Plainwell Volunteer Christmas Project rallies community to support local families

This is part of the Shore Stories: Life Along the Lakeshore series, which includes columns by local and former residents about how they are making a difference along the Lakeshore.

Having been born and raised in Plainwell, I experienced an overwhelming sense of community – neighbors helping neighbors. It was a magical feeling that encapsulated what Plainwell was truly about.

My parents, Plainwell residents since the early ’90s, instilled community values in my brother and me from an early age, encouraging us to give back to our community and do what we can to help others.

The holiday season was no different. For as long as I can remember, my family has participated in the Plainwell Volunteer Christmas Project (PVCP), adopting families, collecting food, volunteering our time, and helping where we could. This became a holiday tradition and something I looked forward to each year. Seeing generations of Plainwell families come together to make an impact reminds me of the power in this community.

The Plainwell Volunteer Christmas Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves the Plainwell School District each holiday season. Run solely by community volunteers and relying entirely on donations, the organization is dedicated to providing food, hygiene products, and Christmas presents to children and their families in Plainwell.

Each year, the high school cafeteria brims with donations, and tears fill my eyes. It’s a powerful reminder of what our small town can accomplish.

Need is even greater

Even now, nearly six years after I graduated from Plainwell High School, my family is still deeply involved in the PVCP. Over time, our role has only grown—my brother and I are now able to give back financially, and with my dad’s support, my mom serves as secretary and adult gift coordinator.

However, as my family’s role has grown, so has the community’s need for help. In 2024, 167 families benefited from the Plainwell Volunteer Christmas Project. But because of rising food costs and increased financial strain on families, that number has increased nearly 20% this year. More families are now facing empty cabinets, and more children are waking up Christmas morning to no gifts under the tree.

That is why I am shining a light on this organization and calling on the Plainwell community to get involved and to support our town this holiday season.

Your donations are going to families in the Plainwell School District: your neighbors, your child’s best friend, the couple you sit next to in church. The impact is immense, and the community’s support makes it possible year after year.

From now through Dec. 15, the Plainwell Volunteer Christmas Project is seeking donations of toys, non-perishable food items, cleaning supplies, and personal hygiene products. Donations can be dropped off at any of these locations:

All Plainwell Community Schools
A Capello Salon
ACE Hardware
Automotive Specialty Accessories (ASA)
BC Pizza
Campbell’s Pharmacy
Cornell & Associates
Doster Store
Dragonfly Quilting
Edward Jones
First Baptist
Fly Inn
H&H Auto Body
Harding’s Market
Hart’s Jewelry
Hoard Chiropractic
Passiflora
Pro Automotive
Ransom Library
Repz Gym
State Farm
Taqueria San Francisco
United Methodist Church

If you are looking to get involved, please contact plainwellchristmas@gmail.com.

Remember, no contribution is too small; whether you are looking to donate money or your time, your involvement makes an impact. What will your contribution be today? 

Choose a way to support the project now, and help us bring a brighter holiday season to families in the Plainwell community.

Megan Stefl is a graduate of Plainwell High School and Michigan State University, earning her degree in public relations. She now resides in Grand Rapids and works at Bellwether Public Relations, a Lansing-based public relations firm.