By Gari Voss
The weekend of April 18-20, 2025, was again packed with possibilities for all ages. The events really began on Thursday, April 17th and did not slow down until the afternoon of Saturday, April 19th.
The “weekend” really began on Thursday, April 17th when the lower level of the Griswold Auditorium filled with people interested in learning what it is like to be in poverty. The perimeter of the room was filled with tables representing the different businesses and organizations with which people must interact on a regular basis just to obtain the basics of life. Participants from county non-profits, the Allegan County Community (ACCF) leadership program, and ACCF donors were assigned to a family whose members would work together during the simulation.
Over a 4-week period, each family had to find money for transportation to medical appointments, the store, the bank, etc. Plus, they had to pay their rent, and some even were evicted and sent to temporary housing. Others were ticketed for leaving young children home alone. During the final reflection, participants were able to share their frustrations and have a better understanding of what it is like to have a limited budget on which to live.
The Workshop was hosted by ACCF and facilitated by Access of West Michigan, an organization whose mission is to cultivate solutions related to poverty. Those clerking the resource tables have known poverty and volunteer in a variety of ways to assist those in poverty to move out of poverty and to educate the public what it means to be in poverty.
Poverty Education Workshop
“Families” during the Poverty Education Workshop on Thurs., Apr. 17, 2025, at the Griswold Auditorium had to make plans on how to complete all of the tasks necessary for daily living.
As plans were made during the Poverty Education Workshop, family members worked to find transportation to go to appointments, cover childcare, purchase food, and workout daily problems. The lower floor of the Griswold Auditorium became rather chaotic as the weeks in poverty unfurled.
Book Bag Sale.
The Friends of the Allegan District Library held a Book Bag “Sale” on April 25-26, 2025, to cull out books, CDs and DVDs that they could not fit on shelves in the Carnegie Corner Bookstore. Customers could peruse the overly filled tables and fill a bag with books and other items to take home. A donation of any denomination could be made to the Friends of the Allegan District Library that will assist the Friends in supporting library activities.
Kids Summer Discovery Fair.
Next door to the library, in the lower level of the Griswold Auditorium, tables formed a perimeter around the room for the Kids Summer Discovery Fair on Sat., Apr. 19, 2025, from 10-noon. The event brought families looking for ways to keep their children busy during the summer months. Each table held information about summer activities in the Allegan County area. Visitors learned about summer camps, farms to visit, library, Help Me Grow summer plans, and activities like family Yoga. There were games to play and information to gather. Conversations and information materials led to discovering new activities around Allegan County. Thank you to Nicole Heslip and Pam Armstrong for organizing the first Summer Discovery Fair. Jaycee’s Annual Easter Eggstravaganza
Jaycee Park filled with hundreds of excited children ready to participate in the Jaycee’s Annual Easter Eggstravaganza on Sat., Apr. 19, 2025, beginning at 11am. They came in cars, strollers, wagons and on foot to hear the word GO and begin adding as many eggs as possible to their Easter baskets and bags. Each egg was filled with candy, plus there were some special eggs that contained slips of paper which led to extra prizes. Beginning with the youngest age group, children ran out onto the lawn to gather as many eggs as possible. Those arriving early could even have pictures taken with the Easter Bunny. The egg stuffing was done by Jaycee volunteers at Sassy Olive. Observant visitors even found eggs that had been hidden around town to advertise the event.
Earth Day Community Clean Up
Not to be forgotten was the Downtown Earth Day Community Clean Up. 15 Teams checked in at Sassy Olive on Locust St. between 10am and 1pm. Participants received jammed backed goodie bags thanks to many of the businesses in town and were assigned an area to clean. The garbage bags were taken to the city dumpsters along the riverfront. Sorry, no picture, but miles of sidewalks and foliage were cleared of debris and litter. A special thank you to Sassy Olive for being the starting point, to all who participated, and to Pizza Hut for the sustenance at the end.
