Some of the funds raised from the Red Pine Run will go to support activities enjoyed by seniors at the North Kent Senior Center.

Red Pine Run 2018 to be held October 13

The Howard Christensen Nature Center is teaming up with the North Kent Service Center to do the Red Pine Run 2018, an event that will raise funds for both centers.

The event will be held on Saturday, October 13, at Howard Christensen Nature Center at 2 p.m. You can choose to do either the 5K walk/run or the 2.5K walk/run, while enjoying some of the best scenery in West Michigan. It will be a dog-friendly event, so you can bring your four-legged friend to do the walk/run if you wish.

Those who sign up by October 5 will receive a free t-shirt. The cost for the walk/run is $25 for non-members or $20 for members, with proceeds going to both HCNC and the NKSC to help keep them up and running (no pun intended).

It will be a fun-filled day with refreshments after the walk/run and booths to check out. It would be a great day to come out and check out the Nature Center and enjoy the fall beauty.

If you are a senior center and would like to check out the senior center, it is located at 44 N. Park St in Cedar Springs. They gather every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to play games, cards, eat a meal, and play bingo from noon to 1:30 p.m. They also plan senior outings at other times during the week. Their next outing is to the USS Silversides in Muskegon. “We have a great group of people, and we always have a fun time,” said Sue Norton. “So if you are looking for something to do, come and check us out.”

To sign up for the Red Pine Run 2018 or to get answers any questions you have, contact Sue Norton at (616) 443-6468 or go online and register at www.howardchristensen.org.

It began in 1973 as Rockford Community Services. Sometime in the 1980s it became North Kent Service Center. Then, in 2010, it changed its name to North Kent Community Services, to better reflect the fact it was serving the northern Kent community—from 6 Mile Rd north to the county line at 22 Mile Rd—with food, shelter, utilities support, clothing and more.

Now, in 2017, a bigger change is happening. Not only is it changing its name to North Kent Connect, it is also opening a store to the general public.

“People had difficulty remembering the name North Kent Community Services since it was so long,” explained Claire Guisfredi, Executive Director at North Kent Connect. “We needed something shorter that describes what we do. North Kent Connect does that.”

North Kent Connect connects people to the resources they need–anything from food to job training to fellowship–to help residents in northern Kent County meet basic needs and work towards economic independence.

In order to help even more people in the community, they are opening North Kent Connect Store on Friday, August 4. Anyone can shop there for high-quality, gently-used clothing and household goods at affordable prices. It will be located at 10075 Northland Drive NE. Every purchase will help local families better their lives through North Kent’s empowerment programs.

However, the store has a unique buying proposition. Not only can items be purchased at affordable prices, North Kent Connect clients can also receive store credit by volunteering in the community or taking classes. The organizations’ V.I.P. plan for clients supports the initiative of three-ways-to-pay: Volunteer, Invest or Purchase.

Guisfredi said, “Financial struggles can be a very humbling experience. Shopping at North Kent Connect Store serves as a reminder that everyone has something to offer. It gives our clients dignity knowing that they can give back in some way–through volunteering, investing in themselves (by taking a class), or purchasing items. The North Kent Connect Store is an exciting opportunity for us. It will help the community become aware of all that we offer here. Also, the store will offer job skills training for special needs young adults.”

North Kent Connect Store will be open to the public (beginning August 4) on Tuesday and Friday from 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m. Clients only can shop Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.

Mrs. Beulah Ann Scott of Cedar Springs, Michigan, age 86, passed away Friday, December 11, 2015. Beulah was born to Fredrick and Edith (Smith) Hunt on Thursday, October 31, 1929, in Brutus, Michigan. Beulah volunteered at North Kent Service Center and the Gleaners. She was a lifetime member of the Rockford VFW Post, Ladies Auxiliary. Beulah also was a member of TOPS for many years. She was very good at making boiled dinners and macaroni & cheese with 3 different cheeses. Beulah also enjoyed gardening and canning the harvest of her hard work. She was known to make the best zucchini bars with lemon juice. Beulah is survived by her son, Randy Scott; daughter-in-law, Julie Scott; three granddaughters, Tamara (Bobby) Nealy, Marcy (Lee) Crites, Sarah (Daniel) Waddell; grandson, Nathan (Elicia) Scott; three great-grandsons, Jackson Nealy, Conor Waddell, Collin Scott; great-granddaughter, Kendra Scott; two brothers, Fred (Martha) Hunt, Eugene (Lucille) Riggins. She was preceded in death by her parents; loving husband of 50 years, Willis Scott; son, Lynn Scott; two sisters, Grace Allen, Freida Hoffman; brother, Frank Hunt. To celebrate Beulah’s life there will be a memorial luncheon from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. Saturday, December 19, 2015 at the Rockford American Legion, Merritt Lamp Post 102, 330 Rockford Park Drive NE, Rockford, MI 49341. In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy can be made to Spectrum Health Hospice, 4500 Breton SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508.

Arrangements by Pederson Funeral Home Pedersonfuneralhome.com

When the 4th grade Student Leadership Team contemplated how they wanted to improve their school this year, they decided they were going to look outside of the school walls and into their own community.  By starting a “Penny War” between classrooms, they managed to raise more than $840 dollars to which they donated to the North Kent Service Center!  Each classroom had a jar and students from their home classrooms could fill the jar with pennies.  However, students from other classrooms could offset the amount of pennies by contributing quarters, nickels, and dimes.  The only way to make up the difference was to add more pennies!  Fun was had by all and best of all, they were able to contribute to a great program!  Awesome job, 4th graders!

The 5th grade Student Leadership Team was not far behind with their own idea of having a food and clothing collection for those in need.  During a two week period, they managed to collect five totes of clothing and a large amount of food!  Donations will be delivered to Degage Ministries in Grand Rapids, where the team will spend some time during the dinner hour helping out and meeting some of the staff and clients.

We are very proud of our Leadership Teams and their dedication to helping others!

North Kent Community Services (formerly the North Kent Service Center) is collecting items in February and March to make 500 Easter Baskets for the children they serve in northern Kent County. They are in need of the following items by March 31:
•    Candy or Fruit Snacks
•    Easter Baskets and  Grass
•    Small Stuffed Animals ~ Beanie Baby size
•    Bubbles and Sidewalk Chalk
•    Jump Ropes and Balls
•    Markers, Colored Pencils and Coloring Books
•    Small Cars and Trucks ~ Matchbox/Hot Wheels size
•    Any other suitable Easter Basket items for children ages 1 – 10
NKCS is located at 10075 Northland Drive, just north of 12 Mile Road. They are open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call (616) 866-3478 for more info.

The North Kent Service Center, at the corner of Northland Drive and 12 Mile Road, experimented with longer weekday hours for the summer and liked them so much that they have decided to keep them year-round.

The center will be open to serve the community Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday. “We’ve found these hours have been beneficial for our clients and the community during the summer months,” said Executive Director Sandy Waite. “With the longer hours we are able to meet the need of clients who are working, and community members wishing to drop off items at the donation center after work and save on operational expenses,” she explained.

Waite said they look forward to continuing assisting those families who in the past have not been able to access the food pantries due to work commitments. “We are also excited that we will be open to the community for longer donation hours during the week.  These new hours also give us longer hours for volunteers to assist after school and work.”

The donation area will be open during the regular hours, and also Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They ask that no donations be placed at the front door on Sunday, or when the gates are closed.