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?

We’re so excited to announce to everyone that we’ve opened a second location in Grand Rapids! We’re not only on Main Street in Lowell but we’re also located right off the East Beltline, right behind the Twisted Rooster! Our new address info is:

 

Lowell – 423 W. Main St. Lowell, MI 49331

Grand Rapids – 3351 Eagle Run Dr NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525

 

 

Along with this, we’ve had a slew of employee additions! Check out our employee directory to get to know them better. We still have some employees in training that will be added at a later date, so keep an eye out for them.

 

Our newest members of the team are Kerstin Froman-O’Neal and Kelli French. They’re very excited to be here at Alliance and we love them already! Along with these changes, we’ve had some new management positions filled. Our new Regional Manager is Phalesha Kyes, our Lowell Office Manager is Scott Pullen, and our Grand Rapids Office Manager is Sean Pullen.

Our employees over in Grand Rapids are still adjusting to the move but they’re loving the central location that they have right there in Grand Rapids! Feel free to stop by the new office and say hello to Phalesha, Sean, and some other new employees!

While we’re expanding, don’t forget that we can help with all of your insurance needs. You don’t need to visit any of our locations to have insurance with us, you can simply call or email any of our agents. You can find this contact info here, and choose which agent you’d like to work with. 

 

 

 

It’s finally football season! We all know that along with football season and the start of school comes fundraising and big events. Most schools will do a “Pink” game to help raise funds and awareness for cancer (and other charities, organizations, etc.), but nobody can compete with the Annual Lowell Pink Arrow Pride game. Thousands of people will fill the stands, all in pink, to help the cause. In the last decade, we’ve raised over a million dollars to support those with cancer and their families. This number continues to grow, each year we raise more and more! Pink T-shirts are sold to help paint the crowd pink and the best part, the shirts are also a ticket to the game and an excellent way to raise money! The bleachers and crowds won’t be the only ones sporting the bright pink, the Lowell Varsity football team will be wearing hot pink jerseys while they play. 

The funds raised at the Pink Arrow Pride game go to multiple charities and clubs in the community. The game is the largest of the year and requires a lot of help and is reliant on volunteers to keep up with the number of fans that will attend. This game also goes towards student scholarships in honor of Kathy Talus, a former Lowell teacher who lost her battle with cancer, and Dr. Gerard who has given 30+ years volunteering and providing care to student athletes.

The roots of the Pink Arrow game originate from the 2008 Lowell Football Coach, Noel Deal, who came up with the idea of the pink jerseys and the charitable activities. They quickly raised $93,000 and then it only escalated from there. The game now has several community activities and events that are related, Chair-a-tee and Quiver 5k are just two examples.

At Alliance Insurance, we proudly wore our pink shirts this Friday and are grateful to have an Agency owner who provided those for us. Alliance will be at the Pink Arrow game, supporting and encouraging the cause. We look forward to seeing you all there! Watching this game will be exciting, but it will be more exciting to know that all of our efforts will be put towards charities and better causes. Football is wonderful and giving is too!

For more information, you can visit the Pink Arrow Pride website: www.pinkarrowpride.org

Please share your pink arrow pictures with us! 

Going Somewhere?

This is the last big travel weekend of the year! Today is the first weekend of September and this means fall is here! We’ve got that last camping trip out of our system before winter hits. Being that it’s the last major weekend holiday, the roads are going to be busy and people are going to be celebrating.

Remember to stay safe and drink responsibly! This is an exciting weekend with no work on Monday (for most of us) so you may be tempted to overdo it but remember that you’ll have more fun when you aren’t in the hospital. We want you to have the time of your life this weekend and enjoy the lovely weather with the last bits of summer so we’ve made this to help you out a little. Here’s a small list of road trip necessities for your holiday weekend!

1.       With mass amounts of people headed north, you’ll want to remember to drive cautiously and carefully. Being fully awake and focused will be necessary for your drive. The best times for traffic are very early in the morning and then much later in the evening. I know these times are the most difficult times to be alert but a cup of coffee will work wonders!

2.       Remember to pack lunches! Stopping for a meal can add an hour onto your travel time and increase the amount of stress in the vehicle. In order to appease everyone and avoid unnecessary stops, packing lunches will be the way to go.

