Kent County Community Action Newsletter - July 2026

Dear Community Members,

As we reflect on celebrating 60 years of National Community Action through our inaugural Spring into Action Luncheon, we are deeply grateful for the support of our sponsors, Consumers Energy and Well Design. Their partnership plays an important role in advancing our mission.

Summer brings increased activity and demand, and we are encouraged by the strong partnerships and dedicated volunteers who make our work possible. At this time, our greatest need is additional volunteers in both our Food Distribution efforts and Senior Activities. We invite you to visit Volunteer | Kent County, MI to explore opportunities that may be a meaningful fit for you or your organization.

We are also excited to support funding opportunities for our community partners that bring significant investments into our neighborhoods. These partnerships strengthen our shared goals and expand our overall impact throughout Kent County.

Lastly, your voice matters, we encourage you to participate in this years Community Needs Assessment as we partner with the Health Department to collect your feedback to help improve our community.

Sincerely,
Kent County Community Action Director, Gustavo Perez

We are thrilled to be investing more than $4 million in housing, neighborhood improvements, and community development projects this year, which will strengthen our communities across Kent County!

The funding includes $2.28 million in HOME-ARP, HOME, and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) awards. Of that, $1.7 million will support tenant-based rental assistance programs through 2028, while $580,000 in CDBG funding will help nonprofit partners - including the Salvation Army, Community Rebuilders, ICCF Community Homes, Legal Aid of West Michigan, Fair Housing Center of West Michigan, Family Promise, Home Repair Services, and the Kent Homeless Coalition (United Way) - provide housing stability services for local residents.

Additional investments will expand affordable housing opportunities throughout the county. In partnership with AAA of Western Michigan (AAAWM), we will launch a $500,000 Senior Housing Renewal Program to help older adults remain safely in their homes through rehabilitation and accessibility improvements.

"Housing is one of the most consistent needs we hear about from older adults, caregivers, and community partners," said Kendrick Heinlein, CEO of AAAWM. "For many older adults, a needed roof repair, accessibility modification, or major home improvement can be the difference between remaining in their home and facing difficult housing decisions. Kent County Community Action has a strong track record of delivering effective housing programs, making them an ideal partner for this work."

Another $600,000 investment, in partnership with ICCF Nonprofit Housing Corporation, will support the construction of four new affordable single-family homes in the City of Wyoming.

CDBG funding is improving community infrastructure, with $814,000 supporting projects in Lowell, Grandville, and Kent City, while a separate $950,000 CDBG investment was given to help transform Wahlfield Park into a more accessible destination for residents (including our four-legged friends with a dog park and beach!).

Together, these investments demonstrate Community Action's ongoing commitment to expanding housing opportunities, strengthening neighborhoods, and improving quality of life for residents across the community.

Our Community Action team hosted a free food distribution on July 9 for income-eligible Kent County residents, giving out food boxes including items like milk and cheese, canned or frozen meat, dry pasta and cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, and other household essentials to help stretch grocery budgets.

A special thank you to our volunteers from Intandem Credit Union , Godwin Heights schools, and the Grand Rapids Housing Commission, as well as Kids' Food Basket, for helping distribute food and providing supplemental fresh produce to families!

Food distributions like these play an important role in helping individuals and families facing financial challenges by easing the burden of rising grocery costs and unexpected expenses. Through partnerships with state and federal food assistance programs, Kent County Community Action continues working to reduce food insecurity and ensure residents have access to healthy, nutritious food.

Learn more at kentcountymi.gov/TEFAP or call 616-632-7950.

Your voice can guide the future of our community. Our Health Department and Community Action teams are partnering on a combined Community Health Needs Assessment to better understand the needs, strengths, and priorities of our community.

If you are 13 or older and live in Kent County, we invite you to complete a brief, anonymous survey that takes about 10-15 minutes and is available in multiple languages. Your feedback will help guide programs, services, and investments that support residents over the next several years. Please consider taking the survey below and sharing it with friends, family, and neighbors so we can hear from as many community members as possible.

Join us for our upcoming Kent County Community Fest events at Brewer Park on Wednesday, July 29 and in Cedar Springs at our North Campus on Thursday, August 13. All are welcome, and admission is free!

These special community festivals will be packed with fun for all ages, including food trucks, free ice cream, and a variety of kids’ activities like face painting, glitter tattoos, and balloon animals. You’ll also have the chance to explore big trucks on display - from fire engines to road equipment - and enjoy an afternoon of excitement and connection.

With back-to-school right around the corner, we’ll be giving away free backpacks for kids in grades K-12, while supplies last.

Plus, you’ll have the chance to connect with your County. More than 15 departments and services will host meet-and-greet tables, giving residents a chance to learn more, ask questions, and access helpful resources - all in one place.

The Kent County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit handlers will present live demonstrations, and the Mounted Unit will be on hand for meet-and-greets with their horses.

We love our community, and we can't wait to celebrate and share with you the vital services your County has to offer.

Turn your passion for cooking into a career that truly makes a difference. As a Culinary Specialist with our Senior Meals Program, you'll create fresh, nutritious, Latin American-inspired meals that nourish both body and community.

This is the perfect opportunity for someone who loves the creativity of cooking but also values a healthy work-life balance - enjoy a consistent daytime schedule with no evenings, weekends, or holidays. From preparing delicious meals and planning menus to connecting with older adults and leading kitchen operations, every day offers the chance to make a meaningful impact while doing what you love.

Our team is seeking compassionate, dependable volunteers to help ensure older adults across Kent County receive the nutritious meals they rely on each day.

Volunteers are needed for Home Delivered Meals Delivery Assistance, helping drivers deliver meals while providing a friendly connection for participants, and Kitchen Volunteer opportunities, supporting meal preparation, packaging, and delivery operations.

Home Delivered Meals volunteers are needed Mondays from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and/or 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. No driver's license is required, but volunteers must be able to lift up to 50 pounds. Kitchen volunteers are needed Monday through Friday with flexible scheduling between 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Training is provided, and all volunteers must complete required background checks. A few hours of your time can help older adults maintain independence, improve food security, and stay connected to their community.