We're in full-on Holiday Mode here at TIS! As we're preparing to do both an internal Secret-Santa-style gift exchange as well as donate gifts to our Fulton St. neighbors Other Way Ministries, we'd like to encourage you to not just GIFT locally this holiday season, but to GIVE locally too.
To get you started, we're sharing twelve outstanding places TO GIVE and TO GIFT for the 2018 holiday season. Let the Twelve Days of Gifting & Giving begin!
To Give
Boys & Girls Club: Click here to donate
Address: 726 Madison Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Mission: To enable all young people to reach their full potential as responsible citizens through education, recreation, and positive community experiences in partnership with the Grand Rapids Police Department.
Early Learning Neighborhood Collective: Click here to donate
Address: P.O. Box 2956, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501
Mission: The Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative will create and provide targeted neighborhood collaborative partners with technical, developmental and educational support in order to increase the accessibility of early education resources for vulnerable children.
Friends of GR Parks: Click here to donate
Address: 15 Ionia Ave. SW, Suite 540, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Mission:To empower people to cultivate vibrant parks, trees, and green spaces in the Grand Rapids community.
Hope Network: Click here to donate
Address: 3075 Orchard Vista Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Mission Statement:In Christian service, Hope Network empowers people to overcome challenges to achieve their highest level of independence.
HQ: Click here to donate
Address: 320 State Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Mission: To create a safe and affirming space for youth to find rest, build connections and pursue their passions to realize their dreams.
LINC UP: Click here to donate
Address: 1167 Madison Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
About: We are a community development organization that provides services to Kent County, and are involved in a host of projects and services that reach families, houses, businesses and neighborhoods at large.
Mel Trotter Ministries: Click here to donate
Address: 225 Commerce Ave. SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Mission: Mel Trotter Ministries exists to demonstrate the compassion of Jesus Christ, through rescue and restoration for anyone experiencing hunger and homelessness.
The Other Way Ministries: Click here to support
Address: 839 Sibley St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Mission: To help families discover spiritual direction, relationship growth, and economic stability through a diverse range of services, programs and classes.
Sole Sisters: Click here to donate
Mission: To support and inspire other women to overcome barriers through the transformational power of physical activity.
Well House: Click here to donate
Address: 600 Cass SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
About: Well House provides safe, affordable housing to the homeless. We recognize that each individual has their own unique needs and challenges, and that a “one size fits all” approach is often a barrier to housing.
Westown Jubilee Housing: Click here to donate
Address: 724 West Fulton, Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Mission: To serve as a missionary arm of the Church in Westown and beyond to advocate for and provide affordable housing in collaboration with all the partners God provides.
YWCA: Click here to donate
Address: 25 Sheldon Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Mission: Eliminating racism; Empowering women and girls; Promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
To Gift
Fitness Studio Membership or Gift Card AM Yoga, FLEXcity Fitness
Giving the gift of health and fitness really shows you care about a loved one. Make it extra fun by giving them a membership, gift card or class pack to a studio you attend, as well! A couple of our favorites are AM Yoga and FLEXcity Fitness.
Class at Downtown Market
A great thing to do together with a loved one! Click here to see the class schedule.
Gift Card to Essence Restaurants
A gift card to Essence Restaurants is valid at Bistro Bella Vita, The Green Well and Jimmy Berger's! Plus, for a limited time, you can get a $10 bonus card for $50 purchased and $20 in bonus cards for $100 purchased! (In-store purchase only).
Grand Rapids Coffee Roasters
We love our weekly delivery from Grand Rapids Coffee Roasters! Get your favorite caffeine addict a pound (or two… hehe) of beans this holiday season! Click here to shop their catalog.
Booze from Long Road Distillers & Gray Skies Distillery
We're lucky enough to have a couple AWESdistilleriesires in town, like Long Road Distillers and Eastern Kille Distillery. Make it a fun gift set with a couple rocks glasses and other accessories.
Beer from Mitten Brewing
If a brewski is more your thing than liquor, we're obviously blessed with a ton of breweries in Grand Rapids. One of our neighborhood favorites is The Mitten Brewing Company on the west side. Growlers, gift cards, or even a pizza and beer on you are all solid gifts to give.
Michigan Gear from The Mitten State
Shopping for an out-of-towner, or even out-of-stater? The Mitten State on Bridge St. has an awesome collection of unique Michigan-themed apparel, accessories, glassware, décor, and more!
Local Museum Membership
Grand Rapids is home to several museums that are available to explore. A museum membership is a unique gift that can be utilized all year! A handful of our favorites include Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids Art Museum, and Grand Rapids Children's Museum.
The Funnest Pins, Magnets & more from Arthur's Plaid Pants
Arthur's Plaid Pants is an awesome local business owned by illustrator Jen Husted-Goss who creates the raddest pins, magnets, stickers, greeting cards, prints, posters, and more. You have probably seen her goods in local shops and boutiques like Rebel.reclaimed, but you can also purchase her goods online! Click here to browse her shop and pick out the perfect gift for the music-obsessed, cult-TV-show follower, movie-fanatic, and women's-rights-activist in your life.
Woosah Outfitters + Outside Coffee
Woosah Outfitters has been a staple local shop in GR for several years, and now with their new location on Wealthy St. and the addition of Outside Coffee Co. (which is the cutest coffee shop to ever exist), Woosah is extra-cool. A piece of handmade apparel paired with a trip or gift card to Outside Coffee is perfect for the outdoors enthusiast in your life.
Book from Books & Mortar
Flex those brain muscles by gifting a book from Books & Mortar to a loved one this holiday season! With a breadth of genres for both adults and children, and frequent in-store events, Books & Mortar has much knowledge to offer for folks of all interests.
& All the Things at Rebel GR!
We've been huge fans of Rebel GR since Day 1, and their new, much bigger location can house so many more goodies to browse and buy! Rebel truly has something for all occasions—you're sure to find an awesome gift for your loved ones there.
What are Your Favorite Places to Give & to Gift?
There are so many incredible organizations to give to and local businesses to do your holiday shopping in Grand Rapids and the West Michigan area. Tell us your favorites below! Happy Holidays to all. : )