3.       Know your route! Nothing like getting lost on your way to the destination! You’ll want to have a GPS on and know where construction areas are prior to hitting the detour. Having a backup route is never a bad idea.

4.       Bring clothes for all climates, this is Michigan after all! It’s been much colder than usual at this time of year and a storm can pop up at any second. Necessary items include (but are not limited to): umbrellas, rain boots, warm socks, sweatshirts, jeans, t shirts, and a long sleeve!

5.       Don’t forget your car ride games and entertainment! The license plate game with all 50 states, the alphabet game with any sign, the many songs that are good for families to sing along with, and (of course) a movie or two.

6.       Create your perfect playlist! This will keep you awake, it will keep you from messing with the radio, and there’ll be no commercials!

7.       Snacks will be necessary. Even though we already listed packing lunches, snacks will always be an important part of every road trip. Nothing that will make you car-sick, but just a little treats to celebrate the holiday.

 

Let us know your favorite part of a road trip and don’t forget to be safe this weekend!

Happy Labor day everyone!

*** Our office will be closed Monday, 09/04/2017, for the holiday ***

Alliance Cares: Update and Recap

We’ve had a wonderful time in the past year with our different charities and we wanted to share a little bit of what we’ve done to help in the community and with our partners, Kid’s Food Basket and Mel Trotter Ministries.

Turkey Dinners

We are blessed to be able to hand out turkey dinners for the 7^th year in a row! Our agency principal’s family, along with the staff and friends collect the names of 200 families from the West side of Grand Rapids. On Christmas Eve, they hand deliver an entire Christmas meal consisting of a Turkey, corn, stuffing, green beans and rolls, so the families can enjoy a meal together. We are eager and looking forward to this years’ festivities, and many more to come. 

 

Feast for Kids

Our agency manager, Phalesha Kyes was able to pair up with Kids Food Basket on a much deeper level this year. Throughout the years of delivering checks for our “Quotes for a Cause Campaign”, a very meaningful relationship has been built between our agency and Kids Food Basket. Phalesha was asked to be their Key Note speaker at their largest fundraiser of the year; Feast for Kids. For more information on this, you can read our blog from June 8th, on the Make More Happen Award, here.  

http://www.kidsfoodbasket.org/

 

Quotes for a cause- Check delivery

Our Quotes for a Cause campaign has been running for 2 years now! We were able to deliver a check to Mel Trotter, one of our partners, in June of 2016. We back their mission whole heartedly and strive to meet the same end goal. We will continue our effort’s to be great partners, friends, and allies with Mel Trotter-join the movement today by learning more about their mission.

http://www.meltrotter.org/home

 

Tell us about your favorite charity or organization and what you’ve done to help in your community! 

Why Insurance is Important

The insurance industry is one of the fastest growing industries in today’s world. It’s required in almost every state and it absolutely essential for safe and affordable living. Now I know that “affordable living” isn’t what first comes to mind when you think of insurance, so let me explain. Insurance is a cost effective way of paying for coverage so that it’s there for you in the case that an unfortunate event happens.

Since Insurance Nerd Day was just last Tuesday, we decided to answer some of the most commonly asked questions for you in an attempt to help spread the love for insurance! Feel free to comment with any questions you may have!

 

Frequently asked questions:

Q: Why does my premium increase every time I use my insurance?

A: Every time you file a claim that will be viewed as you being a higher risk. Someone who’s filed a claim in the past is more likely to file a claim in the future. This basic truth is what determines the cost of each individual insurance premium. It’s all based on who is a high risk and how likely they are to file a claim.

 

 

Q: Why do young drivers cost more?

A: Young drivers have less experience and are therefore considered a higher risk. Every high-risk driver will cost more than the other low-risk drivers. This is also why people with more accidents and tickets are more expensive – they are viewed as a higher risk.

 

 

Q: What’s the difference between a captive agency and an independent agency?

A: A captive agency cannot provide competitive prices because they only sell insurance for that specific company. They also cannot provide you with multiple options in product and coverage options. An independent agency can sell insurance through as many carriers as they have a contract with. This requires that these carriers keep their prices as competitive as possible. An independent agency will also have more options for you, if you decide that you don’t like your carrier, you can call and ask to be switched to the next. Not every carrier will have a good rate for you but usually, there are a couple options that are close in price range.

 

 

Q: Why should I get an estimate prior to filing a claim?

