Family Promise
Family Promise of the Lakeshore is the local affiliate of a national, faith-based, nonprofit organization responding to homeless families in Muskegon County. Preserving the integrity of family households makes Family Promise a unique shelter because other organizations have separate facilities for women and men thereby separating family members at their most vulnerable time.
The United Methodist Church of Montague was a founding member of Family Promise of the Lakeshore which began serving local homeless families in November 2009. This participation has become an ecumenical effort in the White Lake area over time with support from Whitehall United Methodist Church, St. Peters Episcopal Church, Ferry Memorial Reformed Church, White Lake Wesleyan Church and Lebanon Lutheran Church through providing meals, hosting in the evenings and providing transportation to and from the Day Center. UMC of Montague is now one of twelve churches in Muskegon and Northern Ottawa Counties hosting families for a week at a time. As a host Church we convert our classrooms into family bedrooms, furnish evening meals, breakfasts and bag lunches; as well as, companionship for the families in the evening. In the morning the guests return to the Day Center in Muskegon; and, from there children go to school, while adults care for their children or go to work or look for jobs or housing.
Our church becomes a temporary home in which families are treated as guests and accepted as they are. The kindness of hosts diminishes the hurt of homelessness while we grow and learn from each other.
For more information visit the website: fp-lakeshore.org
The United Methodist Church of Montague was a founding member of Family Promise of the Lakeshore which began serving local homeless families in November 2009. This participation has become an ecumenical effort in the White Lake area over time with support from Whitehall United Methodist Church, St. Peters Episcopal Church, Ferry Memorial Reformed Church, White Lake Wesleyan Church and Lebanon Lutheran Church through providing meals, hosting in the evenings and providing transportation to and from the Day Center. UMC of Montague is now one of twelve churches in Muskegon and Northern Ottawa Counties hosting families for a week at a time. As a host Church we convert our classrooms into family bedrooms, furnish evening meals, breakfasts and bag lunches; as well as, companionship for the families in the evening. In the morning the guests return to the Day Center in Muskegon; and, from there children go to school, while adults care for their children or go to work or look for jobs or housing.
Our church becomes a temporary home in which families are treated as guests and accepted as they are. The kindness of hosts diminishes the hurt of homelessness while we grow and learn from each other.
For more information visit the website: fp-lakeshore.org
White Lake Area Food Pantry
This program relies mostly on donations of money to purchase food at sixteen cents per pound ($.16/lb.) from Feed America Inc., (formerly Gleaners Second Harvest Food Bank). Lebanon Lutheran serves breakfast to pantry guests at 8:30 a.m. - then it's on to shopping. Families may take what they need for a week and return each week.
In 2016, 85,000 pounds of food were purchased for $45,000. Thirty-six hundred (3600) family units came thru the pantry serving 9,600 people. We are always looking for people who are interested in helping with this project. Contact the church office at 894-5789 to become active in this program.
In addition, White Lake United Methodist Church supports those who are hungry in Muskegon County by providing an average of 850 pounds of vegetables to Catholic Charities of Muskegon each year from the church’s community garden.
In 2016, 85,000 pounds of food were purchased for $45,000. Thirty-six hundred (3600) family units came thru the pantry serving 9,600 people. We are always looking for people who are interested in helping with this project. Contact the church office at 894-5789 to become active in this program.
In addition, White Lake United Methodist Church supports those who are hungry in Muskegon County by providing an average of 850 pounds of vegetables to Catholic Charities of Muskegon each year from the church’s community garden.
Supper Served at
Muskegon Rescue Mission
New Hope Baptist Church in Muskegon was the first location where MUMC served supper to those in need. Since then our meals have been enjoyed at the Christian Community Center and now the Women's Shelter of the Rescue Mission. This ministry is for women and children and is located near the Hackley Hospital campus of Mercy General Health Partners.
Our famous chicken is cooked by Betty Nafe and then delivered in time for supper and served by our volunteers. The guests look forward to this menu on the second Thursday of each month. We are always looking for additional delivery persons. Anyone interesting in helping should contact the church office at 894-5789.
Our famous chicken is cooked by Betty Nafe and then delivered in time for supper and served by our volunteers. The guests look forward to this menu on the second Thursday of each month. We are always looking for additional delivery persons. Anyone interesting in helping should contact the church office at 894-5789.