While many businesses and organizations have slowed or halted operations, Guiding Light has continued its rescue, recovery and re-engagement programming and is in need of community support.
The Grand Rapids-based nonprofit will host a virtual Ministry Update on Tuesday, May 5 beginning at noon on its Facebook and LinkedIn pages to share the latest about its operations and needs. In light of restrictions over gatherings due to COVID-19, Guiding Light opted to shift its traditional luncheon to an online format.
The community is invited to tune in to hear from Development Director Starla McDermott, who will discuss the nonprofit’s recent successes and new challenges that have resulted from the ongoing pandemic. Viewers will also hear brief updates from Guiding Light’s Recovery Director Brian Elve and Back to Work Case Manager Michael Kos.
A foundation has offered to match donations up to $15,000 during the virtual event.
“While our faith, commitment and resolve remain strong throughout these unprecedented times, we still have immense need for community support,” Executive Director Stuart P. Ray said. “We have faced many additional expenses in order to ensure our life-saving work can continue safely, remotely and off-site.
“We are incredibly grateful for the contributions of compassionate donors who are able to help us face these new challenges.”
Over the last decade, Guiding Light has transformed from a traditional homeless shelter to a recovery and re-engagement community with four main programs – Recovery, Back to Work, The Job Post and Iron House.
In March, Guiding Light voluntarily moved programming off-site and loaned its facility at 255 S. Division Ave. to the Kent County Health Department so it can serve as a temporary isolation center for those experiencing homelessness in the Heartside community who may contract COVID-19.
Guiding Light’s programming has continued while ensuring employees and the men served remain safe and in good health. All the men in the Recovery program were moved to Iron House, Guiding Light’s sober-living apartments. Men in the Back to Work program without other accommodations were offered the option to be temporarily housed elsewhere.
For more information, visit guidinglightworks.org or contact McDermott at [email protected] to make a donation.
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