A: This depends on what your deductible is. If you aren’t sure how much the damage will cost to repair and you think it might be around the same amount as (or less than) your deductible, then it will probably be more cost-effective to pay for the repairs out of pocket. A claim on your policy will make you classify as a higher risk and will be surcharged for on your policy. If the damages will cost significantly more than your deductible then you wouldn’t require an estimate prior to filing a claim, it does make the process faster though.

 

 

Q: Why is my medical coverage (PIP) costing SO much money?

A: Here in Michigan, we have UNLIMITED medical on our auto insurance. This is the true meaning of unlimited, it covers however much you need for the rest of your life, not until your policy term expires. Benefits of PIP typically cover medical expenses, funeral expenses, work loss, replacement services, and survivor’s loss (consisting of income loss and replacement services).

PIP can be written as Primary or Coordinated.

a. Coordination of Benefits

• Coordination of medical expenses (excluding Medicare benefits provided by the Federal

Government) applies to you or any family member.

• Coordination of work loss applies to you or any family member.

b. Primary Benefits: The insuring company will pay for all expenses incurred from an auto

accident, less the deductible that is shown on the declarations page.

c. Deductible: Options of $0, $300 or $500 can be chosen. The deductible will be applied if…

• You have chosen Primary or

• A Coordinated medical carrier denies the claim and does not “pay the first dollar”

Most people who have health insurance are not covered for auto accidents because their health carriers see how expensive it is and exclude it. If you have health insurance, always ask if you’re covered in event of an auto accident. 

PIP can be paid out if you are injured in, on, or around a vehicle.

Medical expenses include usual and customary charges incurred for reasonable and necessary services rendered for an insured’s care, recovery, and/or rehabilitation. 

 

I hope these have helped answer some of the questions you may have. If you have any other questions, please feel free to comment! Someone else may have the exact same question and we can work on efficiency and answer them for multiple people at the same time! Let us know if you have any questions!

Let the camping begin! We’re over half way through the summer and it’s starting to get busier in the northern areas. The weather is light and warm and the days are long! It’s the perfect time for a weekend getaway. Labor Day weekend is quickly approaching as well and you’ll want to get in one last family vacation before the upcoming school year. It’s important to remember to bring sunscreen, bug spray, sunglasses, a hat, and water to all of these activities! Forgetting any of these items can result in a less than relaxing vacation and nobody would want that. Here, we’ve put together a small list of family friendly activities for your late summer trip, and of potential places to visit. If you have any additional ideas on places/activities for us then just comment those below! We appreciate your feedback and look forward to hearing from you!

 

Activities:

Hammocks: “Mocking” as the young kids are calling it. Take your hammocks to the great outdoors and relax! Bring a book, a pillow, and blanket, or some music and go rest in the fresh air. These are calming and stress relieving. Highly recommend.

Hiking: The Ledges in Grand Ledge are quite fascinating and family friendly! The farther North you get, the more options you have for hiking. There’s an abundance of trails leading to or passing by waterfalls in the Upper Peninsula that I would recommend as well. Pictured Rocks is another wonderful place for hiking. Bring your camera!

Great Lakes: Any of these lovely beaches would make for a relaxing and exciting family vacation! We’re literally surrounded by these lakes so just head East or West and you’ll hit one eventually! Be sure to make sure the flag is green, and the waters are safe for swimming. For further swimming safety, see my most recent blog.

Fishing: A quiet activity for those who are looking for serenity. Go big in the Great Lakes or head to a small lake near you. There’s water everywhere so we have plenty of fishing options. Go spend some peaceful quality time with your loved ones near the water. Biggest fish contests always add thrill to this adventure!

Sand Dunes: Silver Lake is probably the most popular. These are fun and soft but keep in mind that they get blistering hot! Sand socks and water will be a necessity. Log Slide, in the Upper Peninsula, is another great sand dune spot to visit, however, this one is a little more advanced.

Run a Race: Running season is upon us! 5k’s, 10k’s, 25k’s, half marathons, marathons, and all other races are starting to become more frequent! You can find a race scheduled for almost every weekend! Some races that are more for fun and less serious include mud runs, color runs, and zombie runs (for those who are fearless).

Horse Back Riding: Not everyone gets to do this every day! Perfect for a hot sunny day with the family. Places for this can be found all over MI. You’ll want helmets for safety purposes and a cowboy hat for fun!

