stories of compassion

Wanda's Story

A meal and a bed were just the beginning for Wanda.

Tammy & Gabby's Story

You helped Tammy get back on her feet again after a stroke paralyzed her in 2015 and she was no longer able to work her two jobs to support her son and her daughter Gabby.

Meagan's Story

The staff here treat you like you are a human being and there is so much dignity, but they also make us work for even more dignity--it is a huge stepping stone into giving people the opportunity to feel their worth again.

Frank's Story

I had lost all hope in my life and did not know any way out, just to keep drinking and living in the insanity at the gates of hell. I kept on ending up in the public inebriate room at Mel Trotter for over three years and was always knowing I needed help but was living full of fear and was always chasing the alcohol.

Rachel's Story

Growing up in a house where alcohol and drug use were common, it’s not surprising that Rachel got high for the first time at 13.

Jeffrey's Story

When his first granddaughter was born last August, Jeffrey flew from Houston back to Grand Rapids to visit his family. The next day, Hurricane Harvey hit Houston
and destroyed his home. With nothing but chaos left in Houston, Jeffrey stayed in local motels in Grand Rapids until his money ran out.

Bruce's Volunteer Story

“If you need help with anything, just let me know,” Bruce said before setting out chairs, Bibles and Prayer Request Forms and just being present to care for the guests and other volunteers. He has done this almost every day for over five years, taking only a short time off recently to grieve the death of his son.

Doug's Volunteer Story

Since Doug made Mel Trotter a regular part of his life, his co-volunteers and our guests have become friends that he looks forward to seeing every Thursday. “I’ve seen people graduate from here, get jobs and homes and happy families. I like to see that and be part of it in my own little serving-food way.”

Lisa & Keith's Story

“Our neighborhood in Kalamazoo was becoming more and more dangerous,” said Keith. “There were altercations in our front yard over drugs. There were guns. There were shootings. There were threats. It was no longer safe for my wife and my kids. We had to leave.”

John's Story

After 22 years in prison and even longer battling anger, John healed at MTM and is sharing that healing with others through his work and volunteer commitments. "Without being here at Mel Trotter, I feel that I would be truly homeless and with no one. Out of desperation, I probably would fall back to crime and the dark side of my life."