Tag Archives: Mel Trotter

Art auction will raise funds for Mel Trotter, Heartside Ministries

Citizen Journalism, Entertainment, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Upcoming Events, ,

By Sheila McGrath
WKTV Contributing Writer

Julie Ashba started working in stained glass 18 years ago. Her stained glass sculpture was inspired by the waters of Michigan. The piece will be at the Art & Experience Auction. (Supplied)

A capital campaign to bring improved services to people experiencing homelessness will get a boost from an upcoming auction.

Mel Trotter Ministries is hosting its first Art & Experience Auction on Thursday, March 24, featuring 85 items up for bid in both live and silent auctions.

In addition to art works, auction items include a trip to Mexico, a signed guitar from Christian recording artist Matthew West, wine tastings paired with a local restaurant, a sports package, and a private chef experience in the winning bidder’s home.

Beth Fisher, chief advancement officer at Mel Trotter Ministries, said auction proceeds will go to an ongoing capital campaign to benefit Day Center operations at Heartside Ministries, which merged with Mel Trotter Ministries in 2020.

Art pieces were donated from personal collections and local artists, including guests of Heartside Ministries.

“Heartside Ministries has a longstanding art therapy program,” Fisher said. “Many of the pieces that will be at the auction were created by Heartside Ministry guests in the art ministry program.”

‘Mission Point’ is one of three photographs Ben Dykhouse donated to the auction. (Supplied)

Interested bidders can already browse through silent auction items online. A link to the auction site is online at meltrotter.org/events.


Items not included in the silent auction will be auctioned live at the event on March 24.

Auction organizers reached out to artists who had a connection to Mel Trotter Ministries or Heartside Ministries and found many who were willing to donate their art to the cause.

Ben Dykstra, who specializes in fine art, architecture and portrait photography, donated three of his photographs. He said he was on Mel Trotter Ministries’ mailing list because he volunteers every year at the organization’s Thanksgiving dinner. He was happy for the opportunity to “pay it forward” by donating the photographs, which had been on display in his home.

“Service, to me, is something that’s vitally important. I think it’s the hidden ingredient in any blessed life,” he said.

Shannon Andrus, a mixed media artist based in Rockford, is on the leadership committee for the auction. She donated two pieces as well as a “Brushes and Brews” event at Hearts for the Arts, her studio. Ten people will get a two-hour art class along with pizza and beer from Mitten Brewing Company, which is owned by her husband.

‘Be a Legend’ is one of two pieces donated to the auction by Shannon Andrus, owner of Hearts for the Arts studio. (Supplied)

Andrus founded the art studio in 2008 as a place for students with cognitive and physical disabilities to get art therapy, skill building and entrepreneurial training.

Two of her students, Bradley Spidell and DJ Pezzato, donated pieces of their art to the auction.

“Homelessness has  been an ongoing issue, especially during Covid, and now more than ever people need to give back and help,” she said.

The Art & Experience Auction will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 24 at The High Five GR, 19 LaGrave Ave. SE. The event is free, but space is limited. To RSVP, or to become a sponsor, go to www.meltrotter.org/auction. 

Celebration! South one of the Mel Trotter Ministries’ Turkey Drop sites

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Food, Holidays, Non-Profits, Recreation, , ,

By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

Mel Trotter Ministries will be collecting turkeys at its annual Turkey Drop set for Wednesday. (pxhere.com)

Mel Trotter Ministries will host its 18th annual Turkey Drop this Wednesday with Celebration! Cinema South being one of three turkey drop-off locations.

The event collects frozen turkeys from area residents which will be given to those in need for the holiday season. Last year, Mel Trotter Ministries had the goal of collecting 2,500 frozen turkeys and the community’s outpouring resulted in surpassing the goal by more than double. Organizers said they hope to surpass last year’s numbers.

Frozen turkeys may be dropped off curbside. Mel Trotter Ministries’s staff and volunteers will be grabbing the turkeys from the vehicles quickly and safely while wearing masks and gloves. Mel Trotter Ministries is partnering with Feeding America West Michigan who will be distributing the frozen turkeys to food pantries and local organizations at no cost to them. 

Drop off is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Celebration! Cinema South, 1506 Eastport Dr. SE; Celebration! Cinema North, 2121 Celebration Dr. NE, and Mel Trotter Ministries Downtown, 225 Commerce Ave. SE. 

