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Mel Trotter Ministries is one of the few organizations that help reduce homelessness in the West Michigan area.

They provide shelter, meals, and encouragement to those in need. They provide so much more than that too. They create a place for people experiencing homelessness to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ. In the midst of this, they provide a place for them to live, food for them to eat, and they help them with financial counseling. This way they can help them build a solid and healthy lifestyle from the start. Mel Trotter assists with finding jobs and follows up with people even after they’ve left the shelter. They want to make sure that those people can keep up with society, so they don’t end up back in the housing at Mel Trotter. At Mel Trotter, they work on long term improvement. 88% of guests from 2017 who exit Mel Trotter Ministry programs successfully remain housed after one year!

Throughout the guest’s time staying there, they have access to pastoral help and chapel three times per week. Mel Trotter Ministries are trying to create a warm, welcoming home for those who don’t have one. They use Christian beliefs and practices to show love and kindness in West Michigan. Their goal is to end homelessness by giving encouragement and hope to those who may not have any.

Most of us have been blessed with a home for our whole lives, and don’t understand the feeling of homelessness. Volunteering at Mel Trotter is an excellent place to go and get to know some people who have been in those situations. The stories that they can tell you and the knowledge that they can provide are going to be worth your time there. Building relationships is one of the most important factors in helping them get back into the routines of society.

In 2017 Mel Trotter provided:

101,987 people with shelter over night

129,313 nourishing meals, served with love and dignity

And served 460 youth, ages 18-24

They also assisted 401 men, women, and children with finding stable housing

Helped 103 people secure employment

Helped 84 families with children to find housing

Provided 2,077 patients with vision, dental, and chiropractic services at the Clinics

Here at Alliance, we have a Quotes for a Cause campaign. For every quote requested through our website (make sure to choose a ministry, and respond to our phone call), we give $10 to one of our partners, Mel Trotter or Kid’s Food Basket. These organizations have done so much to help our neighbors and our city, it’s time that we give back to them too! Think about what “home” means to you. Whether it’s a home-cooked meal, family, or just a roof over your head, some people don’t have any of those things. What would you do if you didn’t have anywhere to go at night? Think of every time you run inside your home, when it’s raining, windy, or you just can’t wait to get inside and kick your shoes off. Most of us have that luxury, but there are many people who don’t. Let’s work with Mel Trotter to end homelessness today!

For more info and ways to help visit http://www.meltrotter.org/home to see what you can do, and 

https://www.instantflipbook.com/flipbooks/6f0f6b2beb/?page=12 to view their 2017 annual report. 

Valentine’s Day: Date Night Ideas and Gift Guide

Valentine’s Day is here! Don’t forget to plan a special night for your special someone. We’ve compiled a small list of date ideas and then a gift guide as well. Hopefully this can help you give your significant other a date they’ll never forget. This is not limited to couples and can be used for a Girls Night Out or for your family members and friends as well. Although Valentine’s Day is generally more of a romantic holiday, it’s just celebrating love. It’s good to show your friends and family some appreciation on Valentine’s Day as well because everyone wants to feel loved!

Date Night Ideas for those who have forgotten or run out of creativity:

Go out to Dinner: The most common date idea, one that we all enjoy, is going out to dinner. Everyone loves easier with a full belly! Here’s a small list of some of the best restaurants in Grand Rapids. Grove, Green Well Gastro Pub, Marie Catrib’s, Terra, Brewery Vivant, Hibachi, the Downtown Market, or any place on 28^th Street! There are countless options for dinner in Grand Rapids and all of them can be as romantic as you make them.

Ice Skating: Rosa Parks Circle is $3 per person and you can skate for as long as you’d like! An excellent date, just be sure to check the weather before heading out. This skating rink is outdoors and hours may change depending on the weather.

Craft Room: If you and/or your significant other are interested in art, then these are some wonderful places to visit this Valentine’s Day! You have couples painting options where you can paint and have adult beverages for a romantic evening. You can do this at Painting with a Twist or the Brush Studio. Both are in Grand Rapids and both will leave you with a fun memoir of the evening that you can use as home décor as well. The Mud Room in Grand Rapids is a similar place, instead of painting you have pottery that you can glaze and wooden signs to paint. This is a little bit of a change up but the perfect choice for those of us who aren’t necessarily talented in the painting world.   

