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Cause We Love – Guiding Light Mission

Share the goods.

Sometimes a cause is so compelling, so basic, that we are forced to share it with the community.  Here is your monthly nonprofit discovery post in the series of Cause We Love.

More than 3.5 million people experience homelessness in America each year.

35% are families with children and 23% are U.S. Military Veterans.

Homelessness can happen to anyone.

Guiding_Light_Mission_429202

Guiding Light Mission, through its various programs, aims to create a healing experience that allows these unfortunate people to discover a new life in Christ, and re-engage with the community. The Mission offers shelter and food daily, but also a variety of programs that focus on helping the unfortunate to succeed once again in society.

  • Back to Work program allows men who are currently employed or seeking employment to live at the facility, to save money for a permanent residence. Meals are provided daily, and these men have full access to an online lab, phones and voicemails boxes, to help them pursue career opportunities. The program also offers a vocational job coach to assist in obtaining employment.
  • New Life in Christ program is aimed at men suffering from chronic homelessness, substance abuse, spiritual destitution and life challenges. There are up to 36 men in this program at any given time. Through counseling (individual and family), work therapy, bible study, and mentorship Guiding Light helps these men to re-establish their relationships with God, family, friends, and especially themselves, in an effort to re-engage with our community.

They also provide emergency services to men before they enter one of their re-engagement focused programs, which resulted in 27,908 overnight stays in 2012. This service offers housing from 8 p.m.- 8 a.m. and 24 hour housing during severe weather. They offer three meals per day, and over 1,000 voicemail boxes so that these transients can stay in touch with friends and family.  Emergency food baskets are also offered courtesy of United Way and Spectrum N.O.W. programs.
Men who participate in these programs are very thankful for the opportunity, which inspires them to give back to the community through various volunteer opportunities. Groups from Guiding Light have volunteered with Habitat for Humanity; Clean up, Green Up; The Mental Health Foundation; and The Brian Diemer Amerikam 5K Race. These men know where they would be without the help of the community, so it is only right that they return the favor.

striders
credit: mlive.com

Jessica Manfrin, development director at Guiding Light Mission emphasizes “Our goal is to remove any barriers that may prevent you from successfully re-engaging in our community.” So how can you aid in the removal of barriers to re-engaging Grand Rapidians?

Annual meal
credit: mlive.com

Learn more to spread the mission: GUIDING LIGHT MISSION.
Donate big bucks head to: LIFE ON THE STREET.
Volunteer your time and heart:  VOLUNTEER.

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National Perimenopause Month starts today. We have a LOT to say, and we’re not going to be quiet about it, especially this month, so buckle up.

We were not prepared for perimenopause, much like our periods, sex, or anything else to do with our bodies. God forbid we talk about it openly.

We were taught to be ashamed, keep quiet, and to accept that it is just part of being a woman. We reject that narrative. In fact, like @bodespeaks, we want to bring it up in every conversation.

When we normalize perimenopause and the conversation around it, we stop isolating, and we’re all more prepared.
Join us for Uncomfortable Conversations: The Pause on September 24th — a powerful conversation hosted alongside the @smallbusinessassocofmichigan
Women’s Business Council, featuring some kicka$$ experts who will give you the real talk on perimenopause (more to come on them later).

Register at the link in bio.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18132641716644887
National Perimenopause Month starts today. We have a LOT to say, and we’re not going to be quiet about it, especially this month, so buckle up. We were not prepared for perimenopause, much like our periods, sex, or anything else to do with our bodies. God forbid we talk about it openly. We were taught to be ashamed, keep quiet, and to accept that it is just part of being a woman. We reject that narrative. In fact, like @bodespeaks, we want to bring it up in every conversation. When we normalize perimenopause and the conversation around it, we stop isolating, and we’re all more prepared. Join us for Uncomfortable Conversations: The Pause on September 24th — a powerful conversation hosted alongside the @smallbusinessassocofmichigan Women’s Business Council, featuring some kicka$$ experts who will give you the real talk on perimenopause (more to come on them later). Register at the link in bio.

You asked, we delivered.

Introducing the Women`s Owners Network - a new program built for what comes first, joining our proven Fellowship model to support Michigan women at every stage of business ownership.

Whether you`ve got a team of 10 or it`s just you and your laptop, you deserve a room full of women who get it.

Six months of leadership, finance, operations, capital access, paired with real support for the isolation, emotional volatility, and decision fatigue that come with owning your own business.

You`ll have your own board of directors in your corner, including @bodespeaks plus a group of mentors, instructors, and coaches who`ve been exactly where you are.

Applications due October 1. Apply now at the link in bio.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18089775152664042
You asked, we delivered. Introducing the Women's Owners Network - a new program built for what comes first, joining our proven Fellowship model to support Michigan women at every stage of business ownership. Whether you've got a team of 10 or it's just you and your laptop, you deserve a room full of women who get it. Six months of leadership, finance, operations, capital access, paired with real support for the isolation, emotional volatility, and decision fatigue that come with owning your own business. You'll have your own board of directors in your corner, including @bodespeaks plus a group of mentors, instructors, and coaches who've been exactly where you are. Applications due October 1. Apply now at the link in bio.

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You are the hero in your own story. Be like Leslie and believe it.

Come to the Big Deal Energy Workshop, @bodespeaks will show you how.

It`s personal branding with a shot of tequila. Register in bio.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18026151482745649
"I am big enough to admit that I am often inspired by myself" - Leslie F*ucking Knope You are the hero in your own story. Be like Leslie and believe it. Come to the Big Deal Energy Workshop, @bodespeaks will show you how. It's personal branding with a shot of tequila. Register in bio.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: We took a walk to one of the houses @bodespeaks lived in Creston. There were 3 total. We also got a history lesson of @crestongr along the way. Of course we had to take Joey too.

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Open post by 8thirtyfour with ID 18232322101316198
THROWBACK THURSDAY: We took a walk to one of the houses @bodespeaks lived in Creston. There were 3 total. We also got a history lesson of @crestongr along the way. Of course we had to take Joey too.
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