2014 Christmas Project - The Martin Area Resource Center is currently accepting names of people/organizations/families wishing to sponsor a family for Christmas.
Please call the center office for more information. 269.672.5605
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Wondering how to stretch your budget this year to include everything you want to do for Christmas? Do you love the celebrating, but hate the cost?
The Martin Area Resource Center is hosting a Christmas on a Budget Sale. featuring very good items that you can repurpose, re-gift, and recycle.
You will be pleased with the money saved and you will feel great knowing your purchases will help the center provide food, clothing, and other services to families in need in YOUR community.
Saturday, November 8, 2014 - 9:00 am - 3:00pm.
Place: Watson Bible Church
1626 16th Street, Otsego
(East of Allegan on M-222, West of Martin on M-222).
**The Martin Area Resource Center is a 'green' agency.
We are committed to recycing in an effort to avoid waste and to practice good stewardship of God's provisions.
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Resource Center Garden - The last total of produce distributed to clients and the
community in 2014 - 8,871 pounds !! Thank you to everyone who gave their time and energy to make this possible!!
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Food bank - We continue to be in need of shelf stable food. We are now serving over 1,000 people each month and do not wish to turn anyone away for lack of food. Your contribution of food, whatever amount, will be greatly appreciated.
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Clothing needs -
Children's good used clothing sizes 4 - 18 - especially boys clothing. Clothing without stains and rips is appreciated.
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Wayland Hardings
Come on out and help us fill the trailer with food!!
We appreciate your support.
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Indoor Yard Sale to benefit MARC at Watson Bible Church
Sat, April 6, 2013, 9:00am - 4:00pm
Martin Area Resource Center Hires New Executive Director
Amanda (Patrick) Shumaker was raised in the small town of Martin during a time when Boysen’s Market was still busy in Saturday mornings, a variety store stood across the street and there were very few parking places when all businesses were open.
Martin Schools provided a firm foundation for her
future as she entered Western Michigan University and focused on serving others
by obtaining a degree in social work.
Years followed where Amanda was busy with her career
while she and her husband raised a family.
Twenty years of serving various populations came to an end during the
recession when her position at a nursing home was phased out. Positions in social work became few and
Amanda concentrated on serving her community through her church.
Then the Martin Area Resource Center found itself
without an Executive Director at a time when the recession’s effects were still
being felt both in Martin as well as the entire county of Allegan. The Resource
Center serves approximately 100 families a month with food, clothing and other
necessary services.
A friend told Amanda about the vacancy and encouraged
her to apply for the position. She was
offered the position and begins her new career on December 1, 2012.
The issues facing the Resource Center are not new to
Amanda as she spoke of the need to prioritize in her family accounts as their
family income went from two to one. She
speaks of her love for her community and her desire to support the Resource
Center in its efforts to provide spiritual nourishment as well as food,
clothing and other services for the physical needs of families.
Amanda will be working with community members,
churches, funding agencies and other organizations. She considers herself an Advocate (with a capital
A) for all those around her that are in need of support and assistance. She states “That is one of the biggest gifts
I have been given – to serve others”
It's that time of the year for FOOD FOR FINES!
Do you have outstanding library fines? Bring in your non perishable foods to pay your fines at the Martin JC WheelerLibrary! All food donated will go to the Martin Resource Center.
This program begins on OCTOBER 8th and will run approximately 4 weeks.
1 item = $1 in fines. All transactions are done at the discretion of the staff.
Martin Area Resource Center Golf Benefit was held August 12, 2012 at Hidden Valley Golf Course, Shelbyville, MI.
We had three teams play at 9am shotgun start/18 hole course. We had two meals during the event.
Here are the golf teams:
Team jim=Jim Cutler, Marshall Cutler, Dave McCaffery, Cheri McCaffery
Team ken=Ken Pardee, Cathy Pardee, Chuck Andrysiak, Carol Messer,
Team Ed Koehn Ford Wayland=Mark VerHage, Gail George, Matt DeHaan, Beth Dehaan.
First place winning team was Ed Koehn Ford Wayland (Mark VerHage, Gail George, Matt DeHaan, Beth DeHaan).
Other event winners include the following people and event: Longest Putt Men-Dave McCaffery, Longest Putt Women-Gail George,
Closest to the Pin Men-Marshall Cutler,
Closest to the Pin Women-Carol Messer,
Longest Drive Men-Chuck Andrysiak,
Longest Drive Women-Cheri McCaffery, Beth DeHaan second longest drive for the women,
Shortest Drive Men-Mark VerHage, Shortest Drive Women-Cathy Pardee.
We had a Putting Contest using a Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat.
Dave McCaffery won the Putting Contest. Every one really seemed to have fun with that!
We also held a 50/50 Cash Raffle, the winner was Doug Yonker. He was very excited to hear he had won.
Thank you to everyone that helped make this event a huge success. Proceeds generated from this event totaled $706.01. That will provide a lot of food for our families in need. Thank you to our sponsors and prize donors, without your generosity this event would not have been as successful. CD's Quik Mart, Ed Koehn Ford Wayland, The Barn, Shelbyville Tavern, Shine Autowash, 10th Street Saloon, Marcia Visser-Beare, Orchard Hills Golf Course, Shear Design Salon, Judy's Restaurant, Lotus Spa & Salon, VanElderen Inc. (Mike and Hermina VanElderen), Deano's Allegan, Pro Water Treatment, Strobel Service Auto Repair, Marshall Plastic Film Inc., Rick and Linda Harmsen, Lenny's Pizzeria, Cripps-Fontaine Excavating, Dimock Construction, Dairy Freeze, Hopkins Elevator, Cutler-Pardee-Jones Families, Carmen Pharmacy, Ken Bleeker Insurance Agency, Repz Fitness Center, Hidden Valley Golf Course.
Thank you to all our volunteers, Sue Jones, Clint Jones, Nicole Jones, Beth Arrasmith, and Les Lynema, Jim Cutler. You all did an excellent job!
Big thanks to Tom and Shirley Lowing-owners of Hidden Valley Golf Course. They made this event very special by making us feel right at home! Tom is an excellent grill master and made every ones burgers just the way they asked. Shirley spent a lot of time preparing for this event and sharing ideas with me (Julie) on how to host an event like this. She is the best event planner!
Also thank you Theresa Paiz-owner of RT Stitchcraft for making the beautiful sponsor signs.
We hope to host another golf benefit next year at Hidden Valley Golf Course. We will keep everyone posted on it. Happy Golfing! Thank you every one again for your generous donations. It's people like you who help keep Martin Area Resource Center open to serve those in need.
Thank you,
Julie Pardee-Cutler
Martin Area Resource Center
Board Member and Secretary
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7/2012
A big thank you to Wayland Hardings for allowing us to have our Stuff the Bus food drive!! The donations will go a long way to feed those in our community!!
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8/2012
A big thank you to Martin Reformed Church for hosting our MARC benefit Rummage Sale!
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7/2012
A big thank you to Wayland Hardings for allowing us to have our Stuff the Bus food drive!! The donations will go a long way to feed those in our community!!
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8/2012
A big thank you to Martin Reformed Church for hosting our MARC benefit Rummage Sale!
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