Make Holiday Wishes Come True!

Family Adoptions through Harrison Park!

Harrison Park School families face many challenges. Kent School Services Network at Harrison Park School (KSSN) works to help families through their challenges by eliminating barriers to access basic needs items, increasing experiential education opportunities, and improving attendance. During the holiday season, KSSN works with people like you who would like to adopt families for Christmas. If your department and/or team would like to help make holiday wishes come true, consider adopting a family for Christmas!

How Can We Get Started?

Sign up by email or phone 819.3156 or ketheridge@dabsj.org, stating your adoption interests.
A family profile is sent by mid to late November to interested parties, complete with family contact information, clothing sizes, and wish list items. We encourage donors to make contact with families directly when delivering the gifts; this makes the experience all the more enjoyable for the family and the donor, and tightens our sense of community on the Northwest Side.
Kent School Services Network will work with donors to help make contact with the family, if gifts cannot be delivered by the donor, or if there are any questions in working with families.

Harrison Park has a program that is paid for by United Way. Its a program to help students grades 1-3 learn the fundamentals of reading. We would always have the same student we are working with for the entire school year. This way we can also develop a positive relationship with that student. As you already know, many of the students in our area do not have the core values or stability at home. During the school year, hopefully we would be able to make a difference in that child's life not only by helping them learn how to read, but also through the relationship we have developed.

LeeAnn Vallone 819-3972 is the cordinator for this program. Her email address is vallonel@grps.org Please feel free to call or email her with any questions you have.

HEELS to HEAL: Oasis of Hope 5k Run/Walk

The RPC Student Society of PA Students at GVSU is sponsoring a 5K Run/Walk on the beautiful GVSU campus in Allendale on September 29. The event last year was amazing. This year’s 2nd annual race will be at least twice that (TWAMAZING!).

Information about participation and sponsorship can be found on the race website (Click Here) or you can search Facebook for Heels to Heal: Oasis of Hope 5K . Registrations and donations using credit cards can be made online at Active.com (keywords Heels to Heal: Oasis of Hope 5K). Or if you have questions, you can contact the organizers at GVSU Email.

Last year’s race proceeds provided hope by funding hundreds of free health-care visits enabling so many patients to complete the course to a healthier life. Hope to see you there!

West Side Area Specific Plan

Kick-Off and Issues Identification Event

When: Tuesday, June 19th, 1:30 P.M.

Where: Brann’s Steakhouse & Grille, 401 Leonard St NW

Join us for an opportunity to learn about the West Side Area Specific Plan now in progress!

On Tuesday, June 19th, at 1:30 P.M., during the regular meeting of the West Leonard Business Association, members will have an opportunity to learn about the preparation of the West Side Area Specific Plan, which will be an amendment to the City of Grand Rapids Master Plan, and will result in strategies to promote business vitality on the west side.

The Area Specific Plan is required prior to forming a Corridor Improvement District for the Leonard Corridor.

Members will be involved in a fast-paced, issues identification exercise where concerns and successes will be identified on large air-photo maps of the west Leonard Street Corridor. Please join us as we begin this exciting process! For further information contact The West Leonard Business Association at 451-0150.