Kalamazoo Menu Partners with YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo for Annual Gift Drive
Following the mega success of its inaugural toy drive for Bronson Children’s Hospital in 2021, local Facebook group Kalamazoo Menu continues the holiday gift drive tradition in 2022 with nonprofit YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo.
Kalamazoo Menu organizers Mark Liddle and Beth Morrison shared:
The Kalamazoo Menu community is an amazing force! Our holiday drive in 2021 was so successful, we wanted to try again to make a difference in the communities that we dine in.
We’re pleased to be able to put this drive together for the Y and can’t wait to see the outpouring of support from the Kalamazoo Menu community. Let’s do this!
Who Receives The Donations?
100% of donations will be given to the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo’s Lincoln Youth Center.
Located at KPS’s Lincoln International Studies School on North Burdick, the team is excited about this opportunity to help local families:
We are absolutely thrilled the organizers of Kalamazoo Menu have chosen a YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo program to support this holiday season.
We couldn’t be happier to have this drive benefit some of our community’s most vulnerable families. This drive will make an enormous impact all year round.
– Vicky Kettner, Association Director of Marketing, Community Relations, and Member Engagement
In this Article
• How You Can Donate
• Gift Drop-Off Locations
• Gift Drive Partner Info
• Gift Drive Sponsors
More Festive Fun in Kalamazoo
How Can I Donate? What Items are Needed?
1 – SHOP: Purchase new winter gear, clothes, backpacks, board games, lunch boxes, or other items listed in the flyer below and leave them UNWRAPPED!
2 – DROP OFF: Deliver your gift to a participating SWMI restaurant between November 29, 2022 – December 20, 2022.
PS: Our locally-owned restaurants are pretty amazing; we recommend grabbing a meal (or two!) on your way out.
Gift Drop-Off Locations
With 20+ locally-owned restaurants participating, there is likely a drop-off site near you.
The Maple YMCA branch is also a drop-off site.
Use the locator to filter by city/area:
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Gift Drive Partners
Kalamazoo Menu
Started in March 2020, this Facebook group grew exponentially in support of locally-owned restaurants. Over 36,000 members have contributed to this online community highlighting Kalamazoo area cuisine.
YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo
The YMCA is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to helping people and communities to learn, grow, and thrive through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
The YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo includes two fitness/program centers (Maple & Portage) and the Youth Development Program at Lincoln International Studies Elementary School in Kalamazoo Public Schools.
YMCA Lincoln Youth Center
At the Lincoln YMCA, Kalamazoo’s Northside youth participate in various after-school activities such as mentoring, tutoring, home support, games and social and emotional learning.
During the summer, the Lincoln Y runs a summer achievers camp for K-5 students. The program focuses on combating the summer slide, as well as literacy enrichment with certified teachers using the LitCamp curriculum.
In the afternoon, the program turns into a YMCA camp where youth participate in CATCH or SPAARKS curriculum for physical activity, art and craft, swimming and water safety lessons, tennis lesson, field trips and a family involvement component.
Gift Drive Sponsors
Mark Liddle, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
407 W. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo MI 49007
As a licensed real estate agent in SWMI, Mark Liddle ensures his clients have a seamless and stress-free home buying and selling experience.
Mark is also the co-founder of the Kalamazoo Menu Facebook group.
Arvco Container Corporation
845 Gibson St, Kalamazoo MI 49001
Since 1971, Kalamazoo-based Arvco Container Corporation (Arvco) is America’s leading producer of corrugated food service, industrial, and government packaging.
Their donated boxes will collect all of the amazing gifts for the Y.
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