Revive and Thrive Project

Our Executive Director Amy Thomas-Mellema experienced the true impact of our mission firsthand at last week’s Gilda's LaughFest event. She met a Gilda’s Club volunteer who was diagnosed with brain cancer. When Amy mentioned Revive & Thrive Project, the woman's face lit up—she had received our meals during her treatment journey! The woman had moved to Grand Rapids for a new job before her diagnosis and found herself facing cancer alone in a new city. The meals from Revive & Thrive provided not just food but also emotional support during her difficult time. Now recovering, she volunteers as a meal delivery driver to give back because she understands exactly how much they matter. "I couldn't have done it without Revive and Thrive," she told Amy after giving her a heartfelt hug. This is why we do what we do. Every meal, every connection, and every act of kindness creates ripples we may never fully see. But sometimes, those ripples come full circle in the most beautiful ways. ??

Today, as we celebrate Food is Medicine Advocacy Day, we invite you to participate by joining the Revive & Thrive Project Giving Circle! When you become a monthly donor, your consistent support creates stability for those facing critical health journeys, providing: ?? Essential nutrition that actively supports healing when the body is at its most vulnerable. ?? Relief from the overwhelming burden of shopping and cooking during exhausting treatments. ?? The profound emotional comfort that comes from knowing someone cares. Join our Giving Circle at: https://lnkd.in/gUGDtfkQ!

We are overjoyed to announce that Revive & Thrive Project has been selected as one of six nonprofits to participate in the Grand Rapids Rise's Players with Purpose! Grand Rapids Rise star Symone Abbott has personally chosen our organization as her partner for the second season of this impactful initiative. Here's how it works: ?? Purchase tickets to any remaining regular season Rise matches at this special link: https://lnkd.in/gG8TXnrC. ?? $5 from each ticket will be donated to Revive & Thrive Project. A huge thank you to Symone Abbott for selecting us! Your support means the world to our organization and the families we serve.

You all brought the heat and heart to the Revive & Thrive Chili Cook-Off! Between the laughter, friends, and those secret family recipes that had us all in a stew of excitement, we couldn't have asked for a better community gathering. MAJOR CONGRATS to our champions: ?? Chef Ryan claimed the coveted first-place title! ?? Chef Laurel secured a close second place! The real winner? Our mission! To everyone who entered their chili, everyone who came to taste and vote, and everyone who shared and supported this event—Thank YOU. We raised $2,500 to provide fresh, medically supportive meals to our neighbors facing life-altering illnesses. Stay tuned for more delicious events coming soon! And if you missed this one... well, there's always next year to perfect that recipe!

This International Women's Day, we're celebrating the extraordinary women who lead, nourish, and uplift our community. Our women-led team transforms compassion into action every day. Today, we honor the powerful impact of women leaders in community service. We honor our remarkable women volunteers whose dedication makes our mission possible. We honor and stand in solidarity with the incredible women we serve—your strength and resilience inspire us every day. Celebrate with us by tagging a woman who has nurtured you through difficult times or inspired your journey of service. Connect with some of the amazing women at Revive & Thrive: Amy Thomas-Mellema, Carlita G., Andrea Schmidt, and Erica Osman. #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2025 #WomenWhoLead #FoodAsMedicine #StrongerTogether #EmpoweringWomen #NourishingtheCommunity

Get ready for an extraordinary evening where culinary artistry meets community spirit at Revive & Thrive Project's 9th Annual Celebrate the Harvest Chef Dinner and Fundraiser! ?? Mark your calendar for September 24, 2025, as the Goei Center transforms into a vibrant hub of exquisite flavors and generosity from 5:30-8 PM. Indulge in a spectacular feast crafted by Revive & Thrive’s Executive Chef Mandy Thompson. The evening continues with our exuberant live auction, where exclusive experiences await the highest bidder! This isn't just a dinner—it's your chance to nourish our community while treating yourself to an unforgettable celebration. Tickets will vanish faster than dessert, so take advantage of this early opportunity to secure your seat at the table! For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit: https://onecau.se/cth2025.

We're officially in the FINAL COUNTDOWN: the Revive & Thrive Project Chili Cook-Off is just 6 days away! ?LAST CALL FOR ENTRIES! ? Is your secret recipe ready to bring the heat? The competition is heating up and spots are filling up, don't let this opportunity simmer away! ?? REGISTER NOW: https://lnkd.in/gnDBMpUz. ??? Tag your chili-confident friends to join us Sunday to help us determine West Michigan’s best chili!

As part of Enviah’s company-wide retreat, employees from both local and national teams came together to volunteer at Revive & Thrive Project. We’re truly honored they chose to spend their time giving back with us. Their dedication, teamwork, and compassion truly made a difference. Together, they packaged 490 medically supportive meals that nourished individuals and families facing life-altering illnesses in our community.

This week, we added FIVE people from our waitlist—expanding to serve 525 medically supportive meals to 75 clients facing health crises! This exciting milestone brings us closer to our 2025 goal of serving 25,000 medically supportive meals. A heartfelt THANK YOU to our amazing volunteers who made this expansion possible. From lovingly chopping fresh ingredients and carefully preparing meals to thoughtfully packaging and labeling and personally home-delivering each meal with care—they are the heart and soul of Revive & Thrive Project.

Thank you to the incredible volunteers from Cherry Health AmeriCorps! Your hard work cleaning our kitchen, office, and packaging areas has set us up for a new week of preparing meals for our clients! We’re also impressed with the beautiful artwork on our senior snack bags—such a thoughtful and creative touch that will bring smiles to our clients. Thank you all for your time, energy, and heart. You’re making a big difference in our community!