Additional Resources

Kalamazoo Free Store
The Kalamazoo Free Store redistributes clothing and household goods donated to the community for free.

Kalamazoo Dream Center
The Kalamazoo Dream Center provides clothing, personal hygiene products, household essentials, food and pet food. 

Area thrift and second-hand stores are also great locations to find low cost clothing items. Stores like the Salvation Army, Goodwill, Legacy Thrift, 2nd Impressions Upscale Thrift Store all offer items at discounted prices. 

Rootead
Rootead provides a variety of programs and supports for the whole family including doulas, Baby Cafes, diaper distributions, youth enrichment and community healing events. 

The Fatherhood Network
An organization for fathers, by fathers. They offer one on one services and mentors, community classes and family events. 

YWCA WISH program
YWCA's WISH program is a home visitation program for parents of children 0-3 years old and offers transportation to and from doctor appointments, educational classes, and works with you to apply to other assistance programs. 

Healthy Babies Healthy Start
Healthy Babies Healthy Start (HBHS) is a community program that supports pregnant and parenting families with infants from birth to 18 months. Services include childbirth education, nutrition guidance, postpartum support and more. 

Twenty Hands
Twenty Hands is a Maternal Infant Health Program that serves low-income pregnant women and infants up to age one. Their team of nurses and social workers visit you at home to provide education, referrals to local resources and support to pregnant women and new mothers. 

Care Collective of Southwest Michigan
Care Collective of Southwest Michigan provides barrier-free access to diapers, wipes, and menstrual products. Distribution sites are located throughout Kalamazoo at their partner organizations. 

St. Luke's Diaper Bank
St. Luke's Diaper Bank provides free diapers and wipes to families in need. Distributions are held several times a week at St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

YWCA Dreamery
YWCA Kalamazoo hosts two daycare sites committed to providing quality, affordable childcare for children ages 6 weeks to the year before they enter Kindergarten.

Kalamazoo Drop-in Child Care Center
The Kalamazoo Drop-In Child Care Center (KDCCC) was established to provide free, part-time child care for income-eligible families with children ages 6 weeks - 5 years old. 

KRESA
Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) provides a variety of educational services and support to students and families. They provide multiple early childhood programs including weekly community playgroups, Head Start, and the Great Start Readiness Program. 

Kalamazoo Public Library
Kalamazoo Public Library offers free events for infants, toddlers, teens, families and adults! Activities can range from story time to tie-dying clothes.

WMU Financial Aid 
WMU's Financial Aid Office helps student explore and understand their options for assistance. Ranging from scholarships, grants, loans to work-study, visit the office to see what is available to you. 

Scholarship Universe
Scholarship Universe allows you to search for available scholarships, their applications, and their application process. You can also visit the WMU Financial Aid Office to learn more and talk to your Academic Advisor to ask if your college / department offers any specific scholarships or emergency funds. 

CEHD Student Resilience Fund
The CEHD Student Resilience Fund is designed to support students facing financial hardships that hinder them from completing their program in the College of Education and Human Development. This fund provides assistance with current essential needs such as textbooks, class fees, account balances, campus parking fees, technology, and more.

Kalamazoo Community Foundation
Kalamazoo Community Foundation offers 60+ scholarships and education grants for college, graduate school, career training and more. 

Community Action
Community Actions has an educational assistance program that offers support for books and tuition for qualified Kalamazoo residents. 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
College students in Michigan are eligible for SNAP if they meet income and other program requirements like working at least 20 hours per week, participating in work-study, or caring for a dependent. 

WIC (Women, Infants and Children)
WIC is a special nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children. It is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In Kalamazoo County, WIC Services are provided by the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services.

Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes
Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes is an independent food bank that provides food assistance through several programs across Kalamazoo county. WMU students qualify to use their mobile food initiatives and grocery pantry programs. They also provide home delivery of groceries free of charge. 

South Michigan Food Bank 
South Michigan Food Bank is the regional Feeding America food bank that operates in eight counties, including Kalamazoo. WMU students qualify to use their fresh food distributions, food pantries, and mobile markets. 

Broncos Kitchen
Broncos Kitchen is a nonprofit dedicated to reducing hunger on college campuses in Kalamazoo. Feeding Broncos, the WMU chapter of Broncos Kitchen, serves dinners twice a week at Kanley Chapel. 

International Campus Ministry
This organizations provides free hot lunches each Thursday from 12:00pm-2:00pm at Kanley Chapel for International students. 

Housing Resources Inc.
Housing Resource Inc. offers a variety of programs including rental assistance, eviction resources, and emergency housing. 

Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care
Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care offers a program called Rentable, which provides one time assistance up to $2,000/household. Funds can be used for application fees, security deposits, to offset rent increases, utility costs, etc... 

Community Homeworks
Community Homeworks offers financial assistance for home repairs, how-to workshops on basic home maintenance, and have a tool library where you can check out tools to help you complete needed repairs. 

KNHS
KNHS offers education and information on buying a home, how to repair your home, and what to do if you're facing foreclosure. 

Consumer's Energy 
Consumer's Energy provides several payment plans and assistance programs for customers who are struggling with their monthly utility bills. 

Project S.H.E. Shed
The Project Sustainable Housing Equipment Shed is a RSO and program through the WMU Office for Sustainability. Their goal is to reduce the amount of waste during move-out times by collecting, repairing and providing furniture to WMU students. Items are free to low-cost.  

Immigration Assistance Project
The mission of the Immigration Assistance Program (IAP) is to provide the indigent immigrant population of the nine counties of the Diocese of Kalamazoo with low-cost, competent legal representation in their immigration matters.

