
Your generosity will help our community respond, recover, and rebuild to be more equitable and resilient.
It's not getting any easier. Across the world, COVID-19 deaths continue to rise. In the U.S., the economic fallout continues to hit low-wage Americans the hardest, along with people of color and those lacking a college degree. One in four adults have had trouble paying bills, especially rent or mortgage payments. One in six have borrowed money from friends or received food from a food bank. Half of the adults who lost a job due to COVID-19 are still unemployed. And 2-1-1, the go-to information resource in the U.S. and Canada, is still fielding more than double its normal calls, mostly for help with housing, bills and food. At the same time, community services are strained, unable to meet demand.
We are doing all we can to mitigate negative impact, but no one knows what is required to rebuild communities while additional waves of the virus continue to hit. We must rebuild better, reimagining a "new normal" that results in more equitable and resilient communities.
It is in times of need that we discover the full impact of a community united.
Check out our News page to see the many articles written on United Way Montcalm-Ionia Counties' work for COVID-19 Pandemic Response and Recovery
Videos on the Food Trucks
DW Video has created Reaching Out to Help Community - People Stepping Up and Howard City and Sand Lake are Stepping Up to Help Families about the work being done in the communities during COVID-19.
A time to give is now.jpg)
By Brandon Shreur, The Daily News on May 5, 2020
Stanton-based churches partner with United Way and Feeding America for food distribution
By Brandon Shreur, The Daily News on May 4, 2020
United Way and DTE partner to raise funds for Feeding America food trucks
By Brandon Shreur, The Daily News on April 14, 2020
Increase in Mobile Food Bank Events Provides Relief in Wake of COVID-19
By Cory Smith, The Daily News on March 20, 2020
United Way CEO Chats with Jacksepticye
Thank you to our partners who have come together from philanthropy, government, and business to support our community through the COVID-19 Crisis Fund.





Mizcan
Consumer's Energy
Tom & Chris Kohn
Greenville Youth Advisory Council
Kerschen Family Fund
Jan Wheelock
Clifford Bedore
Linda Stafford
Kimberly & Mark Peck
Ionia Rotary
Ionia Community Foundation
Michigan One Credit Union
Jay & Liz McClellan
Greenville Lions Club
Delta Dental Foundation
Mercantile Bank
Laurie Tissue
Thomas and Cathy Cornell
Kimberly Essenburg
Kenny Schoenborn
Cara Lindemood
Hungerford Nichols CPAs + Advisors
Randall Tower
Toni Wenger
Caswell & Co.
Mary Miel
Faith & Kim Peterson
Jennifer Stauffer
Mary Schoenborn
Donald & Deanna Veitengruber
Linda VanHouten
Gerald Ritter
Kristi Zuverink
Joyce Zimmer
Sandra Miller
Janine Nierenberger
Cheryl Granzo
Jeff Blanchard
Suzanne Hoseth-Kreeger
Linda McKnight
Citizens for Montcalm Libraries
Don Lenneman
Roger and Cheryl Thelen
David and Mary Malicki
Grace Peterson
Kelly Dewald
Donald and Bertha Smucker
Haley McLean
Teresa Boike
Melanie Steiner
Cindy Hill
Steven and Susan Fish
Eric Linder
Deb Koepke
Tri-County Schools
Saranac Community Schools
Leppinks Food Center
Ionia Fairgrounds
Greenville Area Schools
Belding Area Schools
Central Montcalm Schools
Jorgi's Marketplace
Endeavor Center
Helping Hands
Saranac Community Church
Shiloh Community Church
Zion Community Food Pantry
First Church of God
Barrie's House
Trinity Church
Thank you for your support! Together we make our community better.
Resources
Feeding America Food Truck schedule for Montcalm and Ionia counties.
This schedule only includes trucks organized through United Way Montcalm-Ionia Counties. If you would like to see a complete list of food pantries and food distribution through Feeding America please click here.
Food usually runs out with 45-50 minutes of start time so please make sure to arrive on time. You will stay in your car throughout the process.
Check back regularly as trucks will be added for Greenville in the month of January.
Thank you to our partner organizations that are helping to schedule and organize these food trucks:
- First Church of God
- Helping Hands
- Endeavor Center
- Barrie's House
- First Congregational Church
- Zion Community Food Pantry
- Shiloh Community Church
- Saranac Community Church
- Epic Church Carson City
- Trinity Church
- Montcalm ISD
- Ionia ISD
- Feeding America West Michigan
2-1-1
If you need assistance finding food, paying household bills or medical expenses, accessing free childcare, or other essential services, dial United Way’s 2-1-1 to speak to someone who can help.
The COVID-19 situation in the United States is evolving rapidly as more becomes known about the virus, how it is spread, and how it affects people. For the most accurate and timely information, visit the CDC’s website or monitor CDC social medial channels. This page is being kept up-to-date as regularly as possible with answers to the most common questions 211 receives.
If you are looking for guidance about how to conduct business as a school administrator, non-profit or faith-based organization staff member, business owner, or event planner, the CDC has provided detailed information for different sectors.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans for Small Businesses
SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance for a small business. To learn more about the process for accessing SBA's COVID-19 disaster relief lending, please go here. For additional information, please contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center. Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY:1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
Michigan Economic Development Corporation resources for small businesses can be found here.
Nonprofit Organizations
We are constantly working to help nonprofits to meet the needs of the community. Please fill out the survey on a regular basis so we can ensure needs are being met.
Michigan Nonprofit Association resources for nonprofits during COVID-19: https://www.mnaonline.org/
Unemployment Benefits
The U.S. Department of Labor issued guidance for state unemployment insurance programs to extend benefits to individuals whose employment status is impacted by COVID-19. Use this tool to find the agency that manages unemployment insurance in your state and visit their website for more information about eligibility and how to apply for benefits. West Michigan Works! (www.westmiworks.org) can be reached at:
Greenville office: 616-754-3611
Ionia office: 616-389-8525
Here is a guide to claiming unemployment benefits in Michigan.
Mental Health and Crisis
The outbreak of coronovirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people and communities. Fear and anxiety about the disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. Visit this CDC page to learn more about things you can do to support yourself and your loved ones. If you need to talk to someone, these resources are confidential and available for free 24/7:
- Call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
- Text HOME to 741-741 for Crisis Text Line.
Additional Resources
- CDC
- World Health Organization
- State of Michigan
- Ionia County Health Department
- Montcalm County Health Department
- Resources to support people experiencing homelessness
- For those who are having a hard time finding hand sanitizer and or clean up wipes with bleach the below information provides ways to make your own sanitizing solution. Add lemon juice for a better smell. I added the solution to a pack of baby wipes for easier use.
- Bleach hand sanitizer
- 1/3 cup of household bleach to 1 gallon of water or,
- 1 cup of household bleach to 5 gallons of water.
- https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/
holu/documents/hom-sani.pdf - https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/
bleach.html
All media questions and requests should be directed to Terri Legg, Executive Director, at terri.legg@liveunitedm-i.org