Movie: Go see a movie in theatres or rent one and watch it at home. Either one makes for good quality time with the person you love and can keep you out of the cold.

Sporting Event: Some would view this as not romantic but it’s so much fun! Wear your jerseys, get some nachos, and enjoy each other’s competitive spirits! Another way of doing this is to order wings and stay in to watch the Winter Olympics with your partner.

Blind Date Book from Barnes & Noble: Blind date books are one of my favorite surprises! You purchase a book that’s wrapped up with just a small summary on it and then you have to read to find out the plot. This takes you and your partner on a mystery adventure and can be done in the comfort of your home! 

Coffee: Getting coffee with someone allows time to chat and get to know one another. Everyone needs to get coffee now and then, even if you’ve been together for years and years! My boyfriend took me out for coffee and a nice walk in the fresh downtown air of GR last year and it was my favorite Valentine’s date yet. Some coffee shops are Biggby, Starbucks, Ferris Coffee & Nut Co., Madcap Coffee, Rowster Coffee, Schuil Coffee, and (my favorite) PaLatte Coffee & Art.

Horse-drawn Carriage Ride: You can ride around beautiful downtown Grand Rapids in a horse drawn carriage with your love. Bring blankets and hot chocolate and enjoy the fresh air! I’ve also had the pleasure of going on a carriage ride with my sweetheart and it was very romantic, I highly recommend this. It gives you lots of time to talk and get to know one another while experiencing GR. This is also a good way to get outside even though it’s winter! 

 

Here’s a small gift guide to help get your creativity flowing this Valentine’s Day:

Gifts for Her: Flowers, chocolates, balloons, jewelry, gold plated rose, eternal rose, cheesy matching things (phone cases, bracelets, t shirts, etc.), a nice outfit for her to wear to dinner, or a giant teddy bear.

All of these things may seem cliché or basic, but that’s all she needs. Valentine’s Day doesn’t require a huge, spectacular gift, a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolate is plenty. What a woman really wants is to spend time with the person she loves. You’ll want to be sure to get in all 5 love languages this Valentine’s Day.

 

Gifts for Him: Personalized pocket knife, soft blanket, tickets to a game or concert, chocolates, beer, a dozen donuts, heart shaped pizza or steak, gift card to his favorite store, or a good book.

It’s often perceived that men are too hard to shop for on Valentine’s Day. It’s as simple as finding something small that he loves. And once again, just like for women, men want to spend quality time with their loved one this Valentine’s Day. See the 5 love languages for more on how you can show love this holiday season.  

 

For more Valentine’s Day ideas visit https://www.experiencegr.com/events/valentines-day/ to see what some other people have come up with! Let us know what your favorite ideas are and if this was helpful to you and your loved ones this Valentine’s Day! 

How does your relationship effect your insurance?

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and love is in the air! Love is wonderful, but there are some key steps to take when progressing through your relationship that are often forgotten. Once these are forgotten they can add stress to the relationship later on. In order to prevent this from happening, we’ve made a small guide for you. This should help with whatever step of the relationship you’re going through and can assist with making big decisions on whether or not you’re ready to move forward.

When getting married: Start with calling your insurance company about a month before the wedding. If you can, send them the declaration page for your significant other’s policy. This way they can easily combine your policy with your soon-to-be spouse’s policy. You’ll want to make sure that all names (last name in particular) are appropriately adjusted. You will need to call your company to see when you can officially combine policies. Some carriers want everything together as soon as you’re living together, and some want everything combined once you’re married. To find an exact time, you’ll want to call your company.

When moving in together: Whether you’re married or not, if you’re living together then most companies will want you both on the same policy. Occasionally, it’s as simple as providing a declarations page to each other’s insurance company. Usually, you’ll at least be added as a driver on your significant other’s policy. You may want to get a quote for combining policies at that point. Often, it’s cheaper to add another driver and vehicle (depending on the situation). If your significant other has a poor driving record, it could increase your insurance rates.

On the other end of the spectrum, some people are feeling less love and going through the difficult process of splitting up. It’s hard to go through that and we’re trying to make that as pain-free as possible. We’ve put together a couple tips for you to make sure that you don’t miss an important step in this process.