YWCA of Kalamazoo
Counselors/Advocates are available to assist clients in writing Personal Protection Orders, develop safety options, accompany one to court, and provide referrals to other social service agencies. Additionally, they advocate for clients with landlords, employers, police, prosecutors and other agency workers when needed. Counselors also provide legal referrals and supportive information.

Kalamazoo County Bar Association Legal Outreach Clinics
Each month the Kalamazoo County Bar Association sponsors free legal clinics for individuals who cannot afford an attorney. Attorneys will consult with individuals for 20-30 minutes and will provide advice to help solve the problem. In no instance is there any charge for the services of the clinics. Visit www.kalamazoobar.org for schedule and details.

Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan
The Fair Housing Center of Southwest Michigan (FHC) is a private non-profit organization that was established in 1998 to ensure equal housing opportunities for residents regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, familial status, religion, age or marital status in Southwest Michigan.

Farmworker Legal Services
Farmworker Legal Services (FLS) is a legal aid office with attorneys and other advocates who provide free legal assistance and referrals to migrant and seasonal farmworkers throughout the state of Michigan.

S.A.F.E. Place
S.A.F.E. Place provides shelter, court advocacy, referrals and comprehensive counseling programs for victims of domestic violence – women and children who have been physically, verbally, or emotionally abused.

Domestic Violence Coalition
The Domestic Violence Coalition (DVC) provides free services to residents of Van Buren County who have been affected by the crimes of domestic and sexual violence.

Kalamazoo Defender
Provide constitutionally guaranteed representation to citizens charged with a crime who cannot afford an attorney.

Kalamazoo Legal Aid
Free legal services.

Community Dispute Resolution Center - Gryphon Place

Kalamazoo County Bar Association
The Law Library, in partnership with the Kalamazoo County Bar Association, offers free monthly legal clinics at the Central Library, Powell Branch Library, and the Portage Community Center.

Legal Aid of Western Michigan
Legal Aid is a nonprofit law firm providing free legal advice and representation in a broad range of areas including consumer cases, family matters, housing problems, government benefits and much more.

• Lending Hands of Michigan Inc. – Kalamazoo
  Lending Hands is a medical equipment loan program and loan closet in Michigan lending home medical equipment for free for up to 7 months in the Michigan counties of Allegan, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo (including Hickory Corners), St. Joseph and Van Buren in Southwest Michigan.

  Community AIDS Resource and Education Services (CARES)
  The mission of CARES is to provide comprehensive sexual wellness services where all participants feel welcome, well-informed, cared for, and loved. We envision a community made up of individuals, regardless of status, position, or background that are empowered to navigate their own sexual health and wellness without shame, stigma or judgement.

  Kalamazoo Health and Community Services

  Kalamazoo Valley Community College
  Low-cost dental hygiene services provided by students in training.

  Planned Parenthood
  Following services are offered: Abortion, Birth Control, HIB Services, LGBTQ Services, Men's Health Care, Morning - After Pill, STD Testing, Treatment & Vaccines, and Women's Health Care.

  MI Bridge
  MI Bridge has expanded its resources so now event more students qualify. MI Bridge allows you to apply for benefits related to healthcare coverage, food assistance, cash assistance, child development and care, state emergency relief and more.

  Lending Hands of Michigan (Durable Medical Equipment Lending)
  Lending Hands is a durable medical equipment loan program where we loan durable medical equipment for free for up to seven months, with the exception of knee scooters, which are on loan for three months. We serve the counties of Allegan, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren.

  Mel Trotter Ministries
  They offer the following services: shelters, job readiness, housing, meals, clinical services and legal services.

  Portage Community Outreach Center
  Can connect individuals to help with some of the following needs: food and clothing, evictions and utility shut-offs, personal care items, prescription assistance, transportation, resumes, free legal clinics, WIC, immunizations, vision/hearing test, free tax preparation and more.

  Lions Club of Kalamazoo
  We have eyeglass boxes for used glasses and sunglasses at multiple locations.

  South County Community Services
  South County Community Services is dedicated to finding solutions for residents who are in need of direct financial assistance, as well as by linking and partnering with other service providers.

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Portage Community Outreach Center
Bus Tokens: City of Portage Only; Gas Cards: Kalamazoo County

South County Community Services
South County Community Services is dedicated to finding solutions for residents who are in need of direct financial assistance, as well as by linking and partnering with other service providers. 

Metro Share Program
The Metro Share Program is a specialized service providing vehicles to approved agencies serving seniors and individuals with disabilities at no cost. Approved agencies include governmental organizations, non-profits serving seniors and individuals with disabilities, and others approved by Metro.

Kalamazoo Humane Society
The Kalamazoo Humane Society operates an emergency pet food bank that provides dog & cat food, treats, leashes, collars and other basic pet supplies.   

SPCA of Southwest Michigan 
The SPCA of Southwest Michigan offers a variety of assistance including rehoming a pet, dog & cat food, and a free spay/neuter program that takes place once a year.

Equipment Library 
The Equipment Library, part of Waldo Library, is filled with items you can check out for several hours or days. The equipment available ranges from HDMI adapters, conference cameras, and microphones to bicycle tool sets and sewing machines.

Laptops
The Equipment Library, part of Waldo Library, also has multiple laptops students can check out for up to 7 days. The library also has a large computer lab with extended hours for on site use. 

211
211 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Simply call 2-1-1 and state the help you need, they will provide you with a list of area resources that can help.