Category: Uncategorized

Alliance Cares: Update and Recap

We’ve had a wonderful time in the past year with our different charities and we wanted to share a little bit of what we’ve done to help in the community and with our partners, Kid’s Food Basket and Mel Trotter Ministries.

Turkey Dinners

We are blessed to be able to hand out turkey dinners for the 7^th year in a row! Our agency principal’s family, along with the staff and friends collect the names of 200 families from the West side of Grand Rapids. On Christmas Eve, they hand deliver an entire Christmas meal consisting of a Turkey, corn, stuffing, green beans and rolls, so the families can enjoy a meal together. We are eager and looking forward to this years’ festivities, and many more to come. 

 

Feast for Kids

Our agency manager, Phalesha Kyes was able to pair up with Kids Food Basket on a much deeper level this year. Throughout the years of delivering checks for our “Quotes for a Cause Campaign”, a very meaningful relationship has been built between our agency and Kids Food Basket. Phalesha was asked to be their Key Note speaker at their largest fundraiser of the year; Feast for Kids. For more information on this, you can read our blog from June 8th, on the Make More Happen Award, here.  

http://www.kidsfoodbasket.org/

 

Quotes for a cause- Check delivery

Our Quotes for a Cause campaign has been running for 2 years now! We were able to deliver a check to Mel Trotter, one of our partners, in June of 2016. We back their mission whole heartedly and strive to meet the same end goal. We will continue our effort’s to be great partners, friends, and allies with Mel Trotter-join the movement today by learning more about their mission.

http://www.meltrotter.org/home

 

Tell us about your favorite charity or organization and what you’ve done to help in your community! 

Why Insurance is Important

The insurance industry is one of the fastest growing industries in today’s world. It’s required in almost every state and it absolutely essential for safe and affordable living. Now I know that “affordable living” isn’t what first comes to mind when you think of insurance, so let me explain. Insurance is a cost effective way of paying for coverage so that it’s there for you in the case that an unfortunate event happens.

Since Insurance Nerd Day was just last Tuesday, we decided to answer some of the most commonly asked questions for you in an attempt to help spread the love for insurance! Feel free to comment with any questions you may have!

 

Frequently asked questions:

Q: Why does my premium increase every time I use my insurance?

A: Every time you file a claim that will be viewed as you being a higher risk. Someone who’s filed a claim in the past is more likely to file a claim in the future. This basic truth is what determines the cost of each individual insurance premium. It’s all based on who is a high risk and how likely they are to file a claim.

 

 

Q: Why do young drivers cost more?

A: Young drivers have less experience and are therefore considered a higher risk. Every high-risk driver will cost more than the other low-risk drivers. This is also why people with more accidents and tickets are more expensive – they are viewed as a higher risk.

 

 

Q: What’s the difference between a captive agency and an independent agency?

A: A captive agency cannot provide competitive prices because they only sell insurance for that specific company. They also cannot provide you with multiple options in product and coverage options. An independent agency can sell insurance through as many carriers as they have a contract with. This requires that these carriers keep their prices as competitive as possible. An independent agency will also have more options for you, if you decide that you don’t like your carrier, you can call and ask to be switched to the next. Not every carrier will have a good rate for you but usually, there are a couple options that are close in price range.

 

 

Q: Why should I get an estimate prior to filing a claim?

A: This depends on what your deductible is. If you aren’t sure how much the damage will cost to repair and you think it might be around the same amount as (or less than) your deductible, then it will probably be more cost-effective to pay for the repairs out of pocket. A claim on your policy will make you classify as a higher risk and will be surcharged for on your policy. If the damages will cost significantly more than your deductible then you wouldn’t require an estimate prior to filing a claim, it does make the process faster though.

 

 

Q: Why is my medical coverage (PIP) costing SO much money?

A: Here in Michigan, we have UNLIMITED medical on our auto insurance. This is the true meaning of unlimited, it covers however much you need for the rest of your life, not until your policy term expires. Benefits of PIP typically cover medical expenses, funeral expenses, work loss, replacement services, and survivor’s loss (consisting of income loss and replacement services).

PIP can be written as Primary or Coordinated.

a. Coordination of Benefits

• Coordination of medical expenses (excluding Medicare benefits provided by the Federal

Government) applies to you or any family member.