For more information about the event, visit meltrotter.org/turkeydrop

Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood news you need to know

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Sports, , ,

Life is going to give you a bad turn. It’s a test. It’s just a test. And look at all the tests you passed to get here.

Cyndi Lauper, musician



By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org

One Final Look at 2019

As we head into the first full week of 2020, Managing Editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma compiled the top WKTV Journal stories of 2019. Those vying for the number one spot were all stories about raising awareness on a variety of subjects, child abuse and neglect, autism, Multiple Sclerosis, and helping those in need. We salute all who have worked to make the world a better place.

Are You Ready for Some Basketball!

School is back in session which means many high schoolers will be taking to the courts…and the rinks and pools…for high school sports. WKTV Volunteer Sports Director Mike Moll brings everyone up-to-date on the latest high school sport action and where WKTV to will be broadcasting in the coming weeks.

And Two Become One

Mel Trotter Ministries hosts its annual Thanksgiving event. (Supplied)

As of Jan. 1, Heartside Ministry and Mel Trotter Ministries have merged. Reducing operating costs, eliminating potential duplication of services, and creating a greater impact for the populations the agencies both serve were the driving forces for the merger, according to organization officials. Services will not be immediately impacted as officials said the two organizations will need most of 2020 to work through the details of the merger.

Fun Fact: Pie Fight

Once, a long time ago, a northern Michigan city decided it needed a “claim to fame” so the residents of Charlevoix made the world’s largest pie at 17,420 pounds. Well, Charlevoix’s city to the south, Traverse City, was not to be outdone. In 1987, the city made a pie weighing in at 28,350 pounds and to prove it was the world’s largest pie, had officials form the Guinness Book of World’s Records certify it. Of course, that called for a “Who can make the biggest pie” challenge with a town in Canada — Oliver — taking over the title in 1998 with a pie that weighed 39,386 pounds. A monument to the pie wars still remains in Traverse City at 3424 Cass Road where the original cherry pie tin stands along with a marker as the World’s Largest Pie…in 1987 that is.

Mel Trotter: A Haven for Hope

Non-Profits, Our Cities, , , , ,

Mel TrotterOn February 24th, Mel Trotter started Mel Trotter Ministries on Canal Street in Grand Rapids after a decade of struggling with gambling and alcohol himself. After over a century of service, Mel Trotter Ministries is committed to helping those in need with wide ranging services available to the community. The main goal of the ministry is to demonstrate the compassion of Jesus Christ to the hungry, homeless, and hurting.

 

Mel Trotter provides nourishing evening meals every night. They have separate dining halls for men and women. The men eat every night from 4:30-5:45 while the women and children eat in their own dining hall starting at 5pm. Over 129,000 hot meals have been served in 2014.

Mel Trotter food pantry
Mel Trotter food pantry

 

Not only does Mel Trotter provide nightly meals, but they have their own food pantry where needy families can “shop” at twice per month. The food pantry is stocked with healthy food options and is a very helpful resource!

 

Food isn’t where the mission starts and ends. No, Mel Trotter is a haven for those in need. There are shelter centers for the men and the women and children. These shelters provide a night in a warm bed, showers, clothes, and toiletries. There have been over 71,000 bed nights for men, women, and children this year alone!

 

Mel Trotter also offers a place where public inebriates can be brought for safe shelter and medical support. Since public intoxication is no longer a crime, if a police officer finds a public inebriate they have a couple choices they can make. The officer can leave them where they found them, bring the inebriated individual to the ER, or bring them to Mel Trotter. The cost of paying for an individual in the Public Inebriation Shelter at Mel Trotter costs $146 instead of the $700+ it would cost at the ER.

Mel Trotter dining room. Over 129,000 hot meals served in 2014!
Mel Trotter dining room. Over 129,000 hot meals served in 2014!

 

While Mel Trotter offers safe food and shelter for the homeless, it also sets people up for success and getting their life on track. In 2014, Mel Trotter has assisted with 162 families finding permanent housing, 99 individuals securing jobs, and provided low-cost transportation for 286 people through their vehicle donation and resale program.

 

The hungry, hurting, and homeless are all thankful for what Mel Trotter offers, but without volunteers and donations, Mel Trotter would struggle to offer its services. This Christmas season, give back to those who are less fortunate. Volunteer your time or see what donations you can make to help! Visit http://www.meltrotter.org to find more information!