Heights of Hope

06/22/2026

Hey friends!
Flash the Flamingo here!

Now that registration for the Heights of Hope 5K is officially LIVE, I’ve decided to spend the next several weeks trying out the fashions, hairstyles, accessories, and fun fads from different decades to help me decide which era was truly made for flamingos.

I haven’t made up my mind yet, but this week I’m giving the 1950s a whirl!

And let me tell you… I am currently torn between a leather jacket and a pink poodle skirt. Honestly, why choose? I look fabulous in both. 💅🕶️

Need some 1950s inspiration for the 5K?

😎 Guys
• White T-shirts & cuffed jeans
• Leather jackets
• Bowling shirts
• Letterman jackets
• High-waisted trousers
• Slicked-back hair

💃 Dolls
• Poodle skirts
• Swing dresses
• Polka dots & gingham prints
• Cardigans & twin sets
• Capri pants
• Cat-eye glasses

(Or, make up your own combination of multiple items!)

✨ Accessories
• Pearls
• Hair bows & headbands
• Bandanas
• Bobby socks
• Scarves
• Saddle shoes
• Sunglasses

🎉 Fun Props & Toys
• Hula hoops
• Yo-yos
• Roller skates
• Vinyl records
• Vintage Coke bottles
• Stuffed poodles (highly recommended 🐩)
• Jacks and marbles
• A vintage lunchbox
• A comb sticking out of your back pocket
• Fuzzy dice hanging from your stroller or wagon
• A cardboard jukebox prop

I still have many more decades to explore before I make my final decision, so tell me…

❓Which decade do YOU think was made for flamingos?

💕 See you on August 8!
Register here- www.heightsofhope.org/5k

Love,
Flash 🦩

06/18/2026

Here's a note from our dear 5K mascot, Flash. Join us August 8 and help him discover which decade was truly made for flamingos!
www.heightsofhope.org/5k

Hey friends, Flash the Flamingo here. I was spending some hibernating in the Calvary on 8th basement this winter when I found an old history book. One page turned into two, then ten, then fifty. Before long, I was completely fascinated.

You humans have had some WILD fashion trends over the years. Flapper dresses. Leather jackets. Tie-dye. Bell bottoms. Neon windbreakers. Scrunchies. Some of these choices were questionable, but I respect the commitment.

The more I read, the more I knew I needed to try these looks for myself. And frankly, I have a feeling I'd look amazing in every single one of them!

That's when inspiration struck! Let’s make this year's Heights of Hope 5K theme DECADES!

Pick your favorite decade and come dressed for the occasion. Whether you're groovy, disco fabulous, totally tubular, or rocking your best Y2K look, I can't wait to see what you come up with!

Gather your friends, plan your costumes, and sign up today!
Registration is now open at www.heightsofhope.org/5k.

(And see if you can convince the HOH team to find me a costume to try out, ok? Personally I’m leaning toward disco flamingo but I’m open to suggestions!)

– Flash the Flamingo

06/16/2026

We’re grateful for the organizations in our Holland community. Some students were able to have a camp service experience. We LOVE Escape and all they are for the families in our community.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FXgUHvkHy/?mibextid=wwXIfr

06/09/2026

It's officially summer in the neighborhood! A huge thank you to everyone who helped us kick off the season with our first block party of the year. We had a great evening filled with food, bikes, games, and community connection!

Special thanks to:
• Holland Department of Public Safety - Police Services and Polar Patrol for providing dinner AND dessert
• The Motion Initiative and their amazing bike repair team
• Calvary on 8th's Blacktop Rec crew
• Velo Kids for an awesome bike obstacle course
• Latin Americans United for Progress - LAUP
• Niekerk Church's Hockey Rock Program
• Kelly at Immer Bloem for the amazing flower donation - free to everyone who helped with our neighborhood cleanups

We're so grateful for partners who help make our neighborhood such a great place to live, play, and connect. Here's to a summer full of fun together!

05/15/2026

Our Circles group is looking for someone to help us out with a meal this coming Tuesday (5/19/26)! Let us know if you or your small group can help!

Contact Laura at [email protected] or (616) 340-0737 if you are interested or with any questions!

Here are some details-
▪️Dinner starts at 6pm at Niekerk Church.
▪️Please plan for 25ish adults and 15ish kids. (If we have leftovers that you don't want to take home, we can package up food and families are super grateful for another night when they don't need to cook!)
▪️You could cook everything at home and bring it all ready to serve, or come early and use the awesome kitchen at Niekerk Church to prep and cook. We always have the kitchen open by 5:15 and can help with prep.
▪️We are all about building community and relationships at Circles, so we encourage you to stay and help serve, eat with us, and help with clean up. This is a great way to get know our participating families and hear more about their lives! We do understand if you need to just drop off the meal or leave right after dinner though.
▪️Dessert is not needed, but we'd love to have some fruit available, fresh or canned.
▪️We provide drinks, plates, silverware, napkins, serving utensils, etc.
▪️If you'd like to provide a meal but need us to supply the ingredients, just let us know! We can buy them or give you a gift card to a local grocery store.

05/13/2026

At our last two topic nights at Circles Ottawa County meetings, we have had the opportunity to learn from our friends at West Michigan Works about skills that matter not only in the workplace — but in everyday life too.

We've spent time talking about important “soft skills” like:
✔️ Adaptability
✔️ Flexibility
✔️ Communication
✔️ Problem solving
✔️ Teamwork

These are the kinds of skills that help us navigate jobs, parenting, relationships, stress, and unexpected life changes. Sometimes success isn’t just about what you know — it’s about how you respond, grow, and keep moving forward when life gets hard.

We are so thankful for community partners like West MI Works who continue to pour into our Leaders with encouragement, practical tools, and wisdom.

At Heights of Hope, we believe growth happens in community — and every week at Circles we see people showing up, learning new skills, supporting one another, and working hard to change the narrative for themselves and their families. 💙💚💛

05/04/2026

Parents/students,

We are still accepting applications for our paid summer internships! If you are or know a youth between the ages of 12-17, make sure to apply for our Youth Leadership Coalition. Applications are open until May 15.

YLC is a great youth development program from June 10- August 12.

Students can earn up to $700! Interviews in 2 weeks!

Apply online at: ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.heightsofhope.org/programs/ylc

04/13/2026

Take a look at a little bit of the joy from Explosion 2026. We already can’t wait for next year!

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.