When moving out (no divorce): Whether you’re married or not, if you’re living at separate addresses then you can get your own policy. As long as both parties are insured at all times then it’s okay. You’ll need to make sure that both parties are cooperating to get two separate policies started, then cancel the old, combined policy after the new ones have both been issued. Make sure all names, addresses, and vehicles are correct. If one of the parties moves into a place with other people, then you’ll want to refer back to When Moving in Together and potentially combine policies with them.

When getting divorced: A divorce is challenging. You’ll be splitting everything up and it’ll be exhausting. You’ll want to call your insurance company and discuss what steps need to be taken. You can each get your own policies issued but you cannot remove your ex-wife or ex-husband from the policy. In order to remove someone from a policy, the insurance company would need to speak with them directly.

We hope you never have to experience the negative ways that relationships can affect you but that’s the risk you take. This is just a quick guide to make those times less stressful, and make the good times more enjoyable. As always, we appreciate your feedback and hope this is helpful!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Welcome to 2018!

So far, we’ve been enjoying ourselves and we hope you’ve had a wonderful month too!

Purchasing a new vehicle is thrilling for everyone! Getting caught up in the excitement can cause you to miss a couple key steps in the process. In order to help out with that, we’ve put together a small list of things to do so that you don’t miss any too important.

1. Find the right vehicle: You’ll want to find the year, make and model of the vehicle you’ll be purchasing.

2. Once you’ve done that, find the exact vehicle (yes, this means VIN and everything!).

3. You may want to go ahead and get an estimate from your insurance company as to how much the new vehicle will cost. This can vary quite a bit so don’t go by what anyone else tells you, always call your agent for the insurance estimate. Each auto policy is unique in its own ways. Adding a vehicle could add discounts, while at the same time adding premium for the additional coverage. It all depends on the situation so it’s better to call your agent at that point in time.

4. (If there’s a loan on the vehicle) You’ll want to get the lienholder info. This means address, phone and fax numbers.

5. Once you’ve purchased the vehicle, you’ll want to call your insurance company and add the vehicle to your policy. You’ll need the year, make, model, and VIN. You’ll also need to know what coverage you’d like on the vehicle. At that time, they can send the proof of insurance to you, the lienholder, and the dealership at the same time!

6. Enjoy your brand new vehicle and drive safely!

Having this info ready can keep you from stressing over the small things. You’re supposed to enjoy buying a new vehicle and want you to be happy as possible! Let us know if this list was helpful!

Enjoy your 2018!

Turkey Delivery – Christmas 2017

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Alliance to you! We’ve had a wonderful time this holiday season and we’re hoping that you and your family have as well. The holidays are a time for joy, celebration, and giving. The owner of Alliance, Ryan Kyes, doesn’t want anyone to have to worry about providing a meal, especially during the holidays. He believes that food and meals are a powerful tool for bringing people together, as family and community, to support one another and bring happiness and love. So because he has been so blessed, he feels it is important to give to those who don’t have a meal this holiday or who are struggling to make ends meet. Every Christmas, Ryan buys turkey dinners and puts together a team of people to deliver them to families in need. Our turkey delivery time isn’t just good for the community, but it’s also good for us. It helps us to reflect on our blessings and warms our hearts to help people to know that they are loved and that there is hope.

Handing out turkey dinners is something that we all look forward to every year. It reminds us that we have kind friends, and helps us to get out in the community and make new ones, as well. We hope you enjoy these photos of our 2017 Turkey Delivery and many more years to come! 

 

Winter Driving in Michigan

The snow is falling and the roads are slippery! Christmas is here and so are the icy roads. Most of us in Michigan are experienced with “winter driving” however we can get to confident with our skills and it only takes one mistake to cause an accident. We just experienced one of our first huge snow storms and the first few are always a bit of a wake up call. Here’s a small list of reminders for driving in the winter and tips for those who maybe don’t have as much as experience driving in Michigan snow, ice, and now rain!  

1. Turn your lights on. Other vehicles need to be able to see you just as much as you need to see them. This will help prevent people from pulling out in front of you.

2. Keep an emergency kit on hand. This includes: blankets, gloves, jumper cables, emergency cones, snow boots, and kitty litter. All of these things could easily become a necessity. 

