We support the closest food pantry to Thornapple River Community of Christ and have for over 14 years. The food pantry is located at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Caledonia. Access 6 Food Pantry – 9669 Kraft Avenue, Caledonia 49316 Door D
Hours: 4:00 pm—5:30 pm – Second Tuesday of the month 10:00 am—11:30 pm – The Thursday that follows the second Tuesday of the month
Volunteers are always welcome and greatly appreciated! They start setting up at 2:30 on Tuesdays and 9:00 on Thursdays. If this is a time of day that works for you, please stop by. Many hands make light work. If you can only help for an hour great. Stay longer, wonderful.
Everyone knows how critical diapers are to the well-being of a baby. Babies generally need to have their diapers changed 10-12 times per day and this drops to only 8-10 times per day for toddlers. Even with consistent diaper changes, many children are susceptible to diaper rash. Without consistent diaper changes, babies run the risk of infections, diaper rash and other significant health problems; problems that require medical attention and can put additional financial strain on the families. In, addition babies who are wet or have a diaper rash tend to cry more and are at a larger risk of abuse.
Those diapers can cost $100 to a $120 per month. For those families living paycheck to paycheck, it’s a cost that can feel insurmountable. Some families must decide between essentials such as food and diapers. Consider that many daycare facilities will not take children without adequate diapers for the day, and you can see how providing free diapers can play a critical role in keeping working families afloat financially.
The Diaper Depot was formed in 2013 when a group of individuals in a Bible Study group decided to find an unmet need for families with infants. Diapers were unanimous among agencies that serve families. Childcare facilities require a minimum number of diapers per infant per week, if the families don’t have those diapers, babies can’t attend, and parents can’t work to pay for the diapers.
The Family Support Center of Barry County’s Diaper Depot program distributes free diapers to a network of seven local partners who then distribute the diapers throughout the County to families in need. Families receive these free donations with approximately 7,000 individual diapers distributed annually.
Community of Christ is affiliated with Outreach International. It is a wonderful organization with a truly special goal of abolishing poverty and ending suffering in the world. Outreach International was officially founded in 1979.
We love the way that Outreach International works with communities! Helping them to help themselves. Here is an excerpt from their website:
We facilitate community-led development, worldwide. For over 40 years, Outreach International’s patient, principled commitment to cultivating sustainable, community-led development has helped people around the world address the poverty-related issues they face and transform their lives. In 10 countries worldwide, Outreach provides communities with the organizational framework to assess their own needs, then work together to prioritize, plan and achieve their shared goals. We equip individuals with the mindsets and materials to harness their own unique abilities as part of a community-led team, and empower them to expand opportunities for generations to come.
Thanks to an anonymous donor covering all of Outreach’s overhead expenses, 100% of every dollar donated goes directly and completely to their work with communities worldwide!
We choose to partner with Outreach International and would love for you to visit their website and see for yourself!