Golf: A relaxed sport to keep competition alive while keeping your heart rate at a good pace. This can be done anywhere and is a great way to stay active and in the outdoors. These places are always beautiful and we can’t help but take our time on the courses.

 

Places:

Holland State Park (Lighthouse attraction and Tunnel Park – all on Lake Michigan)

Long Lake Campground and County Park (Multiple Locations)

Chippewa Landing

Camp Living Waters (Connects to ORV and ATV trails)

Duke Creek Campground

Loons Point Campground

Cedar River North State Forest Campground

Grand Island National Recreation Area (UP)

Lake Leelanau RV Park (Traverse City)

Duck Lake State Park (on Lake Michigan)

Van Riper State Park

Double JJ Ranch (Only around an hour North of GR and has an indoor water park!)

 

Be sure to get your RV, travel trailers, campers, ATV’s, motorcycles, and all other vehicles insured before you head out! Making sure that you’re covered in event of a loss is important to keep you relaxed during your trip. Let us take that stress off your shoulders while you go and enjoy the warm air! If you would like a quote you can call us at 616-897-1515. Check out the rest of our website to see what we can insure and the many different ways that you can request a quote.

Tell us your favorite summer activity or place! 

 

 

Michigan is covered in water! We have lakes, rivers, and ponds all over the place! Trivia websites will say that our state has the highest water to land ratio at 58% land and 42% water. We’ve even been blessed with being surrounded by the Great Lakes and having a massive fresh water source all around us. As amazing as this is, it’s can also be dangerous. Some of us have grown up very comfortable with the water and forget about how dangerous it can be or what to watch out for when spending a day at the beach. Water can be so fun and exciting but we need to be cautious when near it, and not get carried away with our excitement. Here are some basic guidelines and reminders before getting your suit on and heading for the deep end:

1.       Adults and/or Lifeguards are necessary! You may think that you can handle 4 kids for their first trip to the beach but it’s better to be extra cautious. Having an extra set of eyes and hands to help in case of an emergency can only be beneficial. Someone with a first aid background is preferable. A busy beach can cause distractions to you and anyone else who might be with you. It only takes a second of a child being unwatched for an accident to occur. Your own children may not be the issue either and you might need another adult to assist you with the situation.

 

2.       Pick the right life jacket and monitor the person wearing it. A life jacket that doesn’t fit will only cause stress and panic. If it’s too small then it won’t have the ability to keep the person’s head afloat, and if it’s too large then they’ll slip right out of it! A lifejacket that is even slightly too large will make it difficult to swim. Choose the correct size and you’ll be safe! Now even when wearing a life jacket you still must monitor them. Small children frequently get stuck face down in the water and are not strong enough to stand themselves back up or even lift their face out of the water.

 

 

3.       No running or flipping near water. These are both fun activities however they are dangerous. We want to be sure that we have good traction and know what we’re doing. Running on the wet tile is one of the easiest ways to get a concussion. Flipping and/or diving both need to be from experienced people who have surveyed their surroundings and the depth of the water.

 

4.       Alcohol causes problems. We all know that alcohol can impair judgment and can easily be overly consumed. We need to be sure though, that while we’re at the beach we’re drinking plenty of water and having a snack as well. Not only will it keep our minds more clear but it will keep our bodies healthier and more able to endure a day in the hot sun.

 

 

5.       Stay out of direct sunlight to avoid heat stroke! You may think you’re just feeling tired and warm but it could be something worse! A few symptoms of heat stroke is a headache, dizziness, lack of sweat, hot and dry skin, muscle weakness or cramps, nausea, and rapid shallow breathing. If you, or anyone else, show these symptoms then you will want to get to a shaded area and cover them with cool water. Fanning them will help as well. Ice packs or wet towels can be placed in the armpits and on the neck to help with the cooling process.

 

6.       Be sure to drink water – swimming is exercise! While you’re in the water it might seem unnecessary to get out and go grab a drink of H2O but it’s essential to a fun day in the sun. Swimming is one of the best calorie burning exercises and is done while in the elements. If alcohol is an additional factor then it’s even more important to remember to drink water and stay hydrated. This will help prevent heat stroke and keep you energized during the day!

 

 

7.       Sunburn under water – Most people assume that the areas of their body that is underwater, isn’t subject to the sun BUT the rays actually can reach down farther into the water. You will get a sunburn while swimming even when submerged.

