Impact Report (2025)
Through relationship, God is transforming all of us.
Following Jesus Christ, who transforms lives, we equip our community to love, serve, and connect with dignity.
Serving communities in Ottawa and Kent Counties since 1984.
A Year of Growth
Thanks to you, this past year was one of remarkable growth for both people like Emma (who you will read about here) and for Love Your Neighbor. We have reached new communities and have expanded vital housing resources, following God’s call on us to equip our community to love, serve and connect with dignity.
We get to see amazing examples of Jesus Christ transforming lives every day. It is awe inspiring to see the way he uses relationships to create communities that we think reflect his kingdom, and his shalom. Through your partnership, we can continue to do our part in the transformation process, connecting our families, who may feel discouraged and hopeless, with a community that welcomes them.
Your support creates connections to knowledge, to critical resources, and to a Christian community that leads to lasting change, more hopeful families, and a community that honors God.
Thank you for being part of Love.
Jodi Cole Meyer, Executive Director
Meet Emma
Emma is a single mom, living in a small townhome just a few blocks from her kid’s school. She works full time and pours everything into providing for her family, but a recent medical emergency has left her buried under mounting bills. Although her parents are her biggest encouragers, they don’t live nearby, and…
She is too ashamed to ask for help.
As she packs her son’s backpack for school one morning, she quickly wipes away a tear, realizing she can’t do this alone anymore.
Emma knows she has to provide for her son, but this week she has some tough decisions to make, her paycheck will not cover both childcare and groceries.
Then it clicked… the backpack! Her son received his backpack this year through a school partnership with Love Your Neighbor.
Two annual outreach events connect families to support and the Life Skills Program.
742
Students received new backpacks and school supplies.
106
Families shopped at our Community Christmas event.
Shopping-style events preserve dignity for every family.
The person from Love welcomes her to stop by after work for a couple bags of groceries and a list of other food pantries she can visit in the future.
On her lunch break, Emma does a quick online search and gets the phone number for Love Your Neighbor. Uncertain what to expect, she hesitantly dials.
Emma speaks with Love’s Connection Center, a place where anyone can call, text, or stop in to get help navigating resources. The person on the other end greets her and takes time to listen to what’s going on in her life.
Take a virtual tour of our pantry!
“Everyone was actually caring. It wasn’t generic. Everyone was concerned about our well being – it kind of blew my mind. ‘We really want to help you, both now and in the future. We want to see you succeed. Not just to be here, but to continue going forward.’”
374
One-time food/clothing assistance Love Your Neighbor provided last year.
44
Partners held food drives to fill Love’s pantry.
Love also partners with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Crisis Team to access emergency resources 24/7.
37% of of households in Ottawa County struggle to make ends meet.
The resources were a huge help, giving her a boost. But the next month brings the same shortages and the hospital is now calling to inquire about payments.
Her son has started baseball, adding registration and uniform costs—even after finding second hand equipment.
Desperate, Emma takes a cash advance to get by. Months pass, and things only get worse, she reaches out to Love again.
Love serves those at poverty level and households that are Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed (ALICE).
The team at Love Your Neighbor invites Emma to consider something deeper: a long-term relational option called The Life Skills Program.
Unsure, she agrees to an intake, an opportunity to share more of her story, the financial situation, and how alone she feels figuring it all out.
She learns that right away she’ll receive weekly groceries and gas. The program also offers opportunities to grow financially, relationally, and spiritually.
For now, though, she’s simply relieved to finally have help.
The poverty many people experience is not only financial but also relational.
Emma begins attending the financial literacy class and putting in the work. She learns how to track what she spends and what she earns, discovering tools she’s never had before.
Her confidence grows as she begins forming new, meaningful relationships.
The financial classes soon transition to healthy boundaries, stress management, parenting, and Alpha Bible studies, all while still receiving the earned groceries and gas.
She’s nervous, but begins meeting weekly with her peer support after class for encouragement and accountability as she works toward a sustainable budget and paying off her medical debt.
As Emma continues through the program, new doors begin to open: she receives a safe, low-interest loan that helps eliminate the crushing cash advance. Once that’s gone, she’s able to pay rent on time and qualify for Love’s housing subsidy—$250 each month that helps her tackle debt faster.
Emma even decides to try a Sunday morning service, son in tow, something she hasn’t done in years. It feels less intimidating when her peer support saves her a seat.
After 13 months in Life Skills, Emma has built strong friendships—including someone from childcare who now watches her son, helping reduce her childcare costs.
Financially, she has paid off $4,500 in medical debt and more than $6,000 in credit card debt, while building an emergency savings fund for the future.
Support Provided in 2025
$16,552 Provided in housing subsidies.
Love Your Neighbor provides housing subsidies and transitional housing units to participants in our Life Skills Program.
$51,158 Provided in gas vouchers.
We provide weekly vouchers which include things like haircuts, gas, oil changes, and much more.
1,625 Grocery orders filled.
Each week, participants choose the groceries they want, with the ability to get fresh foods as well.
On her final night at the program, emotion catches in her voice as she tries to put the last 13 months into words.
How do you explain the way your life has quietly and steadily changed? How do you name the moment you stopped feeling alone?
She shared,
“The amount of support and relationships through this program has been unreal. I never thought I’d have the level of confidence and community I have right now. So many of you helped me in different ways and you didn’t even know it.
I felt so alone before this program. Now, I have friends to move forward with. I’ve been able to pay off all my debt and I have a savings account for me and my kid. To see churches and people come together and help people – it was everything to us.”
And even as this chapter closes, her story doesn’t.
She’ll be back next week. But this time, she’ll be walking beside someone who looks a lot like she did a year ago—no longer alone, but offering the same hope that once found her.
Emma’s story is inspired by a compilation of real stories and quotes from real people who journeyed through Love Your Neighbor’s Life Skills Program.
All stats from 2025.
Who do we serve?
Individuals and families who are ALICE (asset-limited, income-constrained, employed) who are above the federal poverty level but also cannot afford the basics for where they live. People in generational or situational poverty who need support to shift out of survival mode.
How do we serve people?
We believe every person is an image bearer of God and has something to offer. Serving from an asset-based approach allows us to elevate the dignity of each person and invite them to be part of the solution.
Why do we serve?
We believe God calls us in community – and that is where all of us have the opportunity to be transformed. One relationship at a time, we can grow the Kingdom of God here on earth.
What have we accomplished with your help?
In 2025, we…
Increased from 3 to 5 transitional housing units by purchasing a duplex.
We launched a 6th Life Skills Program to serve Spanish-speaking families in Holland & Zeeland.
Distributed $132,000 worth of food.
Gave 864 free rides to medical appointments, up from 398 last year.
Experienced 45% growth of families & individuals joining the program.
Answered 3,200+ calls for help this year.
What has been the return on investment?
Local families have:
Found community and are not struggling in isolation.
Gained life skills that help with finances, relationships and faith.
Paid off a total of $78,000 in debt.
Discovered the assets they have and how to be part of their solution.
Increased their self-confidence.
Created a more stable future for their family.
Connected to a church community.
Given back to their communities by volunteering after Life Skills.
How are we supported?
Many volunteers from multiple churches served through Love Your Neighbor in 2025, investing 16,000+ hours into our Life Skills Programs.
13 different churches partnered with Love to provide direct support for programs through meals, childcare, teaching and peer support.
40+ Partner organizations help us love, serve and connect with dignity.
Your prayers fuel the work we do, your volunteer efforts create the community we desire, and your generous financial donation is an investment in the Kingdom that God desires.
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