Heart of West Michigan United Way

08/25/2026

Get on the right financial road! 🌈

Join United Way, Project GREEN, and Young Money Finances for our 6th Annual Economic Empowerment Conference!

Adults and youth are invited to be inspired to “ease on down” the financial road toward their goals with courage, knowledge, and heart.

This in-person event will take attendees on a journey toward financial freedom, where you’ll:
💰 Learn from financial experts
🧠 Discover your financial capabilities
📝 Create a personalized plan to reach your goals

📅 Saturday, September 12
⏰ 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
💵 $10 for adults | Free for youth

Ready to take the next step toward your financial goals?

👉 Register at projectgreengr.org

08/19/2026

We're partnering with The Salvation Army of Grand Haven Michigan to hand out school supplies at their Back to School carnival!

Thank you to all our generous Stuff the Bus donors for making this happen.

08/18/2026

As we pack away the collection boxes and start making notes for next year, we want to take one last moment to say THANK YOU!

Because of the incredible generosity of our community, more than 55,000 school supplies were collected through Stuff the Bus! These supplies will soon be in the hands of students and teachers across Allegan, Kent and Ottawa counties.

Thank you to everyone who donated, volunteered, sponsored, promoted and helped make this year’s Stuff the Bus a success. We couldn’t have done it without you!

08/17/2026

We’re thrilled to celebrate Haworth as Heart of West Michigan United Way’s United Partner of the Year! 🎉

Haworth’s enduring leadership, deep employee engagement, and commitment to communities across West Michigan embody what it means to champion our neighbors. In 2025, their team grew both employee giving and corporate support while continuing to show up in meaningful ways through volunteerism, collaboration, and leadership.

From helping us expand Stuff the Bus and Operation United to mobilizing hundreds of employees during their Global Sales Conference for dozens of local service projects, Haworth consistently turned partnership into action. They also generously hosted our Women United Breakfast and brought leadership to the conversation as a panelist for our professional development program.

As we continue this momentum into the fall, we are incredibly grateful for Haworth’s dedication to lead, innovate, and collaborate. Their partnership has helped us grow our reach and our impact, and we’re excited for all that we’ll accomplish together as we continue to serve West Michigan.

Please join me in celebrating Haworth, our 2025 United Partner of the Year! 💙

08/13/2026

West Michigan, we put out the call, and you responded. Thank you to everyone who helped make Stuff the Bus a success! We are excited to share that we collected more than 55,000 school supplies!

From the companies that hosted collection drives to the individuals who donated school supplies, this effort truly took a village. Because of everyone's generosity, students across West Michigan will have the supplies they need to start the school year ready to learn.

A special thank you to our Premier Sponsors, Gun Lake Casino Resort and Laborers Local 355, and additional sponsors, Behler-Young Company and State Representative Carol Glanville

We are also grateful to Kentwood Public Schools for providing buses and a sorting location, Meijer for helping us purchase school supplies and providing carts to make transporting donations easier, and Penske for providing a truck to transport supplies to Allegan and Ottawa counties.

And thank you to our education and community partners who will help get these supplies into students' hands, including Kent School Services Network - KSSN, Ottawa Area ISD, Community Action Allegan, Allegan Area ESA, and Grand Haven Salvation Army.

Thank you, West Michigan, for showing what is possible when a community comes together. We couldn't do it without you!

08/12/2026

The Michigan Legislature and Governor just approved $2.95 million in state funds for 211, the free-to-use service that connects Michiganders with quick, easy, and confidential help for any basic need from housing and utility assistance to food and employment resources.

This funding will help us respond to the sharp increase in ALICE households in recent years, making sure that help is there 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from the top of the UP to the bottom of Southern Michigan.

Help up say thank you to your local state legislators and Governor for their support.

08/12/2026

It's not too late to support Stuff the Bus! Stop by RiverTown Crossings this Saturday with your school supply donation to receive an official First Bell Hall Pass. Make your way through eight event stops, collect stamps, and unlock opportunities for raffle entries and an exclusive First Bell Fest bag, while supplies last.

We can't wait to see you!

Kick off the school year with slime making, face painting, balloon artists, photo ops, raffles, & the chance to compete in a live game show.

08/11/2026

Attention, Grand Haven residents! Looking for a volunteer opportunity that is fun for the entire family? We need your help to support our Stuff the Bus partnership with The Salvation Army of Grand Haven Michigan

📚 Stuff the Bus Item Sorting | Wednesday, August 12, 3:30-5:30 pm

🎒 Back-to-School Carnival & Backpack Giveaway | Wednesday, August 19, 2026, 5-7 pm

Not from Grand Haven? This is your perfect excuse to make it out to the lakeshore. Come to volunteer and stay after for the summer vibes!

Registration links in comments!

08/10/2026

What starts as a free tax appointment can make a lasting impact.

This tax season, one local resident came to one of our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites expecting help filing a return. They left with peace of mind, a tax refund in just over a week, and hundreds of dollars saved in tax preparation fees thanks to our amazing volunteers.

That story is just one of thousands.

This year, VITA:
✅ Prepared 13,006 federal and state tax returns
💰 Returned $11.5 million in refunds to West Michigan households
📍 Offered free tax preparation at 18 locations across Allegan, Kent, and Ottawa counties
🙌 Engaged 273 dedicated volunteers

Learn more: https://ow.ly/YnUR50ZwfXH

Thank you to everyone who helped make this life-changing program possible!

See how United Way's VITA program helped 13,006 West Michigan households file taxes for free and returned $11.5 million in refunds in 2026.

08/08/2026

📞 Ottawa County residents, answer the call!

The Ottawa County Behavioral Risk Factor Survey is happening now through September. If you're randomly selected, your participation can help shape the future of health in our community.

If you receive a call from a 616 number, please consider taking 20–30 minutes to complete the anonymous survey. Your feedback will help identify local health needs and guide future programs and funding.

The survey will never ask for your Social Security number, banking information, or payment.

Learn more at healthyottawa.org.