Your Donations
Change Lives
You Help Us Bring Hope
Your charitable gifts to Goodwill Northern Michigan help us bring food to neighbors and help people find home. Your support helps our Food Rescue program put 8,000 pounds of nutritious food to good use each day, delivering it to 78 local food pantries, community meal sites, and baby pantries at no costs to the pantries. It helps provide shelter and housing for over 1,000 people experiencing homelessness each year, and helps over 200 families and individuals moving out of homelessness into housing. Your support is changing the story for vulnerable neighbors across Northern Michigan. Thank you!
Working on Second Chances
From the outside Barbara’s family seemed to be doing fine, but behind closed doors they faced severe health and financial struggles. The loss of her youngest child triggered a devastating spiral for Barbara. Grief consumed her, and she turned to substances for escape. Over time, she lost her job, her home, and her financial stability. She exhausted the support of family and friends. Finally, with no one left to turn to, she found herself in shelters and on the streets. Living in a constant state of fight, flight, or freeze, her physical and mental health deteriorated rapidly.
Through the efforts of Goodwill, generous donors, and the Homeless Coalition’s Initiative to End Chronic Homelessness, more units are now available for people like Barbara. Today, she lives in a studio unit instead of a tent. Her case manager helps her hold on to her housing. With coordinated care, Barbara has regained employment, is in recovery, and is working toward reconciling with her family. The proven formula of Housing with Supports has truly given Barbara a second chance at life.
Taking Action to Meet the Growing Need
“Since 2023, food pantry traffic has increased dramatically, but the amount of food entering the pipeline has not. That’s why we support Food Rescue’s community-driven work,” said Adam Brown. Adam and his wife Haley Breniser first saw the impact of Food Rescue firsthand while selling their organic produce at farmers markets.
“We watched surplus produce being delivered to food pantries and meal sites and wanted to help,” said Adam, who owned and operated UnderToe Farm with Haley. “Everyone deserves to know what a fresh heirloom tomato tastes like, no matter what their income.”
Adam now coordinates agricultural programs for the Grand Traverse Conservation District’s Great Lakes Incubator Farm, where crops are grown and donated to Food Rescue. We’re proud to partner with farmers like Adam and Haley and 82 local farms to glean, repack, and deliver 300,000 pounds of local produce to neighbors in need.
The Importance of a Bag of Cherries and Our Amazing Food Rescue Volunteers
As a single father of four, John thought he had secured the American dream with a job, a home, and a dog. But after a series of crises, his family lost their savings and stability. Moving between temporary housing in Northern Michigan added enormous stress. He couldn’t afford the nutritious food his family needed. “My kids love cherries, but we couldn’t buy any this year,” John shared.
Then he visited a food pantry where Food Rescue delivers fruit and vegetables every week including local produce in season. It’s all harvested and packed into family-sized packages during 2,322 hours donated by 280 amazing Food Rescue volunteers. “We grabbed a bag of cherries and went to the park. It felt normal. It felt like before the crisis.” In the Greater Grand Traverse Area, 16,000 people rely on food pantries and meal sites: one-third are children in families, one-third are seniors, many have disabilities. Meanwhile, a third of all food goes to waste. Alongside our Northwest Food Coalition partners, we are working to ensure everyone has access to the nutritious food they need.
From the Streets to Stability
Tom’s mental health challenges left him without a place to call home. His drug use worsened as he struggled with the extreme stress of homelessness. While staying in emergency shelter, and later in the woods, our Street Outreach team built trust with him. In time, Tom trusted us enough to develop a housing plan, sign up for a rental subsidy, and complete applications.
Tom persevered on the streets until a spot opened up in Housing with Supports, a proven solution for people who have experienced long-term homelessness and live with a disability. Tom moved into his own apartment this spring, one of several new supportive housing units created by Goodwill. Today, a case manager is helping Tom address his most critical needs and he is healing at his own pace.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” Tom said. “I was convinced I’d be homeless for the rest of my life.” For now, he’s keeping his mattress on the floor, until he feels ready to sleep in a bed. Tom is taking daily steps toward a future of stability and hope, made possible by housing.
