Plan for Muskegon community resource center, day care gains support

Muskegon Rescue Mission is moving closer to its vision of opening a facility that brings community services under one roof and houses an affordable, high-quality preschool and day care facility that will serve low-income families and others.

The new 16,000-square-foot multi-purpose facility will offer immediate access to local agencies for health, educational, social, and job-skill services in one centralized location. 

“Our goal is to empower our community to break generational poverty,” says Dan Skoglund, Muskegon Rescue Mission executive director. “Besides offering more accessible and convenient access to local agency services and affordable day care, it will serve as a warming and cooling center for our county. It will also feature a training kitchen and offer access to STEAM-related curriculum for students.”

Muskegon Rescue Mission is one of the largest providers of emergency shelter services in West Michigan. For 115 years, the nonprofit has provided meals, shelter, clothing, and life-changing programs to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Almost $4 million raised

The community resource center will be built on a 1.48-acre parcel directly behind the Men’s Shelter. The land was gifted by the City of Muskegon.

So far, more than $3.9 million in pledges and gifts have been made toward a $5 million fundraising goal.

One sign of the wide-ranging community support was the gathering of Muskegon leaders who came together March 15 at the Barclay Place Event Center to discuss the facility’s role in addressing a variety of issues, including workforce development, bridging educational gaps, and increased outreach for over 20 partnering agencies.

In addition to Skoglund, panelists included Bryan Betten, co-owner, Betten Baker Automotive Group; Kathy Moore, director of public health for Muskegon County; Liz Garman, Early Childhood Education AAS ECE program director; Ryan Plantz, lead pastor, Evanston Avenue Baptist Church; and Melissa Moore, executive director of READ Muskegon. 

“It was an incredible night of learning how the facility will impact our community,” Skoglund said.

To support the campaign, visit muskegonmission.org/riseuptogether. For more information on the facility and the programs that will be offered, call 231-727-6090.