• Coordination of work loss applies to you or any family member.

b. Primary Benefits: The insuring company will pay for all expenses incurred from an auto

accident, less the deductible that is shown on the declarations page.

c. Deductible: Options of $0, $300 or $500 can be chosen. The deductible will be applied if…

• You have chosen Primary or

• A Coordinated medical carrier denies the claim and does not “pay the first dollar”

Most people who have health insurance are not covered for auto accidents because their health carriers see how expensive it is and exclude it. If you have health insurance, always ask if you’re covered in event of an auto accident. 

PIP can be paid out if you are injured in, on, or around a vehicle.

Medical expenses include usual and customary charges incurred for reasonable and necessary services rendered for an insured’s care, recovery, and/or rehabilitation. 

 

I hope these have helped answer some of the questions you may have. If you have any other questions, please feel free to comment! Someone else may have the exact same question and we can work on efficiency and answer them for multiple people at the same time! Let us know if you have any questions!

Let the camping begin! We’re over half way through the summer and it’s starting to get busier in the northern areas. The weather is light and warm and the days are long! It’s the perfect time for a weekend getaway. Labor Day weekend is quickly approaching as well and you’ll want to get in one last family vacation before the upcoming school year. It’s important to remember to bring sunscreen, bug spray, sunglasses, a hat, and water to all of these activities! Forgetting any of these items can result in a less than relaxing vacation and nobody would want that. Here, we’ve put together a small list of family friendly activities for your late summer trip, and of potential places to visit. If you have any additional ideas on places/activities for us then just comment those below! We appreciate your feedback and look forward to hearing from you!

 

Activities:

Hammocks: “Mocking” as the young kids are calling it. Take your hammocks to the great outdoors and relax! Bring a book, a pillow, and blanket, or some music and go rest in the fresh air. These are calming and stress relieving. Highly recommend.

Hiking: The Ledges in Grand Ledge are quite fascinating and family friendly! The farther North you get, the more options you have for hiking. There’s an abundance of trails leading to or passing by waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula that I would recommend as well. Pictured Rocks is another wonderful place for hiking. Bring your camera!

Great Lakes: Any of these lovely beaches would make for a relaxing and exciting family vacation! We’re literally surrounded by these lakes so just head East or West and you’ll hit one eventually! Be sure to make sure the flag is green, and the waters are safe for swimming. For further swimming safety, see my most recent blog.

Fishing: A quiet activity for those who are looking for serenity. Go big in the Great Lakes or head to a small lake near you. There’s water everywhere so we have plenty of fishing options. Go spend some peaceful quality time with your loved ones near the water. Biggest fish contests always add thrill to this adventure!

Sand Dunes: Silver Lake is probably the most popular. These are fun and soft but keep in mind that they get blistering hot! Sand socks and water will be a necessity. Log Slide, in the Upper Peninsula, is another great sand dune spot to visit, however, this one is a little more advanced.

Run a Race: Running season is upon us! 5k’s, 10k’s, 25k’s, half marathons, marathons, and all other races are starting to become more frequent! You can find a race scheduled for almost every weekend! Some races that are more for fun and less serious include mud runs, color runs, and zombie runs (for those who are fearless).

Horse Back Riding: Not everyone gets to do this every day! Perfect for a hot sunny day with the family. Places for this can be found all over MI. You’ll want helmets for safety purposes and a cowboy hat for fun!

Golf: A relaxed sport to keep competition alive while keeping your heart rate at a good pace. This can be done anywhere and is a great way to stay active and in the outdoors. These places are always beautiful and we can’t help but take our time on the courses.

 

Places:

Holland State Park (Lighthouse attraction and Tunnel Park – all on Lake Michigan)

Long Lake Campground and County Park (Multiple Locations)

Chippewa Landing

Camp Living Waters (Connects to ORV and ATV trails)

Duke Creek Campground

Loons Point Campground

Cedar River North State Forest Campground

Grand Island National Recreation Area (UP)

Lake Leelanau RV Park (Traverse City)

Duck Lake State Park (on Lake Michigan)

Van Riper State Park

Double JJ Ranch (Only around an hour North of GR and has an indoor water park!)

 

Be sure to get your RV, travel trailers, campers, ATV’s, motorcycles, and all other vehicles insured before you head out! Making sure that you’re covered in event of a loss is important to keep you relaxed during your trip. Let us take that stress off your shoulders while you go and enjoy the warm air! If you would like a quote you can call us at 616-897-1515. Check out the rest of our website to see what we can insure and the many different ways that you can request a quote.

Tell us your favorite summer activity or place! 