 

8.       Know your area and surroundings (boats, other people, and dangerous animals) – It’s important to be aware of your surroundings while at the beach. You’ll want to know if there’s rocks or any drop-offs in the swimming area if boats are near, and what the weather is going to be like. These are all things that can sneak up on us if we don’t pay close attention. You’ll also want to be conscious of the people swimming around you, one of the most common causes of drowning is when someone is panicking in the water and grabs onto the person closest to them. A flotation device is ALWAYS a better option in this situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some fun places to check out if you’re looking for a water hot-spot:

–          The Grand River

–          Millennium Park

–          Long Lake Park

–          Myers Lake Park

–          Wabasis Lake Park

–          Rogue River (Rockford)

–          Reeds Lake

–          Riverside Park (within city of Grand Rapids)

–          Thornapple River

–          Flat River (Lowell)

–          Bostwick Lake

 

Share with us! What’s your favorite beach and why? 

We’re headed into one of the most celebrated holidays in America, Independence Day! While this is an excellent weekend for fun and family time, we tend to put safety towards the bottom of our priority list. We’ll have more fun when there are fewer injuries!

 We’ll all be grilling and spend every second outside in the fresh, warm air, with our families. Grilling is a wonderful thing, not only is it delicious, but it’s cooking in the great outdoors!

Just a couple quick grilling tips for the weekend:

1. Never leave a grill unattended once it’s lit and/or hot. Even though parents will be watching their children, it only takes a hot second for them to wander over and let their curious hands get the best of them. This could also cause a fire if it’s too close to a home, tree, or porch. So be cautious of where we keep our burning coals!

2. Never throw water on a grease fire. Water can make the fire bigger and hotter by feeding it. Use baking soda instead, to dry it up and dehydrate the flames.

This weekend is also a miracle because the holiday happens to fall on a Tuesday, giving most people a 4 day weekend. While everyone over the age of 21 is a responsible drinker, we want to be sure that we are still getting enough water to stay fully hydrated. Being outside for long periods of time, in the heat and sun, is enough to dry up a person on its own. When alcohol factors in, the possibilities for dehydration can become endless. You’ll want to be sure to drink plenty of H2O and watch for signs of a headache or dizziness. If you start to experience those, head for a glass of water and a shady place to rest up.

Alcohol can also impair judgment around bodies of water. While Michigan is fortunate for having so many lakes, we may get too comfortable around them. We need to be sure to be alert and watch the children especially. Even if a child is a wonderful swimmer, the one next to them might not be. Keep an eye out and make sure we’re appropriately prepped for a day at the beach. Lifejackets, umbrellas, and bright swimsuits will only do good things!

Fireworks are the highlight of this time of year! When using fireworks we’ll want to be sure to have good judgment and use caution. Here are some easy rules to follow and ensure a wonderful evening with family:

1.       Read and follow the directions on the fireworks carefully.

2.       Keep a large display site of at least 100 ft. by 100 ft. and be sure that there are no trees, buildings, or hydro lines in this area.

3.       Never light the fireworks while holding them!

4.       Be sure that it isn’t windy or rough weather of any kind.

5.       Always have water nearby in case of emergency.

6.       A good platform for lighting fireworks is a bucket filled with sand (unless the directions say otherwise). Fireworks should be buried half their length in the sand and angled 10           degrees away from the audience. Make sure no one is upwind from the display!

7.       Children should be monitored at all times during the firework show. They tend to be attracted to exciting things (such as fireworks) so keep an eye on them!

8.       When finished, soak the fireworks in water before throwing in the trash can. Failure to do so could start a fire and we don’t want that! Even if they look fine, soak them just to be     safe. 

9.       Wear eye protection when lighting the fireworks. Be sure NOT to wear loose fitting clothing. Scarves and other things that may dangle when lighting fireworks, are something     you’re going to want to remove those items prior to lighting anything (this includes long hair being pulled back, ladies! We do NOT want our hair on fire).

 

 

Lastly, if you’re looking for family fun and festivities this weekend, here’s a short list of places in the Grand Rapids area that include fireworks!

On July 1^st the Amway Family Fireworks kicks off at 5 pm at Ah-Nab-Awen Park in Grand Rapids. This includes family activities, food trucks, vendors, and live bands. Fireworks will start at 10:30.

