Category: Helping Hands

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 […]

Your local Goodwill is just a place where you can donate clothes to those in need and pick up some crazy sweaters, right? Wrong! “Goodwill does a lot more than accept donations,” explains Sarah Mead, marketing coordinator of Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan. “A lot of people don’t know what we really do. Behind the […]

The holidays are already upon us, and we can hardly believe it! Even though we’re super excited to browse through downtown shops in the coming weeks, as Thanksgiving approaches, it’s also important to keep in mind that the holidays are a time for gratitude and giving. At the end of the season, after all the […]

Event Annual Holiday Art Sale Organization Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (KIA) Date and Time November 30 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
December 1 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Location 435 West South Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 — What roel does the KIA play in the community? When I first moved to Kalamazoo, the city […]

Prevention Works is arming Southwest Michigan with the tools it needs to build a brighter future. The prevention-focused nonprofit is built upon best practices for community-wide prevention of drug and alcohol use, relationship violence, adolescent health, and more—with a primary focus on youth and families. Prevention Works offers evidence-based programs specially-designed for the community, including […]