Tag Archives: Kent County Community Action

Kent County Community Action to hold food distribution for general public on Jan. 7

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Kent County Community Action is one of the many groups are working to help feed local families in need, including Feeding America West (shown here from a 2020 event). (Supplied/Feeding America WM)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

Kent County Community Action (KCCA) announced this week that it will conduct a food distribution event on Thursday, Jan. 7, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to support qualified low-income households experiencing food insecurity.

The distribution will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., near the KCCA offices, at 121 Franklin SE, in Grand Rapids. All Kent County residents are welcome.

“This distribution is our way to respond to this crisis as it is our mission to alleviate the causes of poverty,” Susan Cervantes, KCCA Director, said in supplied material. “This distribution is one of our scheduled quarterly distributions and we are pleased we can provide relief to families who are in need during this difficult time.”

Customers who are driving must enter on Jefferson Street with their trunks ready to accept more than 50 pounds of food and must remain in their vehicle. This will enable the distribution to go smoothly and ensure the safety of staff and customers by practicing social distancing, according to supplied material.

The distribution will assist more than 900 households that are struggling to meet their food needs, “especially considering the situations caused by COVID-19.” There will be 20 food items in the packet including but not limited to canned vegetables, soups, pasta, juice, vegetable oil, tortillas, cheese, butter, and pork.
  

There will not be walk-up service due to the requirement to socially distance. Persons without transportation can be assisted by calling 616-632-7950.

Kent County Community Action to hold food distribution in Grand Rapids on Thursday

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Food distribution to those in need are happening across the county. (Feeding America WM)

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

Kent County Community Action (KCCA) will hold another in a series of food distribution events in Grand Rapids, but open to the “general population with low income,” on Thursday July 9, from 9 a.m. to 1p.m., at 121 Franklin SE.

The KCCA and the Grand Rapids Police Department are asking residents to enter southbound on Jefferson Street from Wealthy Street. The GRPD will be barricading all other entrances and side streets to ensure an orderly operation, according to a Kent County statement Monday.

Residents need to remain in their vehicle and have their trunks open and ready to accept more than 50 pounds of food.

 

There will not be walk up service in an effort to adhere to social distancing requirements for the protection of residents, volunteers, and staff.

“This distribution is our way to respond to those households with food insecurities in an effort to alleviate the causes of poverty,” Susan Cervantes, KCCA director, said in supplied material.

 

The event is projected to assist 900 households “that are struggling to meet their food needs during the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the statement.

There will be more than 20 food items in the packet including but not limited to fresh apples and oranges, canned vegetables and fruits, rice, beans, and meats including pork and beef.

 

Past and present of ‘War on Poverty’, county Community Action on latest WKTV Journal In Focus

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By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

On the latest episode of WKTV Journal In Focus, we continue a series looking at the depth and breath of poverty throughout Kent County and specifically in the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood.

To introduce us to some of the issues, we talk with Susan Cervantes, the Director of the Kent County Community Action program which, according to its 2018 annual report, served more than 7,000 individuals including more than 3,800 families, and also handled more than 42,000 information and referral calls.

The Community Action program came into existence 55 years ago when President Lyndon Johnson signed legislation to establish a War on Poverty.

The local group, according to its website “works to eliminate the causes and circumstances of poverty by investing in individuals and families with low incomes. Through dedicated staff and community partnerships we provide services, resources, education and advocacy to improve the quality of life for all residents of Kent County.”

WKTV Journal In Focus airs on cable television in the Wyoming and Kentwood areas on Comcast WKTV Channel 26 and on AT&T Channel 99 Government channel (see our Weekly On-air Schedule for dates and times).

All individual interviews included in episodes of WKTV Journal In Focus are also available on YouTube at WKTVvideos.