October 2016 Volume 6, Issue 10

THE SOURCE

FREE Grand Rapids Symphony Tickets for DHHS recipients and family members of

the military Are you receiving assistance from DHHS or are active or reserve members of the military? You may be eligible to receive tickets to the Grand Rapids Symphony. The Grand Rapids Symphony is excited to announce the launch of a new program, Symphony Scorecard! This program allows individuals to receive up to four (4) FREE tickets for selected Grand Rapids Symphony performances. As a bonus, a limited number of bus passes for The Rapid are also available. Bus passes must be requested at the time your tickets are ordered. If available, bus passes will be included with your tickets. If you are interested in this program, contact a casework at The SOURCE at 616.452.5295.

What is The SOURCE?

The SOURCE is a not-for-profit employee support organization designed to help employees keep their jobs, receive training to enhance their employment, and help employees move into better positions within or across companies. The SOURCE works with employees from: • American Autocoat • American Seating Co. • Butterball Farms, Inc. • Cascade Engineering • Cascade Fresh Cleaning

Co. • Covenant Village of the

Great Lakes • Decc Co. • Grand Rapids Foam

Technologies • Pridgeon & Clay • Proos Manufacturing and

Proos Fabrication • Richwood Industries • Spectrum Health,

Environmental Services and Nutrition Services

• Spectrum Industries • Vi-Chem Corp. • WMCAT • Wolverine Coil Spring Please call us at 616.452.5295 for more information or feel free to stop by the office at any time. Our office is open

7:30am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday, but special arrangements may be made for after hour appointments

to best meet your needs.

Dangers of Payday Loans Many individuals and families struggle every month, working hard to make ends meet and sometimes consider using a payday loan. These high interest loans must be repaid on the next payday to keep the check from bouncing and they usually don't solve a financial crisis -- they only make financial worries worse. Coping with pressing financial problems without adding more debt takes effort but can save you a lot of money, worry, and stress in the long run.

Tips to avoid Payday Loan traps

• Avoid piling up more payday loans. Taking out a second payday loan in order to pay the first one creates a larger debt trap.

• Tell the lender that you need to work out arrangements to repay the debt in installment payments.

• Stop lenders from taking money directly from your paycheck. Read your contract to see if you signed a voluntary wage assignment clause. If so, write a letter to the lender to revoke that agreement so the lender won't be able to garnish your pay from your employer without court approval.

• Call The SOURCE if you are in a financial crisis

Payday loans can cause more stress, instead of helping. Call The SOURCE at 616.452.5295 to get in touch with a caseworker to discuss alternative options to payday loans.

Page 2 THE SOURCE

Board of Directors

The SOURCE’s Governing Board of Directors is

comprised of leaders from our partner companies.

Executive Committee

Liza Alvarez, Chair

Vi-Chem

Bonnie Mroczek, Vice Chair Butterball Farms

Gina Triick, Treasurer Spectrum Industries

Linda Grund, Secretary Cascade Engineering

Contact Information

Mindy Ysasi

Executive Director mindy@grsource.org

Erika Gonzalez

Director of Operations erika@grsource.org

Joyce Lewis Rohrer

Director of Development joyce@grsource.org

Angela King

Case Manager angela@grsource.org

Samantha Klaskow Career Navigator

sam@grsource.org

Carola Carassa Office Manager

info@grsource.org

1409 Buchanan Ave SW Grand Rapids, MI 49507

616.452.5295 www.grsource.org

Fun Fall Activities for the Family! This Fall, be sure to take advantage of family activities outside and all over Kent County. Kent Harvest Trails produces a complete brochure highlighting all the farms, apple orchards and Fall events for families and individuals. You can visit their website at kentharvesttrails.org, stop by The SOURCE or see a caseworker at a company visit to pick up your copy of the 2016 brochure.

Important 2016 Election Dates

With the federal and state elections just around the corner, it is important to know the registration deadline. October 11th is the last day to register to vote in order to participate in the November 8th General

Election. If you have recently moved, you may need to re-register to vote or file for an absentee voter ballot. To register to vote, absentee ballots or further information about your voting rights, contact a caseworker at The SOURCE at 616.452.5295 or info@grsource.org.

Would you like to give your opinions about living and working

in Grand Rapids? Local decision makers, including the mayor, police department, school districts, and nonprofits want to read your opinions to help improve your local community. The GVSU Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy is looking for participants for their annual survey and asks residents of the Greater Grand Rapids area about their perceptions and opinions of where they live. The anonymous survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete and is available at www.voicegr.org. The SOURCE has a computer lab available to the general public during our normal business hours, Monday through Friday 7:30am to 4:30pm, if you would like to fill it out online.

ArtPrize 8 runs from now until October 9! To find out information about the venues, artists or how to get registered to vote, visit artprize.org.