Lakeshore Resource Network to open next week. 

Lakeshore Resource Network to open next week. 

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

LUDINGTON — After three years of planning, the Lakeshore Resource Network building, 920 E. Tinkham Ave., is scheduled to open on Tuesday, Sept. 5. The building will serve as a hub for people who are in need of assistance. It will include the Lakeshore Food Club, a hybrid food, along with access to several local nonprofit organizations.

“About three years ago, West Michigan Community Mental Health approached United Way of Mason County to discuss bringing area food pantries together,” said Lynne Russell, executive director of United Way of Mason County. “CMH was running a mobile food truck but it was not part of its mission.” From there, Russell said, United Way, CMH and the Pennies from Heaven Foundation brought together several local food pantries, along with nonprofit organizations and had conversations on how they could pool their resources under one umbrella.

As a result, Pennies from Heaven Foundation purchased the former Lakeshore Lumber building on Tinkham Avenue with the intent to convert it into a food pantry. The original plan was to repurpose the existing building, however, the building was destroyed by fire. As a result, a new 16,000 square foot building was built. 

“It became pretty clear that it was a huge building for a food pantry,” Russell said.

Monica Shuyler, executive director of Pennies from Heaven, said the building was the foundation’s gift to the community, which will now allow United Way, Pennies from Heaven, American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Staircase Youth Service, True North Community Services, and Michigan Works to all be under one roof.

The food club will be a membership based program serving individuals and families who are 200% below the federal poverty level, said Sarah Mcmahon, program director. Memberships cost $10 per month and gives members access to food, based on points, and also services such as educational programs that will teach financing, cooking and meal planning, among other topics.

The food club is scheduled to open later in the fall.

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