On July 3^rd, Portland High School will have fireworks at dusk with a parade to follow the next morning and 10 am.

On July 4^th, Crestwood Middle School (2674 44^th St. in Kentwood), will host day-long festivities, 5K, parade, carnival rides, games, inflatables, and more. Fireworks are at dusk.

On July 4^th. Ada Christian School (6206 Ada Drive) with have a daytime book sale and parade prior to the evening display of fireworks. Fireworks start at dusk.

On July 4^th at 3535 Wilson Ave Southwest, there’s a 3-day celebration ending with fireworks outside the Grandville middle school. Fireworks will start at dusk.

On July 4^th, Kollen Park & Heinz Waterfront Walkway (240 Kollen Park Drive, Holland) there will be music, food and games beginning at 2 pm. Fireworks will start at 10 pm.

 

One of our partners is the Mel Trotter Ministries, and we are so excited to talk about how they’ve changed the community of Grand Rapids! Mel Trotter is dedicated to demonstrating the compassion of Jesus Christ to the hungry, homeless and hurting of the greater Grand Rapids area. They’re constantly expanding as the need is never ending. Right now, Mel Trotter is focusing on two areas: rescue and restoration. They use these to help the homeless and hurting in the Grand Rapids area and bring safety to them. This encourages a positive, caring and helpful atmosphere for all of us. Mel Trotter Ministries focuses on bringing hope to the community and those in need.

Rescue Programs and Services

They have a day center for the homeless, giving them a comforting place to go and be welcomed by friendly faces. Here, they have access to resources they need to find homes and jobs. Not only does this provide shelter but also works to give them hope of a renewed life.

They offer a public inebriate shelter and detox open for men and women who are profoundly intoxicated which provides a safe place for them to sleep and get sober while being closely observed by licensed medical personnel. From here they can make the decision to start a nonmedical detox regimen and/or other recovery programs.

Pathway Home is an emergency shelter and rehousing program through Mel Trotter Ministries in collaboration with Family Promise. This gives the families a place to stay with hearty meals, child development, ministry support and case management while they look to find a home. The goal of Pathway Home is to help the families into stable housing as quickly as possible.

Mel Trotter Ministries offers Evening Meals every night from 5:15-6pm, women, and children are in the North Dining Room and Men are in the South Dining Room. Everyone is invited to these community meals.

The emergency shelters at Mel Trotter Ministries are the only shelters to accept anyone who is experiencing homelessness. There’s a Women’s Shelter, a Men’s Shelter, and a Youth Emergency Shelter (Y.E.S). The guests at the emergency shelters receive meals, beds, clothing & shoes, toiletries, showers, referrals & resources, access to the Day Center, options to enter a Restoration Program and the love of Jesus Christ.

 

Women’s Shelter:    616-588-8740

Men’s Shelter:    616-588-8756

Y.E.S:     616-588-8770

 

Restoration Programs and Services

Mel Trotter Ministries focuses on restoration to help people gradually get back into society. These include job readiness and housing readiness. Step-Up recovery is a program designed for adults whose primary barrier is substance abuse. It offers intensive case management and spiritual support for long-term recovery. Pilgrimage is a Mel Trotter program designed for those experiencing chronic homelessness; this program helps adults who have physical and/or mental illness. They offer a variety of clinics open to Mel Trotter guests by appointment. Mel Trotter Ministries also provides After Care for anyone who has successfully completed a program and is living in stable housing.

Mel Trotter Ministries has housed over 500 men, women and children and has helped 135 people secure employment. Mel Trotter does a lot to keep our community safe and positive with the love of Jesus Christ. Not only do they lead others to Christ, but they show them the love of Him through others and how there is help and people who care. Mel Trotter wants you to know that you are never alone.

Alliance partners with Mel Trotter Ministries through Quotes for a Cause where you can sign up to receive an insurance quote and as long as we hear from you, we will donate $10/quote to Mel Trotter Ministries. We made our semiannual to give them a check for our Quotes for a Cause campaign and they were unbelievably grateful!

If you’d like to donate or volunteer you can sign up here

http://www.meltrotter.org/home

Or go to our website and sign up for a free quote, and we’ll donate $10 on your behalf!

http://www.allins.com/quotes-for-a-cause/

What do you do to help in your community?