The Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM)'s mission is to provide older adults and adults living with a disability an array of services designed to promote independence and dignity in their homes and their communities. AAAWM is The Source for Seniors in Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, and Osceola counties. Together with our partners, through the Older Americans Act and Kent County Senior Millage, and through in-house programs such as Care Management and the Ml Choice Medicaid Waiver (Ml Choice), we help provide person-centered care that empowers individuals to age in place.
Intention: This initiative, supported by the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan, will provide a $250 Meijer gift card to grandparents for the purchase of back-to-school supplies and clothing for their grandchildren.
Who Qualifies: Individuals must meet the Older Americans Act definition of Kinship Care and live within the nine-county region (Allegan, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, Osceola).
- Definition: An individual aged 55 or over is the primary caregiver for a child no more than 18 years old.
How to apply: Contact your partner agency to complete a National Aging Programs Information System (NAPIS) form. Need to be connected? Check out our list of partners in each county below.
Limited Quantity: There will be FIFTY-TWO $250 gift cards available for grandparents raising their grandchildren. If more than 52 NAPIS forms are received, we will be selecting grandparents to receive the gift cards based on priority criteria.
Notification: Gift Cards will be mailed out by AAAWM to selected grandparents on Friday, 7/19.
Questions: If you have questions, you can contact Ashley Schwartz, AshleySc@aaawm.org
The deadline for submission is Monday, July 8.
County Contacts for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Please reach out to the contact in your county below to receive and fill out a NAPIS form for submission.
Allegan County
Community Action of Allegan County
Esperanza Carrasco-Morales
ecarrascomorales@communityactionallegan.org
Phone: 269-673-5472 (ext: 241)
Ionia County
Ionia County Commission on Aging
Phone: (616) 527-5365
Kent County
Kent County Community Action
Phone: (616) 632-7950
Senior Neighbors
Phone: (616) 459-6019
Lake County
Baldwin Family Health Care
Renee Kopach
(231) 689-0885 (ext. 44428)
rkopach@familyhealthcare.org
Mason County
Scottville Senior Center
Phone: (231) 757-4705
Mecosta County
Mecosta County Commission on Aging
Phone: (231) 972-2884
Montcalm County
Montcalm County Commission on Aging
Phone: (989) 831-7476
Newaygo County
Baldwin Family Health Care
Renee Kopach
(231) 689-0885 (ext. 44428)
rkopach@familyhealthcare.org
Osceola County
Osceola County Commission on Aging
Phone: (231) 734-5559
Looking for further resources?
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Groups
Caregiver Resource Network
Family Caregiver University
Senior Support Services
Or call the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan to discuss your unique needs with our Information and Assistance team at (616) 456-5664.