3. Four wheel drive doesn’t mean you can stop on ice. No amount of grip can make you stop on something completely smooth and wet. You’ll want to always use precaution and plan to stop as if you have no traction at all.

4. Adjust speed to road conditions. It’s always better to be a couple minutes late getting to where you’re going, rather than potentially not getting there at all.

5. Always assume that it’s icy. Black ice could be anywhere and there’s no way of knowing which areas are safe and which aren’t. If we error on the side of caution and pretend that all areas are dangerous to avoid accidents or going in the ditch.

6. Make room for other’s mistakes. You may be following at a safe distance but make extra room in case the car in front of you has an emergency or an accident as well.

7. Make sure your vehicle is safe to drive before heading out. You’ll want all of the ice and snow scraped and brushed off of your car so that you have a full view of your surroundings and others can have a full view of you. If you don’t have your lights on, head lights AND tail lights, then other drivers won’t be able to see you braking, turning, or coming towards them in general.

8. Make sure you have plenty of gas – you don’t want to get stuck on the side of the road in this weather! Not only is it below freezing, but it’s also dangerous. Someone else may lose control of their vehicle and cause a disaster, hitting you and/or your vehicle.

 

Alliance is proud and grateful to be able to serve you this winter during the cold, nasty weather in Michigan. The snow sure can be beautiful while it’s falling but it can turn our commutes into a treacherous journey. Make sure you’re both prepared and covered in case of an accident. If you need car insurance or are looking to increase coverage in case of an emergency, just give us a call and we can help you out. Adding roadside assistance to your policy can solve quite a few of these problems, too. Towing, gas delivery, and lockout services can help the stress of driving in bad weather. 

Thanksgiving 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! It’s that time of year! Football is on and we’re all eating delicious, home cooked meals, surrounded by our closest family and friends. While remembering how thankful we are for the lives we’ve been given, it’s important to reflect back on these things. Often we remember the bad things much more distinctly than we remember the good things. Really focus on all of the times that you’ve smiled and how much you’ve been blessed by the people around you!

What better way to celebrate, than by gathering around some Thanksgiving classics. Turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls, corn, ham, cranberry sauce, casseroles, and pie! Because we are thankful for you, we’ve provided you with a recipe for some tasty pumpkin pie. As seen on allrecipes.com we have the delicious pie here below, enjoy!

Perfect Pumpkin Pie

1 (15 ounce) can of pumpkin

1 (14 ounce) can of sweetened condensed milk

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

½ teaspoon salt

1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Whisk pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, spices and salt in medium bowl until smooth. Pour into crust. Bake 15 minutes.

Reduce oven temp to 350 degrees and continue baking 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted 1 inch from crust comes out clean. Garnish as desired.

This pie is only to be eaten with good company and in a peaceful environment!

Alliance is so grateful for each and every one of you and we appreciate your business. There’s nothing we love more than helping protect our community. Have a lovely Thanksgiving and Happy Black Friday Shopping, everyone! 

What’s your favorite part of the holidays?

Thank you, Veterans!

Veteran’s Day is a public holiday held on the anniversary of the end of WWI to honor US veterans and victims of all wars. We are very grateful for those who have fought for our freedom and served this country! Once way that we show our appreciation to veterans is by giving them major discounts and deals! Here’s a small list of free treats for Veterans on their special day, to show them how much we appreciate them.

Free lunch @ Texas Roadhouse

Free meal @ Applebee’s

Free lunch @ TGI Fridays

Free lunch @ Buffalo Wild Wings

Free Breakfast @ Friendly’s

Free Breakfast @ Friendly’s

Free Donut @ Dunkin’ Donuts’

Free Dessert @ Red Lobster

Free Dessert @ Cracker Barrel

Free Entry @ National Parks

Free Haircut @ Sport Clips or Great Clips

Here are a couple inspirational and motivational quotes to remember this weekend! 

“There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.” – Alexander Hamilton

“The veterans of our military services have put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms that we enjoy. They have dedicated their lives to their country and deserve to be recognized for their commitment.” – Judd Gregg

“Honoring the sacrifices many have made for our country in the name of freedom and democracy is the very foundation of Veterans Day.” – Charles B. Rangel

Don’t forget to thank a veteran this Saturday!

