Dear Neighbor,
Happy Holidays! As we begin to observe the many days of celebration coming up on the calendar, I want to take a moment to share a few community resources you may find helpful. If you’re in need of food assistance, mental health support, or a place to warm up, please utilize the resources shared below.
During this time, I hope you’re able to enjoy taking part in all of the winter festivities with family and friends as we celebrate the many things we have to be thankful for. I know I am incredibly thankful to serve and represent you and the District 12 community at the Capitol.
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 emailing SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov, calling our Lansing office at (517) 373-7315, or calling our district office at (586) 252-2157.
Happy holidays,
Kevin Hertel
State Senator
District 12
- Forgotten Harvest, local Goodfellows groups, and other community organizations are working to help families in need this holiday season. Find out where to receive assistance or how you can give back below.
- If you, a loved one or a neighbor need a place to escape the frigid temperatures, there are several warming centers located throughout our community. Find a list here.
- Our District Office will be closed for the holidays on Thursday, December 26 and Thursday, January 2. We will resume our regular office hours on Thursday, January 9, 2025.
Food Assistance
For community members struggling to make ends meet, the holiday season can be especially tough. Thankfully, 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.
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.
- From bell ringing to collecting coats, distributing food packages, and more, the Salvation Army has several ways you can give back to the community. Learn more here.
- Local Goodfellows groups work to ensure no kid is left without a Christmas. Find a chapter near you: Detroit (Serves Harper Woods), St. Clair Shores, Mount Clemens, Clinton Township, Chesterfield Township, New Baltimore, Downriver (Serves Clay Township and Algonac).
Be Wary of Holiday Scams Using AI
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel recently issued an Artificial Intelligence and Scams alert to warn residents about the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) by fraudsters to take advantage of consumers. These scammers can clone a person’s voice using audio data collected from public social media posts or videos. They can then call victims, spoofing the phone number of a loved one to impersonate them in distress and make urgent demands for money.
To guard against such scams:
- Establish a family verification phrase: Use a code word or phrase that only your family knows to confirm identity during suspicious calls.
- Do not trust caller ID: Scammers can spoof phone numbers to make calls appear legitimate.
- Verify the situation: If something feels off, hang up and call the person back using a known number.
- Beware of unusual payment requests: Scammers often demand payment through cryptocurrency, gift cards, or money transfers — methods that are hard to trace or reverse.
Warming Centers in District 12
With the cold weather finally here, please make sure to stay warm. If you, a loved one or a neighbor need a place to escape the frigid temperatures, below is a list of warming center locations in or around District 12 that are heated and open to the public.
- Chesterfield Township Library | (586) 598-4900 | 50560 Patricia Ave, Chesterfield Twp. | See hours here.
- Clinton-Macomb South Library | (586) 226-5070 | 35891 South Gratiot Avenue, Clinton Twp. | See hours here.
- Harrison Township Government Office | (586) 466-1400 | 38151 L’Anse Creuse, Harrison Twp. | See hours here.
- Martha T. Berry Medical Care Facility | (586) 469-5265 | 43533 Elizabeth Road, Mount Clemens | See hours here.
- Macomb County Sheriff’s Department | (586) 469-5151 | 43565 Elizabeth Street, Mount Clemens | See hours here.
If possible, call ahead to ensure the warming center has space and capacity. For additional locations, please dial 2-1-1 or find a complete map online 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 for the holidays on Thursday, December 26 and Thursday, January 2. We will resume our regular office hours on Thursday, January 9, 2025.
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 email me at SenKHertel@senate.michigan.gov. You can also call our Lansing Office at (517) 373-7315 or our District Office at (586) 252-2157.
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.