ALPHA NEWS & UPDATES

2011 Year-End Letter

“Season’s Greetings”
The Alpha Family Center would like to wish you and your family a Christ-filled Holiday Season.  We are amazed at God’s goodness to Alpha this past year.  We’ve continued to add new clients each month, we’ve extended our hours to include Tuesday evenings, we’ve added additional volunteers to our team as well as more board members.  We are also now serving our Fathers with a men’s curriculum designed just for them, and continue to add additional Spanish curriculum to reach our Hispanic community.   

Our largest undertaking this past year was to make the decision to purchase property and to build a new facility across the road from our current, rented location.  This decision came after much prayer, research and community members who stepped up to provide a $20,000.00 matching fund to build.  The new facility will be 6720 square feet, which is 2720 square feet larger than our current facility.  This will cost us significantly lesser per month than we are renting this location for.  Hilbrand Construction of Grant, MI will be the General Contractor and the subcontractors will be local so that Alpha may also support our local community businesses.  The new site has the footings and concrete poured, thus we are truly rejoicing.  We hope to be in the new facility before April 25^th of 2012.  You are all invited to the building dedication. 

More importantly, we are continuing to impact our community and clients and have seen significant increases in needs for services in Newaygo County this past year.  Much of this is due to the continued economic decline that we are experiencing in Michigan and Newaygo County.  Due to these desperate times in our area, more are considering abortion because of the financial demands of a newborn.  We have been able to sway those to choose “Life”, because we have promised that we would walk with them and provide services to help them in parenting. 

Our staff, volunteers and Board of Administration would like to say thank you for your sacrificial giving and prayer support.  The community has been wonderful in giving back in support of our ministry at Alpha and we are very grateful.  While we are on the front lines in reaching those who are very desperate in our county right now, you have been a part of the battle through your prayerful support.  God continues to answer those prayers as we will soon end 2011.  We trust that jointly, we will continue to have an even greater impact in 2012. 

Your tax deductible year end giving is always appreciated and will assist us with our general operating fund.  May Christ be ever present this holiday season in your home and with your family.

In Christ,
Alpha Family Center Staff and Board of Directors

Alpha Family Center to Build New Facility

Alpha Family Center of Newaygo, has begun excavating for their new 6720 square foot facility, to be opened in the spring of 2012.  The facility will be constructed by Roger Hilbrand Construction of Grant, MI.  Local contractors will be assisting in construction of the new Family Center.

The Board of Directors and Staff at Alpha are building the new facility due to increased client base and need for additional services in Newaygo County.   Alpha has grown significantly these past two years by increasing clients served by over 61%, adding additional services, increasing the number of volunteers, and extending the hours of service.  The new center will house more client mentoring rooms, a larger on-site store, room for an ultra-sound, and a class room for group education.  The new facility will also decrease the Center’s monthly expenses significantly.   

New Alpha Store Opens

Clients shop during opening day of the new Alpha Family Center store.

With the client store doubling to a full 900 sq. ft., our clients can now shop with plenty of elbow space.

New racks allow us to display clothing more attractively and to expand our mother-to-be and older children’s  selections. Extra floor space means that clients can browse for large items that were formerly stored in the outside shed. A larger, more conveniently located sorting room makes stocking the store more efficient.

Space that was once taken by the store now features an expanded kids’ play area–complete with new bean bag seating. Our layette-assembly room is also larger—a much-needed improvement! Plus, there is plenty of space for a class or meeting in the newly spacious area—a change our Board appreciates.

Please come by during open hours and see for yourself—we’ll be happy to give you a tour.

Future Expansion Coming

Even bigger news! Alpha will soon be breaking ground for our own building!

Alpha Family Center has just purchased 4½ acres of land fronting on M-37 just a quarter mile south of our present location. The project will commence with ground-breaking this spring for the 6,700-sq-ft building. Hopes are that we will fully occupy the new building before snow flies in late autumn.

This change heralds  a new era for Alpha and will enable us to provide even greater services to the families of Newaygo County and beyond.

Welcome To Our Newest Alpha Volunteers

God has been so faithful in sending us people who have a heart for our clients and who want to make a difference in their lives.  We currently have 25 volunteers. 

Renee - Grant

Carmen - Newaygo

Sharon - Kent City

Jann - Newaygo

Amanda - Kent City

Alpha's Supporters
Alpha Family Center is supported by grants from Fremont Area Community  Foundation, Gerber Foundation, United Way and gifts from the following churches, plus generous donations from people like you!

It was Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, January 23, and Alpha representatives were speaking in 14 area churches. They spoke about the tragedy of abortion and the hope of redemption. They spoke of the work Alpha Family Center of Newaygo does and about the need of funding to do this work.

Kicking off a six-week campaign, they handed out 775 specially designed baby bottles in which people could place their loose change. On March 6 the bottles were collected.    Alpha received many bottles full of change, some with currency and some with checks, totaling nearly $8,000!

Many thanks to everyone who made this fundraiser such a success. We will use these funds wisely as we continue to serve the spiritual and material needs of families in our area.

We're Touching Lives at Alpha!

You helped up get the things we couldn't afford, and we've learned a lot.           ~ Amy & Abe, clients for 9 months		I'd tell anyone who needed the services to go.  You've helped me obtain the things I've needed.               ~ Sara, client for 10 months		Alpha is a place I can talk and they will listen and not judge.                ~ Heather, client for 2½ years
You 'guys' help me be a better parent with my boys.                ~ Christina, client for 4 years		Coming to Alpha helps me be able to stay at home with my babies.                ~ Sabrina, client for 2 years		Alpha Family Center is a very big blessing to me.  They have encouraged me in so many ways.                ~ Holly, client for 7 years

We're Fulfilling Alpha's Mission Through Our Volunteers

The joy I’ve found mentoring at Alpha is like no other. There is nothing more rewarding as a mentor than when you see the many faces of the people who come through the doors at   Alpha seeking help only to leave with God’s love in their hearts and smiles on their faces.     Tina, Volunteer Mentor

I enjoy helping parents realize their role in their children’s   development. Parents are children’s first teachers. It is an honor and privilege to help    parents fulfill this role by providing positive parenting skills and knowledge of child development. Renee, Volunteer Mentor

Ensuring the sanctity of life:

• Make the baby real to abortion-minded clients with fetus development models, posters, brochures and mentoring.

• Provide material and emotional support to those who choose life for their baby.

• Promote Sanctity of Human Life Sunday in area churches and the community.

Promoting the importance of family:

• Encourage marriage and involvement of fathers of the babies.

• Teach good parenting skills in our Earn While You Learn program.

Encouraging abstinence until marriage:

• Provide Sexual Integrity course.

• Speak to church youth groups.

• Encourage secondary virginity upon negative pregnancy test results.  

Doing all according to God's Word!