 

 

Michigan is covered in water! We have lakes, rivers, and ponds all over the place! Trivia websites will say that our state has the highest water to land ratio at 58% land and 42% water. We’ve even been blessed with being surrounded by the Great Lakes and having a massive fresh water source all around us. As amazing as this is, it’s can also be dangerous. Some of us have grown up very comfortable with the water and forget about how dangerous it can be or what to watch out for when spending a day at the beach. Water can be so fun and exciting but we need to be cautious when near it, and not get carried away with our excitement. Here are some basic guidelines and reminders before getting your suit on and heading for the deep end:

1.       Adults and/or Lifeguards are necessary! You may think that you can handle 4 kids for their first trip to the beach but it’s better to be extra cautious. Having an extra set of eyes and hands to help in case of an emergency can only be beneficial. Someone with a first aid background is preferable. A busy beach can cause distractions to you and anyone else who might be with you. It only takes a second of a child being unwatched for an accident to occur. Your own children may not be the issue either and you might need another adult to assist you with the situation.

 

2.       Pick the right life jacket and monitor the person wearing it. A life jacket that doesn’t fit will only cause stress and panic. If it’s too small then it won’t have the ability to keep the person’s head afloat, and if it’s too large then they’ll slip right out of it! A lifejacket that is even slightly too large will make it difficult to swim. Choose the correct size and you’ll be safe! Now even when wearing a life jacket you still must monitor them. Small children frequently get stuck face down in the water and are not strong enough to stand themselves back up or even lift their face out of the water.

 

 

3.       No running or flipping near water. These are both fun activities however they are dangerous. We want to be sure that we have good traction and know what we’re doing. Running on the wet tile is one of the easiest ways to get a concussion. Flipping and/or diving both need to be from experienced people who have surveyed their surroundings and the depth of the water.

 

4.       Alcohol causes problems. We all know that alcohol can impair judgment and can easily be overly consumed. We need to be sure though, that while we’re at the beach we’re drinking plenty of water and having a snack as well. Not only will it keep our minds more clear but it will keep our bodies healthier and more able to endure a day in the hot sun.

 

 

5.       Stay out of direct sunlight to avoid heat stroke! You may think you’re just feeling tired and warm but it could be something worse! A few symptoms of heat stroke is a headache, dizziness, lack of sweat, hot and dry skin, muscle weakness or cramps, nausea, and rapid shallow breathing. If you, or anyone else, show these symptoms then you will want to get to a shaded area and cover them with cool water. Fanning them will help as well. Ice packs or wet towels can be placed in the armpits and on the neck to help with the cooling process.

 

6.       Be sure to drink water – swimming is exercise! While you’re in the water it might seem unnecessary to get out and go grab a drink of H2O but it’s essential to a fun day in the sun. Swimming is one of the best calorie burning exercises and is done while in the elements. If alcohol is an additional factor then it’s even more important to remember to drink water and stay hydrated. This will help prevent heat stroke and keep you energized during the day!

 

 

7.       Sunburn under water – Most people assume that the areas of their body that is underwater, isn’t subject to the sun BUT the rays actually can reach down farther into the water. You will get a sunburn while swimming even when submerged.

 

8.       Know your area and surroundings (boats, other people, and dangerous animals) – It’s important to be aware of your surroundings while at the beach. You’ll want to know if there’s rocks or any drop-offs in the swimming area if boats are near, and what the weather is going to be like. These are all things that can sneak up on us if we don’t pay close attention. You’ll also want to be conscious of the people swimming around you, one of the most common causes of drowning is when someone is panicking in the water and grabs onto the person closest to them. A flotation device is ALWAYS a better option in this situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some fun places to check out if you’re looking for a water hot-spot:

–          The Grand River

–          Millennium Park

–          Long Lake Park

–          Myers Lake Park

–          Wabasis Lake Park

–          Rogue River (Rockford)

–          Reeds Lake

–          Riverside Park (within city of Grand Rapids)

–          Thornapple River

–          Flat River (Lowell)

–          Bostwick Lake

 

Share with us! What’s your favorite beach and why? 

We’re headed into one of the most celebrated holidays in America, Independence Day! While this is an excellent weekend for fun and family time, we tend to put safety towards the bottom of our priority list. We’ll have more fun when there are fewer injuries!

 We’ll all be grilling and spend every second outside in the fresh, warm air, with our families. Grilling is a wonderful thing, not only is it delicious, but it’s cooking in the great outdoors!