Fall is upon us and winter is on deck! It’s time to get outside while you still can and prepare yourselves (and your homes/autos) for the cold and icy weather. This time of year can go by many names: fall, autumn, and football season. Here at Alliance, we refer to it mostly as football season. Regardless, the leaves are changing colors and people are getting anxious to get out in the fresh air and get some sunshine in before being confined to the indoors.

Pumpkin Patch: Pick one out, take it home, carve a silly face on it, insert the candle and set it on the porch! Now everyone can enjoy your latest creation! Some exciting places to go for this activity is Harvest Time, Heidi’s Farmstand, and Uncle John’s Cider Mill.

Carving Pumpkins: This may be the messiest part of the season, but it’s also a great time to let your creative side out! It can be the scariest face you can think of or something calm, peaceful or silly. This can be family, friends, or even a date! Carving pumpkins is a good time no matter how old you are.

Hayride: During the day or the night, you’ll want to dress warmly for this! You can go on a hayride at most pumpkin patches or create your own! All you need is a wagon, something to pull the wagon, and hay/straw bales! Have fun with this, they only come once a year!

Bonfire: These can happen year-round! Bonfires happen all summer long but you’ve got to be sure to get your last couple in before the snow hits! It’s going to be hard to make a big fire when there is 2 ft. of snow on the ground!

Caramel Corn: Making caramel corn can sound like a big sticky mess but it’s worth it! Not only is this delicious and sugary but it’s also good bonding for family and friends! It’s fairly inexpensive too, so make a triple batch and spread the love!

Apple Picking: This is a wonderful, and active fall activity! You can get out in the fresh air and find fresh produce for a cheaper price! Apple picking can be a great way to spend quality time with your loved ones while still being productive.

Donuts: I don’t know that most people would consider “donuts” as an activity, but I do! Sugar covered donuts are a MUST in the fall! Perfectly combined with hot chocolate/coffee, and a book, this invites a warm and cozy feeling into any day.

Corn maze: Whether it’s haunted or not, a corn maze will turn a fall day into a party! A good time to get lost and enjoy the fresh air! Robinette’s has a lovely maze and even better donuts! Schwallier’s Country Basket is another good place for a corn maze and/or a hayride. Crane Orchards, Fruit Ridge Hayrides and Corn Maze, Olin Farm and Heidi’s Farmstand are all places with fun and interactive corn mazes.

Haunted house: A haunted house may not be for everyone but they sure get your blood pumping! Whether you’re going for fun or for terror, you’ll burn calories either way! Three terrifying places would be The Haunt, Moonlight Manor Haunted House, and the Forest Of Fear.

Hallelujah night: Hallelujah night is an alternative to trick-or-treating (often held in a church). It’s a fun, safe, and indoor event that involves lots of costumes, candy, and games! There’s one of these at the Mount Hope Church in Portland, at Stones Church, and at Cornerstone University.

Costume party: Any costume party will do! Dressing up is part of the season and who doesn’t want to be someone else for a night? Popular costume ideas involve zombies, mummies, ghosts, witches, pumpkins, skeletons, and your favorite Disney characters!

Go Hiking: The cold is near and it’s the perfect time to get out and moving! We have a narrow window in Michigan, where it isn’t too hot and it isn’t too cold, we need to be outside while we can! Hiking in the fall can be especially beautiful because of the lovely colors of the trees. Find a wonderful spot, full of reds, oranges, and yellows, and spend the afternoon there! Some common trails are the NCT – North Country Trailhead (right here in Lowell), West Michigan Trails & Greenways, and Pigeon Creek Park. Two more favorites of mine are Sessions Lake State Park and the Ledges in Grand Ledge.

Tailgating: Not driving too close to someone on the highway, but football tailgating! Grilling, and playing some catch before the big game starts is a perfect way to spend Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. Get in the spirit to cheer on your favorite team while spending time with friends and family. There’s usually delicious food too so that’s a win-win!

 

Some less exciting activities that must be done before winter can include making sure your vehicles are properly insured and getting your home and autos prepared for the freezing temperatures and mass amounts of snow/ice. You’ll want to be prepared for the first of the icy roads so make sure you have coverage on your vehicles for that! You never know what the weather will be like in Michigan, so it’s important to be ready for anything. If you’re worried about your coverages or have any questions for us just give us a call!

What’s your favorite Autumn Activity?