A huge thank you to our partners and sponsors for the Day of Caring in Oceana County! Thank you to Hart Economic & Redevelopment Office, Shelby State Bank, Gales Insurance Agency, and over 60 volunteers who participated in the morning and afternoon activities in our Hart and Shelby communities. The day began early in the Historic District of Downtown Hart as volunteers gathered at the Hart Economic & Redevelopment Office to collect needed supplies for their community service projects, as prioritized from local community input. Special thanks to Nicole Steel, the Community & Economic Development Director, H.E.A.R.T, of West Michigan, who coordinated the initial clean up and repair duties, such as raking leaves, pulling weeds, painting sidewalk hearts, trimming trees, painting tables and exercise equipment at the bike trail head, and making minor repairs at John Gurney Park. The day culminated with downtown fall decorating with pumpkins, colorful mums and cornstalks, donated by Weesie’s Nursery in Hart. As this was the official Kickoff of the Oceana United Way Campaign, we erected our 9-foot Campaign Thermometer on the Hart Courthouse front lawn.
The afternoon activities brought volunteers to the Shelby State Bank parking lot, in Shelby, to help distribute almost 12,000 lbs. of food from the Feeding America of West Michigan mobile food pantry. Special thanks to Deb Swanker, Oceana Community Committee Member, and Accounting Clerk for Shelby State Bank and Gales Agency, who helped coordinate the event. Volunteers included staff and management from Shelby State Bank and Gales Agency, as well as scouts and leaders from Boy Scout Troop 1155. Even with intermittent showers, the event was well organized and cars were processed efficiently and quickly picking up food at 4 different stations of vegetables, fruits, meat and dairy products.
The breakdown of families who received boxes of food were:
- 117 Households
- 415 Individuals
- 65 Seniors
- 166 Children
- 13 Vets
The event culminated in the installation of the Oceana UW Campaign Thermometer at the Shelby Veterans Park.