Just a couple quick grilling tips for the weekend:

1. Never leave a grill unattended once it’s lit and/or hot. Even though parents will be watching their children, it only takes a hot second for them to wander over and let their curious hands get the best of them. This could also cause a fire if it’s too close to a home, tree, or porch. So be cautious of where we keep our burning coals!

2. Never throw water on a grease fire. Water can make the fire bigger and hotter by feeding it. Use baking soda instead, to dry it up and dehydrate the flames.

This weekend is also a miracle because the holiday happens to fall on a Tuesday, giving most people a 4 day weekend. While everyone over the age of 21 is a responsible drinker, we want to be sure that we are still getting enough water to stay fully hydrated. Being outside for long periods of time, in the heat and sun, is enough to dry up a person on its own. When alcohol factors in, the possibilities for dehydration can become endless. You’ll want to be sure to drink plenty of H2O and watch for signs of a headache or dizziness. If you start to experience those, head for a glass of water and a shady place to rest up.

Alcohol can also impair judgment around bodies of water. While Michigan is fortunate for having so many lakes, we may get too comfortable around them. We need to be sure to be alert and watch the children especially. Even if a child is a wonderful swimmer, the one next to them might not be. Keep an eye out and make sure we’re appropriately prepped for a day at the beach. Lifejackets, umbrellas, and bright swimsuits will only do good things!

Fireworks are the highlight of this time of year! When using fireworks we’ll want to be sure to have good judgment and use caution. Here are some easy rules to follow and ensure a wonderful evening with family:

1.       Read and follow the directions on the fireworks carefully.

2.       Keep a large display site of at least 100 ft. by 100 ft. and be sure that there are no trees, buildings, or hydro lines in this area.

3.       Never light the fireworks while holding them!

4.       Be sure that it isn’t windy or rough weather of any kind.

5.       Always have water nearby in case of emergency.

6.       A good platform for lighting fireworks is a bucket filled with sand (unless the directions say otherwise). Fireworks should be buried half their length in the sand and angled 10           degrees away from the audience. Make sure no one is upwind from the display!

7.       Children should be monitored at all times during the firework show. They tend to be attracted to exciting things (such as fireworks) so keep an eye on them!

8.       When finished, soak the fireworks in water before throwing in the trash can. Failure to do so could start a fire and we don’t want that! Even if they look fine, soak them just to be     safe. 

9.       Wear eye protection when lighting the fireworks. Be sure NOT to wear loose fitting clothing. Scarves and other things that may dangle when lighting fireworks, are something     you’re going to want to remove those items prior to lighting anything (this includes long hair being pulled back, ladies! We do NOT want our hair on fire).

 

 

Lastly, if you’re looking for family fun and festivities this weekend, here’s a short list of places in the Grand Rapids area that include fireworks!

On July 1^st the Amway Family Fireworks kicks off at 5 pm at Ah-Nab-Awen Park in Grand Rapids. This includes family activities, food trucks, vendors, and live bands. Fireworks will start at 10:30.

On July 3^rd, Portland High School will have fireworks at dusk with a parade to follow the next morning and 10 am.

On July 4^th, Crestwood Middle School (2674 44^th St. in Kentwood), will host day-long festivities, 5K, parade, carnival rides, games, inflatables, and more. Fireworks are at dusk.

On July 4^th. Ada Christian School (6206 Ada Drive) with have a daytime book sale and parade prior to the evening display of fireworks. Fireworks start at dusk.

On July 4^th at 3535 Wilson Ave Southwest, there’s a 3-day celebration ending with fireworks outside the Grandville middle school. Fireworks will start at dusk.

On July 4^th, Kollen Park & Heinz Waterfront Walkway (240 Kollen Park Drive, Holland) there will be music, food and games beginning at 2 pm. Fireworks will start at 10 pm.

 

One of our partners is the Mel Trotter Ministries, and we are so excited to talk about how they’ve changed the community of Grand Rapids! Mel Trotter is dedicated to demonstrating the compassion of Jesus Christ to the hungry, homeless and hurting of the greater Grand Rapids area. They’re constantly expanding as the need is never ending. Right now, Mel Trotter is focusing on two areas: rescue and restoration. They use these to help the homeless and hurting in the Grand Rapids area and bring safety to them. This encourages a positive, caring and helpful atmosphere for all of us. Mel Trotter Ministries focuses on bringing hope to the community and those in need.

