Thrive program to help northern Kent County residents meet financial, life goals

ROCKFORD – North Kent Community Services, the largest food pantry and resource center in northern Kent County, is seeking individuals to participate in Thrive, its new program to help people become self-sufficient.

Thrive is designed to give those who are struggling the support they need to achieve their life goals, such as owning a home, obtaining a better-paying job or furthering their education.

North Kent Community Services (NKCS) serves low-income families in the Cedar Springs, Rockford and Sparta areas, from 5 Mile Road to 22 Mile Road and east and west to the county lines. Thrive is for anyone in the NKCS service area, and participants do not need to be a current client of NKCS to qualify.

"Everyone can succeed with proper resources in place as well as with encouragement from others. Through Thrive, participants will have the opportunity to become empowered as they achieve their goals," said Chérie Elahl, NKCS program director.

Thrive participants will be meeting in a small group to learn how to save money when they're struggling to pay their bills, how their strengths can guide them toward a new career path, how to have hope when they feel hopeless, and how to attain the future they see for themselves.

Thrive participants will meet for two hours every week for six months.

The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 16. Contact Elahl at cherie.elahl@nkcs.org or 616-866-3478.

North Kent Community Services provides food, clothing, senior meals on wheels, tax preparation and more to those in need. For more information on NKCS, visit www.nkcs.org.

http://www.mlive.com/rockford/index.ssf/2014/12/thrive_program_to_help_norther.html