Hearts & Hands Carnival 2025

As the government shutdown continues and the loss of SNAP benefits looms on November 1, our team at Community Action of Allegan County (CAAC) has been closely watching the growing impact on local families. With Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding currently suspended and many community members facing the potential loss of health coverage, it has become clear that now is not the time for planning a fundraising celebration—it’s a time for direct action.

For this reason, CAAC’s Board of Directors and leadership have made the difficult but necessary decision to cancel our 60th Anniversary Hearts & Hands Carnival Fundraiser scheduled for November 13. Instead, we are redirecting our energy and resources toward launching a “Call to Action” Campaign to meet the urgent needs of Allegan County families.

The funds originally allocated for our celebration—along with dollars already raised—will now go directly toward emergency food assistance, personal hygiene items, and crisis utility support for those affected by the shutdown.

Here’s why this action is so urgent:

• More than 12,000 Allegan County households are eligible for SNAP (about 10% of our population).
• Of the 293 families served in our Early Head Start and Head Start programs, 203 rely on SNAP benefits.
• This week alone, our TEFAP/commodities distribution supported 679 individuals, representing a 70% increase in need over a single day.

To respond effectively, CAAC is calling on our community to join us. In the coming days, you’ll see opportunities to participate in our Call to Action Campaign, which will include:

1. Donation Drives – Food, hygiene products, and household essentials collected at more than 30 community drop-off sites throughout Allegan County. These local businesses also collect toys and gifts for children and seniors throughout the holiday season for our Holiday Giving Program. https://communityactionallegan.org/get-involved/holiday-giving/
2. Online Giving Opportunities – Donate to our Call to Action here: https://p2p.onecause.com/caacdonations/donate.
3. Advocacy and Awareness Efforts – Sharing accurate, compassionate messaging about how federal program suspensions are affecting local families. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/communityactionallegan/ for information and program updates.
4. Volunteer Opportunities – Support for distribution events, donation sorting, and holiday outreach efforts. Complete a volunteer inquiry form here: https://communityactionallegan.org/get-involved/volunteer/.

For 60 years, Community Action has stood in the gap—meeting people where they are and responding with compassion and action. While we are disappointed not to celebrate this milestone with all of you as planned, we know that this pivot reflects the very heart of our mission.

Together, we can continue to be the spark of hope for those who need it most. Thank you for your partnership, your understanding, and your commitment to this community.