Rescue Programs and Services

They have a day center for the homeless, giving them a comforting place to go and be welcomed by friendly faces. Here, they have access to resources they need to find homes and jobs. Not only does this provide shelter but also works to give them hope of a renewed life.

They offer a public inebriate shelter and detox open for men and women who are profoundly intoxicated which provides a safe place for them to sleep and get sober while being closely observed by licensed medical personnel. From here they can make the decision to start a nonmedical detox regimen and/or other recovery programs.

Pathway Home is an emergency shelter and rehousing program through Mel Trotter Ministries in collaboration with Family Promise. This gives the families a place to stay with hearty meals, child development, ministry support and case management while they look to find a home. The goal of Pathway Home is to help the families into stable housing as quickly as possible.

Mel Trotter Ministries offers Evening Meals every night from 5:15-6pm, women, and children are in the North Dining Room and Men are in the South Dining Room. Everyone is invited to these community meals.

The emergency shelters at Mel Trotter Ministries are the only shelters to accept anyone who is experiencing homelessness. There’s a Women’s Shelter, a Men’s Shelter, and a Youth Emergency Shelter (Y.E.S). The guests at the emergency shelters receive meals, beds, clothing & shoes, toiletries, showers, referrals & resources, access to the Day Center, options to enter a Restoration Program and the love of Jesus Christ.

 

Women’s Shelter:    616-588-8740

Men’s Shelter:    616-588-8756

Y.E.S:     616-588-8770

 

Restoration Programs and Services

Mel Trotter Ministries focuses on restoration to help people gradually get back into society. These include job readiness and housing readiness. Step-Up recovery is a program designed for adults whose primary barrier is substance abuse. It offers intensive case management and spiritual support for long-term recovery. Pilgrimage is a Mel Trotter program designed for those experiencing chronic homelessness; this program helps adults who have physical and/or mental illness. They offer a variety of clinics open to Mel Trotter guests by appointment. Mel Trotter Ministries also provides After Care for anyone who has successfully completed a program and is living in stable housing.

Mel Trotter Ministries has housed over 500 men, women and children and has helped 135 people secure employment. Mel Trotter does a lot to keep our community safe and positive with the love of Jesus Christ. Not only do they lead others to Christ, but they show them the love of Him through others and how there is help and people who care. Mel Trotter wants you to know that you are never alone.

Alliance partners with Mel Trotter Ministries through Quotes for a Cause where you can sign up to receive an insurance quote and as long as we hear from you, we will donate $10/quote to Mel Trotter Ministries. We made our semiannual to give them a check for our Quotes for a Cause campaign and they were unbelievably grateful!

If you’d like to donate or volunteer you can sign up here

http://www.meltrotter.org/home

Or go to our website and sign up for a free quote, and we’ll donate $10 on your behalf!

http://www.allins.com/quotes-for-a-cause/

What do you do to help in your community?

As you all know, we were awarded the 2017 Make More Happen Award! This award included $5,000 to donate to Kids’ Food Basket, which is committed to helping communities feed their children so that they can learn and live well. Along with that, a story about our award was posted on Safeco’s website and if we could get 50+ likes, comments, and/or shares on our story, then we would earn an additional $5,000 for Kids’ Food Basket!

With all of YOUR help, we did accomplish the 50+ shares on our story and earned the additional $5,000! Because of this, we were able to present Kids’ Food Basket with a $10,000 check last Thursday! These sack suppers generally go about $1 per supper, so we were fortunate enough to be able to provide a meal for 10,000 children in the Grand Rapids area. This has been one of the most exciting opportunities that our agency has been given. We are so blessed to be able to help feed the hungry children.

Our agency owner adopted some of his daughters from a low-income area of Grand Rapids where they had been relying on Kids’ Food Basket to provide them with a couple meals. Our personal lines Manager, Phalesha Kyes, was volunteering at Kids’ Food     Basket when she realized that it was the very same organization who used to help provide for herself and her sisters. This realization was an inspiration and started a lifelong volunteer opportunity for our agency.

We now send a couple agents to help pack the suppers once a month and we really enjoy it. Going to the locations and meeting the people really displays the size of the heart that they have for giving. Phalesha was also the Keynote speaker at the “Feast for Kids” event this past May and gave a heartfelt speech just sharing her story.

This was very impactful to see the effect that these sack suppers have had on someone who has now grown into a very successful adult. She was able to communicate the importance of these sack suppers and the hope that they spread.

