home Resources Inc.

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Section 8 vouchers

Low income (HUD) housing in Grand Rapids

Inter City Christian Federation (ICCF)

Kent County Housing Commission, 1211 Franklin St., SE, Suite 110, GR 49507

616.632.7950

Michigan State Housing Development Authority

Michigan Covid Emergency Relief Assistance

Shelter database

Westown Jubilee Housing low-income housing on Grand Rapid’s west side

Weatherization Assistance Program repairs to help minimize energy costs

Rent & Utilities

Campaign for Home Energy Assistance:

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services:

Michigan Energy Assistance Program

Need help paying the bills?:

Salvation Army
Energy Assistance Services (EAS)
1.800.SAL.ARMY

M-F 8:30-4:30
616.459.5468

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

There are many reasons why you may need the services of a lawyer or legal advice. But lawyers are expensive. The links below are legal services. Some serve anyone. Others may restrict their advice to those at a certain poverty level. Even if you’re not sure, call them. They may be able to direct you to an agency or organization that can better help you.

Questions about:

• Housing, landlords, evictions and eviction notices
• Friend of the court, child support, custody issues
• RIghts of pregnant and parenting students

Community Legal Services (in GR, MI)
616.929.5716

Legal Aid of West Michigan
616-774-0672
89 Ionia Ave, NW – Suite 400
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Legal Assistance Center
​(616) 632-6000
Kent County Courthouse 5th Floor
180 Ottawa Avenue, NW – Suite 5100

Michigan Legal Help (legal help without a lawyer)​

Upsolve Chapter 7 bankruptcy help

Children don’t come with an instruction manual. And just when you think you have it figured out, your next child is totally different. There are some things that people have found to be helpful. Check out these resources.

Alpha Women’s Center Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids Kids parenting support groups

Parenting skills
a self-paced learning environment to enhance life skills and teaches financial security, positive parenting habits, career prep, and self-care.

Parenting and life skills classes online from The Life of a Single Mom’s Single Mom University

Spectrum Health

Very Well Family A lot of great information understanding child development, so  you can better parent.

CELL PHONE:

Q Link Unlimited talk, data and text

Safelink.com  1-800-723-3546

Verizon Lifeline: Verizon Lifeline

COMPUTERS

Capital Area Corporate Recycling Council 225-379-3577

Computer Technology Assistance Corp

Computers with Causes 888-228-7320

PCS for People

INTERNET

Access from AT&T

CARS

1-800 charity cars Ask for a free used car

Working cars for working families A program run by the National Consumer Law Center. Affordable rates to low-income families to finance or purchase a vehicle. 

Ride the Rapid