Community Action Agency
Food Security
12251 James Street, Suite 300Holland, MI 49424
Phone: (616) 393-5697
Toll-free: (800) 764-4111, ext. 5697
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
A variety of food is distributed to the general low-income population of Ottawa County on a quarterly basis. Distribution sites are located in Coopersville, Grand Haven, Holland, and Jenison.
| TEFAP Commodity Distribution Program Year 2007/2008 Schedule |
|
|---|---|
| November 30, 2007, February 22, May 23, & August 22, 2008 | |
| Holland Salvation Army 104 Clover Avenue Holland, MI 49423 (616) 392-4461 Open: 10:00 am to 12:30 pm |
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church 920 Fulton Grand Haven, MI 49417 (616) 842-8230 Open: 10:00 am to 12 Noon |
| Love, INC of Southeastern Ottawa County 3300 VanBuren Hudsonville, MI 49426 (616) 662-3300 Open: 1:00 to 3 pm |
Coopersville VFW (Post 5598) 511 North 68th Avenue Coopersville, MI 49404 (616) 837-9196 Open: 10:00 am to 12 Noon |
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
A monthly distribution program designed to help meet the nutritional needs of seniors aged 60 or older and WIC-ineligible pregnant, breast-feeding, or one-year postpartum mothers; and children under six years of age.
| CSFP Commodity Distribution Program Year 2007/2008 Schedule |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mondays | Tuesdays | Wednesdays | Thursdays |
| Evergreen Village (residents) NOCCOA (home delivered meals) Pinewood Place (residents) |
Wildwood Creek Manor (residents) Community Action House (mass distribution) Riverbend Apartments (residents) Georgetown Senior Center (mass distribution) |
MacIntosh Manor (residents) HavenHuis Apartments (residents) Waverly Meadows (residents) Greenbriar (residents) |
GH Salvation Army (mass distribution) Rivervillage Apartments (residents) The Depot (residents) Coopersville VFW (mass distribution) |
| October 15, 2007 | October 16, 2007 | October 17, 2007 | October 18, 2007 |
| November 12, 2007 | November 13, 2007 | November 14, 2007 | November 15, 2007 |
| December 10, 2007 | December 11, 2007 | December 12, 2007 | December 13, 2007 |
| January 14, 2008 | January 15, 2008 | January 16, 2008 | January 17, 2008 |
| February 11, 2008 |
February 12, 2008 | February 13, 2008 | February 14, 2008 |
| March 10, 2008 | March 11, 2008 | March 12, 2008 | March 13, 2008 |
| April 14, 2008 | April 15, 2008 | April 16, 2008 | April 17, 2008 |
| May 12, 2008 | May 13, 2008 | May 14, 2008 | May 15, 2008 |
| June 09, 2008 | June 10, 2008 | June 11, 2008 | June 12, 2008 |
| July 14, 2008 | July 15, 2008 | July 16, 2008 | July 17, 2008 |
| August 11, 2008 | August 12, 2008 | August 13, 2008 | August 14, 2008 |
| September 15, 2008 | September 16, 2008 | September 17, 2008 | September 18, 2008 |
| Mass Distribution Sites | |||
| Community Action House 345 West 14th Street Holland, MI 49423 (616) 392-2368 10:00 to 11:30 am |
Georgetown Senior Center 7096 8th Avenue Jenison, MI 49428 (616) 457-1170 1:30 to 3:00 pm |
Grand Haven Salvation Army 310 N. DeSpelder Grand Haven, MI 49417 (616) 842-3380 9:00 to 11 am |
Coopersville VFW (Post 5598) 511 North 68th Avenue Coopersville, MI 49404 (616) 837-9196 1:00 to 2:30 pm |
Ottawa County Community Garden Network
To supplement the monthly USDA commodity program, Ottawa County Community Action Agency coordinates a Community Garden Network to benefit low-income seniors and families. The Community Garden Network started in 2000 as a collaborative effort between Ottawa County Community Action Agency, Ottawa County MSU Extension Services, Master Gardeners, Master Composters, and other community volunteers. The gardens are located in Holland behind the Macatawa Resource Center, in Jenison behind the Georgetown Senior Center, in Hudsonville off Port Sheldon across the street from the Ottawa County Sheriff Office, and in Grand Haven off next to Love, Inc. Master Gardeners provide guidance to volunteers in testing and preparing the soil, designing the garden for optimal production, planting, maintaining, and harvesting the garden. Master composters built and maintain compost bins at the Holland garden.
Volunteers including, individuals, families, youth and professional groups, work in the gardens during the spring and summer. The produce is harvested and distributed by the Ottawa County Community Action Agency and other local service organizations to individuals who have a limited income and are in need of food assistance.
In addition to the Community Garden Network, the Ottawa County Community Action Agency and the Ottawa County Michigan State Extension Service collaborate the Plant a Row for the Hungry campaign. The campaign encourages area gardeners to plant an extra row of vegetables for the needy in their home gardens. Launched in 1995, Plant a Row for the Hungry is a public service campaign of the Garden Writers Association of America. Its goal is to establish a Plant a Row for the Hungry network in every US state and Canadian province. Food distribution locations have been identified throughout Ottawa County so gardeners can bring their produce to a site where distribution of the produce to low-income seniors and families takes place.