You can listen/watch this speech on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/allianceins.agency/

Kids’ Food Basket is a wonderful opportunity for you to give back to your community. It’s as simple as going on Tuesday nights for an hour and making sandwiches for the suppers, or a Thursday afternoon to decorate the brown paper bags. These small things add up and make a huge difference.

 

We want to say a big Thank You to everyone who helped and encouraged us along the way! We doubled our earnings with your help! Together, we were able to provide meals for 10,000 children in need. We’re so thankful for each and every one of you who shared, liked or commented on our story. This award has changed many lives and we’re so grateful for it.

A big thank you to Safeco Insurance, as well! Without Safeco, this award wouldn’t exist. We cannot thank them enough for being such a generous company and allowing us the opportunity to win this money for the non-profit that we partner with and the help to get us the extra donation.

 If you’d like to volunteer, you can do so by following this link:  http://www.kidsfoodbasket.org/volunteer/volunteer

and signing up for whatever location, and time suits you best! 

We are so happy to announce that we have won the 2017 Make More Happen Award from @SafecoInsurance for our volunteer work with Kids’ Food Basket! This award donates $5,000 to Kids’ Food Basket. The coolest part of this award is that if we can get 50+ likes, shares, and/or comments on our story that’s posted on Safeco’s website, then they will donate another $5,000! A huge thank you to Safeco Insurance, for this opportunity to give back to the community!

 

Kids Food Basket’s mission is to stop childhood hunger in the community. They currently work with schools in the greater Grand Rapids area. When a school has 80% of its students on a Government Assisted Program for lunch, Kids Food Basket steps in to help prepare “Sack Supers” for the children. Typically, the hot lunches they receive at school is their last meal of the day.The sack suppers allow the students to have healthy meals for dinner. Not only does this help the children, but alleviates the stress of the parents who are unable to afford to feed their families. Unfortunately, there are schools on the waiting list to receive Sack Suppers; meaning, there are hungry children going without dinner. Being able to provide “Sack Suppers” to the children as they leave school provides them with a healthy dinner; giving them the strength and energy to begin school the next day.    

                                

Their own impact in our community has not gone unrecognized! Kids Food Basket received the “Governors Service Lifetime Achievement Award” for volunteerism. They were chosen for this honor from a list of 160 nominees committed to community involvement. They also received “Honor and Award from Palace Sports & Entertainment and the Detroit Pistons”. They were one of 3 recipients recognized by Palace Sports for their volunteerism in the community.

 

Our personal lines manager, Phalesha Kyes, has a personal background with this nonprofit organization and has a very touching story that gives insight as to how Kids’ Food Basket has changed the lives of children and the importance of giving back. Ryan Kyes, the owner of our agency, and his wife, Amara Kyes, adopted Phalesha and her sisters from inner-city Grand Rapids. Ryan and Amara continue to give to this charity that provided for their daughters before they were brought into they’re home by dropping off a donation check biannually. In addition to this, the office staff commits time each month to head over and pack these suppers. Due to the high involvement and history of Kids Food Basket in the Kyes’ family, Phalesha was asked to be the Keynote speaker at their “Feast for Kids” event that happened in May and is shown in the pictures here. Our goal is to raise money to help Kids Food Basket extend their work to schools currently on the waiting list.

 

Importance:

It’s amazing how hard it is to focus in school (or on anything for that matter) when ‘food’ is the only thing on your mind. We easily take for granted the luxury of grabbing food on our lunch break, or planning dinner; this relationship with Kids Food Basket allows us to appreciate those amenities and learn to not take that for granted. Our favorite part about volunteering is that we can make such a large impact on a child’s life; knowing we are helping children right in our back yard. Helping kids who have no control over their food situation is an unforgettable experience. For as little as $1 per meal, a child gets dinner. It is extremely humbling to serve those in need, especially children.

While reading a letter written to Kid’s Food Basket from a student recipient, they expressed how much they appreciated receiving the food and how it helped them to “be strong”. They also expressed how much they loved the decorated bags and how they keep them on their wall as art. Our agency took part in their “Decorate a Bag” campaign, striving to obtain a goal of 2,500 decorated lunch bags to serve Sack Suppers. We turned in 200 decorated bags!  Seeing the smile on the kids’ faces, or reading the letters, brings such joy to our agency. 

If you’d like to volunteer you can sign up here: http://www.kidsfoodbasket.org/