Zeke Johnson – Everyday Hero

Zeke Johnson, a volunteer driver for the Senior Medical Transportation Program, was honored as an “Everyday Hero” at the 2023 United Way of the Lakeshore Heroes Celebration on May 4. He was among more than 40 volunteers at community organizations nominated for the award. Zeke, who attended the evening event with his wife Theresa, wore…

Thank You, Volunteers!

When you volunteer, you are making a commitment to share that most precious of resources – your time – to make life better for those who are in need. The fruits of your labors make a tangible impact, of course, but perhaps it is the fact that you are willing to share your time and…

Spring 2023 Letter from the Director

The predictions all look grim. Demand for services is increasing dramatically, and we are burning through our funding faster than expected. For a service nonprofit like us, that means we could be forced to turn away people who need food, who need transportation, who need US! Imagine having to tell you grandmother at the family…

Ways and Opportunities to Honor Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Fifteen years after Dr. King’s assassination in 1968, the King Holiday Bill signed into law in 1983 designated the third Monday annually in January a federal holiday in observance of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As shared by The…

DTE Energy Holiday Meal: An Extra Special Year!

The annual DTE Energy Holiday Meal was extra EXCITING this year because we could finally host adults 60 and over in our dining areas! The event took place on Thursday, Dec. 15. After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able host a more traditional holiday meal at nine Lunch & Activity…

Moving and Motivation: AgeWell Services’ Wellness Center Exercise Classes Provide Help After Loss

By Lorraine Kinnucan Get Up! Get Dressed! Get Moving! This is the message that Sytsema Funeral Home suggested to me after the loss of my husband, Jerry. That was a year ago, and I have been faithful to that commitment because I had to go on. A friend had been coming to AgeWell Services’ Tanglewood…

Finding Non-Emergency Medical Transportation

Why is transportation a problem for older adults? Access to transportation gives people a sense of freedom. You can pick up and go on a whim. It is essential for maintaining independence and one’s health. If that freedom disappears, people can become isolated. Social isolation is an aging adult’s #1 enemy and without reliable transportation…

Parties in the Park Return

Parties in the Park has been a summer tradition in Muskegon for over 35 years. AgeWell Services is ecstatic to be selected to host a party Friday, July 22, 2022, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Hackley Park in downtown Muskegon. Parties have a family-friendly atmosphere, and admission is free. Rain or shine. Hackley…

Lessons I Learned From My Mom Brought Me to AgeWell

With Mother’s Day over the weekend, I naturally began to think about my mom and what I have learned from her over the years. My mom was a teacher who taught elementary school for over 30 years. She cared for every one of her students as if they were her own. I’m still amazed that…

This Wouldn’t Be Possible Without People Like You

Dear AgeWell Services of West Michigan volunteers, As we kickoff 2022 National Volunteer Week, we want to thank all of our volunteers. Thank you for your decades-long support. The idea and act of volunteerism is centuries old. For AgeWell Services, we have relied on volunteer support to provide vital connections to keep older adults nourished,…

Receiving the Keys to His Independence As He Helps Others with Theirs

February in West Michigan can be brutal. Cold temperatures, gloomy skies, and snow are typically in the forecast. February 25, 2022 was not a normal day, for many reasons. The sky was bright blue with barely a cloud to be seen. The temperature hinted at the coming spring. A group began to gather in one…

My Experience as an AgeWell Services Volunteer

I would like to take some time right now to tell you about my own experience with AgeWell Services of West Michigan. I started out as a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels in April of 2019. I absolutely loved delivering meals on my routes. There were so many grateful people each time I delivered….