Category: Helping Hands

What started as a new fundraiser just a year ago is already becoming a highly anticipated annual event. The Goodwill Golf Classic is back for its second year, and organizers are aiming to grow the tournament from 80 golfers to a full 144-player field. But beyond the fairways and friendly competition, this event directly supports […]

The Kalamazoo Nonprofit Advocacy Coalition (KNAC) has spent the past two years intentionally and quietly developing the groundwork and relationships to get to where it is today. Now, with nearly 20 organizations and a home in the oldest public building in Kalamazoo, KNAC has publicly debuted its efforts. “I want to see it (the building) […]

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan (BBBSMI) typically hosts one of its beloved annual fundraisers, Bowl for Kids’ Sake, each spring. Individuals and organizations across the region participate as a way to have some fun and support the community during the period between the winter holiday parties and summer barbeques. Western Diversified Plastics had […]

Whether you took one from your grandmother, dug it out from a thrift store bin, or purchased one from the internet, ugly holiday sweaters have become a staple in wardrobes across the U.S. For Communities in Schools (CIS) of Kalamazoo, their annual ugly sweater party at Bell’s Eccentric Café was an opportunity to cap off […]

While the annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Michigan (BBBSMI) Fire & Ice event has gone virtual this year, the inspirational stories and exciting entertainment will still warm your heart from the chill of the December air. “It’s still a celebration of the community commitment to igniting potential and empowering resilience through mentoring, just […]

Built one brick at a time, the Rose Park Veterans Memorial along the Kalamazoo River is a local memorial dedicated to Veterans. The memorial features five, seven-foot granite monuments in the shape of a star with etchings of U.S. military servicemen and women from wars of the past and is dedicated to those who will […]

The mission of the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo is to help communities learn, grow, and thrive through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. While its ability to provide indoor fitness is still limited, the organization has been able to adapt to provide for the needs of the greater community because of the support from […]

With relationships at the core of the Boys and Girls Club organization, social distancing protocols encouraged the club to become innovative with their programming, staff, and resources in ways that will have long term benefits. “The biggest message that we had to make sure we were portraying was one of support to our staff and […]

By cultivating reading and writing skills, Read and Write Kalamazoo (RAWK) is amplifying Kalamazoo’s youth voices and encouraging everyone to rock their own story. Founded in 2012, the organization was developed around the idea that all stories must be told and witnessed, leaving no voice unheard. With volunteers at the core of the mission, community members […]