Celebrate Where We've Been

Help Bridge the Gaps

As we celebrate 25 years of God’s faithfulness in our community through the ministry of Love INC, we acknowledge there are some road blocks in the way of where we want to go from here. Could you help us bridge some of the gaps in our funding? At the moment, here’s where some of our greatest needs lie:

Our Heart to Heart Resale Store is known and loved by our community. It serves as our ministry’s largest fundraiser, but the building was built in the 1970s, and is in need of some repairs. Could you help us re-roof a portion of the store?

Suggested donation: $500

Homes of Hope is a transitional housing program offered by Love INC and a network of area churches that provides a caring and supportive environment for homeless families in the face of economic hardship to gain self-sufficiency and permanent housing, while seeing God’s love, growing hope, and preserving dignity. Could you help offset the cost of utilities for our partner churches who host homes in this program?

Suggested donation: $3,000

Offered as a year-round, weekly class and mentoring program, LIFE Skills provides physical, emotional, spiritual and relational support, opportunity for personal growth, financial guidance, accountability, and more. By attending classes and meeting weekly goals, participants can earn vouchers for regular access to pantry resources while being supported in accomplishing their long-term goals. Could you cover the cost of a gas card for a family to commute to LIFE Skills? Could you purchase the curriculum and materials for a 10-week LIFE Skills class?

Cover the cost of a gas card for a family to commute to LIFE Skills: $15
Cover the cost of a LIFE Skills curriculum and materials: $1,100

To make a contribution, click here.

 

My mentor was awesome. She gave me encouragement, helped me set goals and meet them. Love INC didn’t put me down. They taught me and gave me self-confidence. They also brought me back to a closer relationship with God.

-Sarah, LIFE Skills Graduate

I am now attending church, participating in their activities and making friends. I am excited to use all the skills I learned at LIFE Skills to continue to grow and maybe be a mentor to someone else one day, too.

Thank you, Love INC and the LIFE Skills family, for giving me the strength to move on and do more.

-Carla, LIFE Skills Graduate

1997Bev Schipper, Jan Nyhof, and Esther VanderLaan felt God calling them to help people in their community, and began the process of bringing Love INC to Allegan County.
December 1999Love INC received non-profit status and a formal Board of Directors was established.
April 2000After 3 years of prayer, consideration, and planning, we opened the doors of Love INC of Northwest Allegan County in an office at M-40 and 136th.
June 2000What would become our relational ministry (LIFE Skills) began.
2001Our Sponsor-A-Family Christmas ministry began.
October 2002Jean Eding was hired as our Director of Relational Ministries. Kirk Vander Molen was hired as our first paid Executive Director.
March 2003Our Bedding Pantry opened at Overisel Reformed Church.
August 2003Our Back-to-School backpack ministry began.
February 2004We expanded our ministry with a satellite office in Allegan, open two days a week. Our Appliance Pantry opened at First Congregational Church in Allegan. Our Baby Needs Pantry opened at First Presbyterian Church. Our Personal Needs Pantry opened at Allegan Bible Church.
March 2005Our Homes of Hope Program launched to help homeless families in need.
June 2005Our LIFE Skills Program expanded into Allegan.
January 2007Our Heart to Heart Resale Store opened—our largest fundraiser.
February 2008Love INC moved into our current office space, the old Chevy dealership in Hamilton.
June 2008We expanded our ministry with a satellite office in Pullman.
October 2009Our LIFE Skills Program expanded into Pullman.
April 2013Kirk Vander Molen left Love INC Allegan County, taking the role of Executive Director at Love INC National.
2013-2016Brian Stauffer served as Executive Director of Love INC Allegan County.
May 2016Barry Lucas was hired as Executive Director.
2019Our Allegan LIFE Skills Program closed as a result of limited staffing. We closed our satellite office and LIFE Skills Program in Pullman, enabling the ministry of People Helping People to flourish.
March 2023We launched our 10 Homes for 10 Families Program.
February 2025Our Allegan LIFE Skills Program opened back up with an afternoon program.
May 2025Our first family to complete the 10 Homes for 10 Families Program took ownership of their home.