The Union County Christmas Bureau will open Monday, Oct. 1 to begin accepting applications from families that request assistance for the Christmas season. Applications will be taken until Nov. 20. The Christmas Bureau will accept applications on Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Union County Human Services at 2330 Concord Avenue in Monroe. Donations can currently be dropped off at the Union County Human Services location through Nov. 15. After that date, donations can be taken to the distribution site at 2115 W. Roosevelt Blvd., Suite 200, Monroe (former Sears’ location at Monroe Crossing). Groups or individuals may assist by sponsoring families, gift trees or filling stockings for children. All donations are tax deductible. Monetary donations can be made online at hopeunioncounty.org. “It would be a tremendous help to us if anyone wishing to donate gifts could wait until we move into our site at the Monroe Crossing Mall,” said Volunteer Services Coordinator Gloria Haney. “Our space to house donations is limited at the Human Services facility. However, we don’t want this to be a hindrance and prevent people from donating gifts. We will make room for any donations until we move to the mall location.”

I’ve gotten several requests for information on places that will allow preteens to volunteer. Please leave a comment with any volunteer opportunities you are aware of for that age group.

We’ve added a new page: Fall Fun

“Greyston managers teach apprentices how to work – with an emphasis on punctuality and the need to respect authority….
The company is committed to PathMaking, creating opportunities for its employees to find other opportunities once they learn how to hold a job. Each employee at Greyston makes a life plan. The company provides assistance in helping employees achieve their plans, whether it involves working towards a GED diploma or getting health care. Greyston is a stepping stone and employees are encouraged to go on to higher-paying jobs…”

https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Greyston_121813.pdf

The Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation was established in 2015 in the Madison Square neighborhood as a partnership between a business, a church, two social enterprises, and a non-profit organization, to create opportunities for transformation through meaningful relationships, work, education, and community development.

GRCCT partners exist with a single mission, to create opportunities for transformation, addressing the lack of employment opportunities
for young adults and community residents and a lack of structured and consistent approaches to providing inter-agency and cross sectoral opportunities for the community in a sustainable way.

Why economic exchange need not be a zero-sum game

Conquering famine: 3 reasons global hunger is on the decline

Cartwill Empowerment Solutions has started accepting community members who are seeking representative payee services. A representative payee is a person or an organization who receive benefits for anyone who can’t manage or direct the management of his or her benefits. A payee’s main duties are to use the benefits to pay for the current and future needs of the beneficiary, and properly save any benefits not needed to meet current needs. A payee must also keep records of expenses. A payee must be able to provide an accounting of how he or she used or saved the benefits. 

CES is a 501(c)(3) organization. Fees are determined by the regulatory bodies
appointing this organization as payee, with consideration of beneficiaries’ financial hardships.

According to CES, “Choosing the right representative payee, whether by choice or as required by the benefits provider, is a critical step in securing beneficiaries’ overall financial success, which is why it is no surprise that roughly 85 percent of representative payees are family members. Empowerment Solutions is approved and qualified to manage all required payee responsibilities.”

The flyer can be seen here and the brochure can be seen here.

I’ve added a Disability and Special Needs Resources Page.