Calvin CRC opens doors to bigger, better Eastown clothing distribution center

Nearly a year after beginning construction on an expanded clothing distribution center at 1515 Franklin SE, Calvin Christian Reformed Church celebrated the completion of the new 5,500-square-foot space with a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony last week. 

Launched over 45 years ago as part of the church’s Family Assistance Program, Calvin CRC’s clothing distribution center serves 3,000 Kent County families annually through a network of service agencies ranging from Head Start to the Kent County Health Department. 

Bobbie Talsma is director of the Family Assistance Program, and says by the end of 2014, the entirely volunteer-run operation was able to serve 3,300 through 34 agencies and 79 caseworkers, poising the organization’s efforts for another 30 percent growth in the coming year. 

This year, the congregation has served 1,137 people despite being partially closed for the relocation during the months of January and February. 

With double the storage space, separate designated donation and pickup areas, on-premise laundry facilities, a playroom for volunteers with children, and other overall efficiency upgrades, the Calvin CRC congregation raised $600,000 to cover the total cost of the project.

“Every dime we get in contribution goes to the Family Assistance Program, not a dime of overhead costs come from the donations,” says Talsma, who works alongside and directs the anywhere between 28-35 volunteers who make the program possible. 

Calvin CRC’s Family Assistance Program has also adopted new hours with the new location. Though they’re still open only twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, hours have been extended later into the afternoon, now operating from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in an effort to accommodate the schedules of professional caseworkers who are responsible for picking up orders placed via email system for the families they work with. 

“There are things we have to do to be more accessible if we want to serve more people — and we do, we want to serve more people,” Talsma says. “When you read in the paper that 22 percent of our children are homeless and they’re going from place to place, church to church; we really want to serve those people…we are blessed to bless others and we will bless as many people as we possibly can.”

Though the program has no intention of opening up to the public in general, the new space is allowing them to strengthen a relatively new partnership formed between Calvin CRC’s Family Assistance Program and the Grand Rapids Jaycees to bring winter coats, snow pants, mittens, hats and boots to students in the Grand Rapids Public School district. 

“Public schools aren’t so much aware of us, NOT only because they didn’t ask, but a teacher can see if a child has a need,” she says. “I understand that some of their resources have kind of closed down, so we’re open to serve them, too, along with our professional counselors from Head Start and other professional services like Arbor Circle and Bethany Christian Services.”

Designed by congregation member Dan Bode of The Architectural Group, Talsma says the new space brings about a few a welcome — and fitting — changes from the older, cramped southeast side home volunteers used to operate the program from. 

“We didn’t have to fit into place, the place was made to fit us,” she says. 

For more information about the church's new clothing distribution center or its Family Assistance Program, visit Calvin CRC online. 

By Anya Zentmeyer, Development News Editor
Images courtesy of Calvin Christian Reformed Church

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