Paying it forward: A former recipient gives back to support Allegan families

When LeighAnne Henderson was able to give back and support the mission of Community Action of Allegan (CAAC), it was a full-circle moment.

Her children have benefited from the program’s Head Start program and other CAAC services. Now, over the recent holidays, she led an effort to help the agency support more families.

Allegan community members united to support families and seniors in need through the annual Holiday Giving program. This year, 401 children from 119 families received toys and gifts, while 50 seniors were given gift bags.

The program was a joint effort between local businesses, organizations, and community members, who collected, organized, and distributed donations, making the event a resounding success.

“CAAC built this program based on the need we continued to see in our community to support not only children, but home-bound seniors without family or close friends to support them at the holiday time,” says Mardi Noorman, director of administration and facilities for CAAC and the coordinator of the Holiday Giving drive. “CAAC began this program a decade ago, and over time went from serving 10 children our first year to over 400 children and 50 seniors in 2024.

“Our partnership with community members, businesses, Toys for Tots, the Michigan State Police Stuff the Blue Goose Program, and meal donations from Hungry for Christ and Request Foods, allowed us the opportunity to bless children, families, and seniors from across the county.”

Lisa Evans, CAAC executive director, says that when seeing the community’s generosity, “you could truly feel the joy and blessings of the season flow right through you.”

“Providing this program is truly ‘heart work’ of our staff and it fills all of us with the most amazing sense of joy and gratitude for the generosity of the community.” 

Understanding the impact

For Henderson, store manager at Allegan Pizza Hut, the mission was personal. A mother of six, she understood firsthand the challenges of balancing family responsibilities with financial hardships. She wanted to give back in a way that made a direct impact.

“I’ve always been active in the community,” Henderson says. “My youngest just finished Head Start, but I’m still involved as a community member on the policy council. When I saw that our store had a Toys for Tots box, I thought, ‘Why don’t we also have a Community Action box so we can give back directly to our local families?’”

She reached out to Community Action to set up a new initiative within the program, collaborating to launch a fundraiser, design flyers, and spread awareness across the community.

“We put flyers on every box that left the store, letting people know Santa would be there for pictures. The money we raised went right back into filling the holiday gift bags,” Henderson says. 

She attributes her dedication to community service to her own experience. As a single mother years ago, she relied on Head Start and Community Action programs to navigate difficult times.

“When my oldest, who is now 16, was in the program, I was a single mom just getting out of an abusive relationship,” she says. “The program not only helped my kids with early education but also provided crucial childcare support.”

Meeting a critical need

For many families in Allegan, programs like these are a crucial support system. 
“Hearing the stories and testimonials of the parents and the seniors is truly moving,” Evans says, “because we know we’re making a real difference, underscoring why the work we do together, as a community, is so critical to the ongoing needs of so many struggling residents.”

Reactions from this year’s recipients echo that sentiment:

“If it were not for this organization, my family and I would have fallen into an even darker place of homelessness,” says Rosa R. “It’s not just about the help; it’s the friendships I’ve built here. Thank you for giving us hope.”

Another recipient, Bryanna P., expressed gratitude for the program’s support.

“My youngest attends early Head Start, and I’ve watched him grow and flourish,” she says. “When life got hard, they helped me with resources. Without holiday help, we couldn’t have had Christmas this year.”

Evans says these testimonies are not unusual.

“Our volunteers and staff have countless stories of families who leave in tears of joy and with hearts of gratefulness because they could not have provided even the smallest of gifts to their children without this program,” she says. “But through this program and with the amazing community support, we were able to provide not only gifts but stocking stuffers, games, blankets, hats, mittens, health, and beauty products, and in some cases, a warm Christmas meal.” 

The holiday giving program wouldn’t be possible without the support of local businesses. Participating businesses included:

• Allegan City Police
• Allegan Credit Union
• Allegan Farm and Home
• Allegan Sheriff’s Department
• Allegan True Value
• Allegan Fire District
• BW2 Health and Performance
• Bob’s True Value
• Creative Play Station Christian Preschool
• Dan Chilla State Farm
• Dollar General-Allegan (near Goodwill)
• Hartman Ellis U Store
• Honor Credit Union
• Huntington Bank
• 1871 Taproom
• Napa
• Perrigo
• Perrigo Company Store
• Riverfront Nutrition
• Something Sweet for You
• Edward Jones Rob Marciniak, Allegan
• Inspire Hair and Nail Studio
• MugShots
• Dorr Veterinary Clinic
• Edward Jones Tim Andrus
• Pizza Hut-Allegan
• Class Act Salon
• Bushel and A Peck
• B & C Trophy
• Wayland Hotel
• Otsego Moose
• Allegan County Courthouse
• Allegan County Administration Office
• Allegan County Human Services
• West Michigan Regional Airport Holland

The success of this year’s holiday giving program has inspired organizers to explore additional fundraising and community engagement initiatives. Henderson hopes to expand efforts beyond the holiday season to support families year-round.

“We’re talking about putting together other fundraisers, because these programs really help,” she says. “We also offer field trips for the little ones, and I want to raise awareness about the opportunities available for families in our community.”