How did you get connected with Love's Life Skills Program? We were struggling financially and had heard of Love through our church and through shopping at the resale stores. What did you appreciate about the program? We were met the first day with dignity. We were not...
“Hudsonville seems to be a small town where everyone knows each other. Being blessed by having Hudsonville as my hometown, I heard of Love through conversations with people throughout the years. When I was 18 years old, I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ and made...
Rachel is only 24 years old and grew up in Hudsonville. She joined the Life Skills Program after she attended our Community Christmas event and received support for Christmas gifts. At that time, she was living in a small studio apartment infested with mice, having...
During the 15 years that I worked as an Outreach Director for a local church, I invested a lot in learning how to engage and invite people in our community into church. Our church was passionate and welcoming, and we tried very hard to understand the needs of...
God has been using Love Your Neighbor’s Life Skills Program to transform lives for countless individuals and families in our community for a long time. Going back more than a decade, this transformation was happening through the same vehicle used today - relationship!...
Jake was an officer in the army who, like many, had to keep it together. Commanding 120 people, he was conditioned to not show weakness. “There’s a lot that you carry. I’ve lost soldiers. Things that I didn’t know how to deal with. You put it all away in your...
“Since I first talked with you, I’ve been praying for you. I know who to call if I need someone.” Someone - not something. This was a statement that an under-resourced neighbor shared with Anne, a Connection Center volunteer at Love Your Neighbor, after...
In 2021, Shawn was experiencing financial hardship when suddenly his overtime was cut. He needed the overtime. “For a while, it was a little scary. The cupboards were empty a lot. Someone had spoken to me about Love and said they got food there. I thought it...
Andy lost his wife to a heart attack the same day the world began to shut down in March of 2020. Navigating this loss while the world learned to live in isolation was just the beginning. A few months later, he lost his dad. Then, he retired and lost his work...
“What brought you to Love?” “We were hungry.” When Jillian thinks back to her experience in Life Skills more than 8 years ago, she thinks back to a time that felt hopeless. “I was in an extremely abusive relationship with someone who took all the money, wouldn’t let...
This is a regular question the staff at Love Your Neighbor asks each other. At all staff meetings, we see hands shoot up to share regardless of ministry area – we see how God is moving in the resale space, warehouse space, connection center, in the Life Skills...
Stepheny brought her newborn daughter, Kaylee, home to a hotel. After losing her trailer, Stepheny’s credit crashed and she became homeless. Shelters and room rentals were unsafe for her daughters, so hotels became the realistic option. For 5 years, her family called...
It’s quite incredible that all of this happens almost every day, and every week, by diligent volunteers who embody our diligence core value.
Forty is a big birthday – for anyone! “The Big 4-0” is usually marked with a party, with cards proclaiming that you’re heading down the other side of the proverbial hill, and jokes about how old you are. What does it mean to be 40? As celebrated as 40 is in our...
"Flashback to a little over two years ago when our family was surviving on fast food drive-thru, ramen noodles and prepackaged snacks. Wendy's 4 for $4 made it cheaper for our family of five to eat out rather than cook at home. We joined Love Your Neighbor's...