Mission and Oversight
Our mission is to provide local families in need with food, emergency financial assistance, skill-building education, and other resources offering stabilization.
- Christian Neighbors has been serving our community since 1983.
- We are blessed to have at least 50 volunteers serve on a weekly basis.
- Christian Neighbors is governed by an all-volunteer board and teams who are carefully selected and diversified in their makeup.
- Our Board of Directors cares for our mission, strategies, goals, governance and ensures that we operate in compliance with legal & ethical standards.
- Our finances are monitored by a Finance Team made up of our board president, treasurer, bookkeeper, CPA, and local business owners.
- Our Facilities Director and team care for the buildings and grounds with which the ministry has been greatly blessed.
- The Education Resource team oversees our classes and programs to strengthen individuals and the community.
Our Five C’s
Being Christian Neighbors
Christian Neighbors was founded in 1983 by the local churches in response to people in need in our community. This allowed the churches to minister cooperatively in ways they could not do alone. It is important to keep that long standing connection between the local Churches and Christian Neighbors. Most area churches support Christian Neighbors through their church budget, food donations and community soup suppers. Christian Neighbors stands ready to work with churches and church leaders as they refer people in need.
Being Community Neighbors
Christian Neighbors has become a community agency that is supported not only by churches, but also by individuals and businesses throughout the community who realize that we must take care of others in need. The downturn in the Michigan economy has made an agency like Christian Neighbors essential and it has built a reputation throughout our community as a place where you will be helped when you are in need.
Being Cooperative Neighbors
Christian Neighbors has built cooperative relationships with religious, private, and governmental agencies committed to helping those in need. The Christian Neighbors Director and staff serve on and lead various task forces throughout our county dealing with hunger, poverty, and homelessness. They have built resources and developed referrals that address all of those concerns as people come to them with varied needs. When you look at the yearly reports of Christian Neighbors, it is amazing the amount of help they provide, both with food and financially.
Being Caring Neighbors
Christian Neighbors has demonstrated that our community cares about those in need. Christian Neighbors has also demonstrated that as a community works together, it can meet the needs that exist. People who go to Christian Neighbors for assistance are treated with caring, kindness and respect.
Being Continuous Neighbors
Christian Neighbors has been working to meet the needs in the Otsego, Alamo, Plainwell, Cooper, and Martin areas since 1983. Having a facility located in the heart of this service area, Christian Neighbors is positioned to continue to meet the needs of this area for many years to come.
Our Board
Board President:
Art Hartman
Vice President:
Edith Reitkerk
Secretary:
Jane Adams
Treasurer:
Tim Powers
Facilities Manager:
Larry Hill
Education / Resources:
Donna Doctor
Pastoral Advisor:
Joe Shaler
Plainwell School Rep:
Matt Montange
Otsego School Rep:
Jeff Hasse
Business Support:
Karen Darby
Business Support:
Aaron Mitchell
Executive Director:
Jennifer Collins
Finance Team
- Tim Powers
- Edith Reitkerk
- Donna Doctor
- Art Hartman
- Larry Wilson
- Todd Harrell
Meet the Staff
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Jennifer Collins
Executive Director
Jennifer is happy to assist with organization questions.
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Eric Hoffman
Fund Development & Volunteer Manager
Contact to have someone speak at your group or for an online donation.
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Kim Shafer
Program Director
Kim oversees our housing and homeless program.
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Shannon Zabaldo
Financial Case Manager
Shannon can be contacted for financial assistance.
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Amy VanPutten
Food Progam Director
Contact Amy for food pantry drop-offs and food assistance.
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Debbi Woodstock
Pantry Assistant
Debbie maintains the food pantry.
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Ralph Woodstock
Building & Maintenance Coordinator
Ralph maintains and improves CN buildings and grounds.
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Sharon Carper
Kitchen & Program Coordinator
Sharon manages CN activities for seniors and our demo kitchen.
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Adam Slinkman
IT Manager
Adam manages the technology infrastructure and develops internal software.