Beginning in March, the Momentum Center will begin offering services in the former home of Community Action House at 345 W. 14th St. in Holland.
The Momentum Center is expanding its presence in the Holland area. Grants and collaborations are allowing the nonprofit to increase programming to a wider range of members in a new, easily accessible location.
Beginning in March, the Momentum Center will be leasing a new space to deliver their programming in Holland. Because of a collaborative relationship with Community Action House, the Momentum Center will be able to lease the former CAH location at 345 W. 14th St. in Holland.
CAH recently vacated this property in order to expand services at its new Food Club & Opportunity Hub. Having this dedicated space will allow the Momentum Center to expand programming hours as well as the kinds of activities it can provide. It will also provide a location for community education and conversations.
A public open house at Momentum Center’s new site will be March 14 from 4 p.m to 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.
Expanding services
“We’re so pleased to see this space again put into meaningful use serving our community,” says Community Action House Executive Director Scott Rumpsa. “Helping people prosper is at the core of our mission, and we are excited to see Momentum Center expanding its services here in Holland. We know many in our community – including some of our program guests – will greatly benefit from the welcoming services offered by the Momentum Center.”
The Momentum Center aims to create a stigma-free community with social and recreational opportunities for adults living with mental illness, addictions, and disabilities, as well as groups and life skills programming for young people beginning at 11 years old.
No referral or clinical diagnosis is necessary, and membership is only $1. The goal is for the Holland location to offer the same programming that is offered in Grand Haven, including yoga and exercise classes, movie events, arts and crafts, community outings, and more.
The Momentum Center identified the need to expand its initial pilot in the Holland area to address the heightened challenges and barriers people experience in addressing their needs for healthy community space. The pandemic has escalated the need for mental health services.
“We will now be able to have the impactful services provided in the Grand Haven area repeated in the Holland area,” says Momentum Center’s Barbara Lee VanHorssen. “The support provided to individuals has increased social connections and decreased depression, anxiety, and loneliness.”
Funding makes services possible
Initial funding for this Holland expansion came from a grant from the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland area in the summer of 2021. Current staffing in Holland includes Tre Burnett, a certified peer support specialist, and Christian Garcia, who is bilingual in English and Spanish and acts as the Holland program coordinator. The ability to provide programming in both English and Spanish is critical in meeting the needs of this community.
The Perrigo Company Charitable Foundation Board has awarded the Momentum Center a $5,000 grant toward bilingual staff salaries for the Holland Momentum Center. The foundation is dedicated to supporting organizations and programs that enhance the health, well-being, and education of individuals and communities.
Another component of Momentum Center’s programming is offering off-site member events with transportation for those that need it. The Macatawa Area Coordinating Council Community Enhancement Board granted $5,000 toward the purchase of a bus for this purpose. The Community Enhancement Board looks for proposals that serve the common good and have an enduring positive effect on the quality of life and economic vitality of the Holland/Zeeland community.
The Momentum Center, which is headquartered in Grand Haven, is a grassroots movement to create a stigma-free community. It does this by hosting community conversations and operating The Momentum Center for Social Engagement, which addresses mental illness, addictions, and disabilities. The Momentum Center also houses the Momentum Café and operates Just Goods Gifts.
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