Thanks to the generosity of our community, this year’s Stuff the Sled drive served as an opportunity to spread joy to young children in need. Gifts benefited low-income students enrolled in Head Start for Kent County programs. Learn more about Stuff the Sled and the many people who made it a success.

For this year’s Giving Tuesday, we’re asking for donations to help us Stuff the Sled this holiday season. Learn more about our virtual collection drive and how you can spread joy to young students in our community.

In this second blog in the Native American Heritage Month series, Brianne Robach, Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness, details the history of the reservation system and the inequities that Indigenous peoples still face as a result.

November is Native American and Alaskan Native Heritage Month, and we’re celebrating with a guest blog series. Learn more about the culture and history of Michigan tribes in this introduction from Brianne Robach, Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness.

This year, Indigenous Peoples’ Day is celebrated on Monday, October 11, 2021. Learn more about this national holiday that brings awareness to Native American history, culture, and contributions to our society.

Rebeca Arredondo, Heart of West Michigan United Way’s 2-1-1, closes out Hispanic Heritage Month with a final blog on the legacy of Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, and how her work continues to have an impact today.

September kept Heart of West Michigan United Way staff and volunteers busy all month long! Read about the three volunteer events that brought our community together to make a difference during our Month of Caring.

For this week’s Hispanic Heritage Month blog, Brianne Robach, Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness, explores the history behind chiles en nogada, a seasonal dish that many enjoy in the annual celebration of Mexico’s independence.

To continue our weekly Hispanic Heritage Month blogs, Rebeca Arredondo, Heart of West Michigan United Way’s 2-1-1, explains the history of cacao and cacao ceremonies, as well as how the tradition carries on today.

For our first weekly Hispanic Heritage Month blog post, Brianne Robach from Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness shares information for virtual events, as well as the history of Hispanic/Latin music.

Heart of West Michigan United Way’s President & CEO, Michelle Van Dyke, captures the spirit of Women’s Equality Day by highlighting some of history’s trailblazing women.

The Opportunity Initiative provides support and resources to local grassroots and BIPOC-founded/led agencies. Read more about the initiative and the small nonprofits that are making a big difference in Kent County.

Our Get Connected website features volunteer opportunities from more than 300 agencies across Kent County. Read about some of the great reasons to volunteer and the benefits that come with giving your time to an important cause.

For week four of our Pride Blog posts, Paul LeBlanc, Grant Manager at Heart of West Michigan United Way, discusses the issue transgender people have faced trying to receive equal access to bathrooms and public facilities.

Happy Juneteenth! Carra Oteto, Community Impact Coordinator at Heart of West Michigan United Way, explains the meaning behind this important holiday and how you can join the celebration in our community this year.

Paul LeBlanc, Grant Manager at Heart of West Michigan United Way, continues this month’s Pride Blog Series with a personal look at the history and current state of employment rights for LGBTQ people in the U.S.

In Week 2 of our Pride Blog Series, Leslie Hawkins, Great Start Collaborative of Kent County, discusses the timeline of events in America that lead to hate crime prevention measures for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Leslie Hawkins, Great Start Collaborative of Kent County, summarizes the long journey to marriage equality in the United States.