Giving Back
Community Action House
Membership-based, affordable groceries By Braley Bower Entering the Community Action House Food Club felt like walking into my local grocery store: shopping carts, walls lined with produce, and families checking items off their grocery lists. The colorful store, with a gorgeous mural, matched the warmth of Grace, who greeted us with a smile. Grace happily shared about the Food Club and their goal: “Nourish, Equip, Empower.” It quickly became clear that this was much more than a grocery store. Grace connected us with Katy, the Community Action House Director of Communications, who gave us a tour of the Food Club. Through decades, Community Action House has supported Holland-area families through financial guidance, housing assistance, education, legal resources, and food programs. While serving the community through these outreach programs, CAH recognized another area of need: there were many families with income who simply could not keep up with the rising prices at grocery 34
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stores. This led to the creation of the Community Action House Food Club. Membership at the CAH Food Club costs $12–$19 per month, depending on household size and income, and provides enough points to purchase roughly 10–12 days of groceries. Families can join or pause membership as their needs change. In 2025, over 3,918 families were served by the Food Club. Shelves at the Food Club are stocked with pantry essentials and staple favorites. While all food is accessible and assigned manageable point values, the point price of each grocery item is intentional. Not only is the Food Club dedicated to supplying the community with access to groceries, but also encouraging healthy eating habits. Produce items are allotted the lowest point cost, while more processed foods have higher point amounts. As stated by Grace, one of their main focuses is “trying to get fresh produce in the hands of those who otherwise might not be able to [access these foods].”