Dear Neighbor,
As Thanksgiving approaches, I want to take a moment to wish you and your loved ones a safe and joyous holiday filled with laughter, great food, and *hopefully* a Lions win against the Chicago Bears.
This time of year is a perfect opportunity to come together as a community, support those who may be in need, and express gratitude in our lives — and I am incredibly thankful to serve you and the residents of District 12 in the state legislature. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I encourage you to extend a helping hand this holiday season. Included in this newsletter are various volunteer opportunities and resources to help make a positive impact in our community.
As always, please feel free to reach out to my office to share your perspective or seek assistance with any challenges you may be facing with state departments — we are here to serve you. You can reach my office by calling (517) 373-7315 or emailing SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov.
Sincerely,
Kevin Hertel
State Senator
District 12
- Forgotten Harvest and other community organizations are working to help families in need this Thanksgiving. Find out where to receive assistance or how you can give back here.
- November 30 is Small Business Saturday. Remember to shop small and support local businesses this holiday season!
- Our District Office will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 28. We will resume our regular office hours on Thursday, December 5.
Food Assistance
For community members struggling to make ends meet, the holiday season can be especially tough. Thankfully, there are numerous organizations throughout District 12 that are available to provide resources to individuals and families in need during the upcoming holiday season.
Forgotten Harvest Pantry
Every holiday season, Forgotten Harvest seeks to add a little extra joy and dignity to the lives of families in need, working to source more traditional holiday meal–style food items to include in their regular food distributions. You can find all of their pantry locations here or by calling them at (248) 967-1500 during regular business hours.
Annual Thanksgiving Lunch at the Mount Clemens Salvation Army
The Mount Clemens Salvation Army will be providing a community Thanksgiving meal on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. All are welcome. For more information, please contact Korienna Cox at (586) 469-6712.
Thanksgiving Boxes at Woodside Bible Church
Woodside Bible Church is partnering with the Dream Centers of Michigan to provide local families with Thanksgiving dinner to be enjoyed in their own homes with family and friends. Boxes include groceries for 6-8 people and a Meijer gift card to purchase a turkey. One box per family. Learn more or sign up to receive a box here.
WHEN: Saturday, November 23 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Woodside Bible Church — Chesterfield Campus, 26950 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield, MI 48051 and Woodside Bible Church — Algonac Campus, 419 Michigan Street, Algonac, MI 48001
Mental Health Support
The holiday season is not necessarily joyous for everyone. It is important to consistently check in with your mental health and ensure you are getting the support you need. If you find yourself emotionally struggling or experiencing a mental health crisis, please be sure to utilize the following resources:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 for 24-hour, toll-free, confidential support. Learn more here.
- Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press “1” to speak with a qualified responder, or text 838255. Available to veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and their loved ones. Learn more here.
- Local Resources: Find a suicide prevention coalition, support group, or crisis line near you by scrolling down this page and finding a listing in your county.
Volunteer Opportunities
Whether it’s serving meals at a local shelter, donating to a food drive, or helping organize a community event, your time and generosity can make a big difference in the lives of others this holiday season. The following organizations in our community are looking for volunteers to lend a hand:
- Forgotten Harvest has a number of volunteer opportunities open and is now accepting volunteers. Learn more here.
- AgeWays is in search of donations to help bring hot meals and holiday cheer to homebound seniors who depend on the Meals on Wheels program for daily nutrition. Learn more here.
- Detroit Thanksgiving needs volunteers to pack and distribute food boxes on November 22 and 23 in Harrison Township. Learn more here.
Michigan’s economy is fueled by our vibrant array of small businesses. From local retailers and restaurants to health care providers and innovative startups — each of these enterprises help to create jobs and promote economic prosperity. For every dollar spent at a local business, more than two-thirds stay in our community to support local families, causes and other businesses.
Recognizing and supporting small businesses is crucial to fostering thriving communities here in District 12 and throughout Michigan. Since taking office, I’ve had the pleasure of traveling across our district to welcome countless small businesses to our area, tour local establishments and connect budding entrepreneurs with available resources.
With Small Business Saturday coming up on November 30, remember to shop small this holiday season! Check out this guide on how you can support local businesses in our community and across Michigan.
Also, if you’re in Macomb County, make sure to participate in the Shop Local Macomb event. By visiting a local shop and snapping a photo, you have the opportunity to win one of ten $150 gift cards, all while uplifting entrepreneurs in our community. The initiative runs from November 22 through December 8. Learn more here.
It is one of my top goals as your State Senator to have myself and my office be as accessible to you as possible. To share your thoughts on legislation or seek assistance with an issue, please join me at one of our upcoming district events:
District Office Hours with Staff
WHEN: Every Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and by appointment
WHERE: District Office, 28800 Harper Ave., Saint Clair Shores, MI 48081
Please note: the office will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 28. We will resume our regular office hours on Thursday, December 5.
If You Need Help: If you have a problem dealing with any department of state government, such as accessing unemployment benefits, my office is available to help resolve it. While we usually cannot assist with local or federal issues, we will always do our best to help direct you to the appropriate person or organization for help.
You may always feel free to call my office at (517) 373-7315 or email me at SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov.
Keep Up to Date: Our bi-weekly newsletters are full of updates on what Team Hertel has been working on both in Lansing and District 12 to deliver results for Michiganders. To keep up to date with what we’ve been up to — sign up here to receive my bi-weekly newsletter, or access previous editions online here.
For more frequent updates, I also encourage you to follow our team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.