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Tuesday 10am - 2pm Wednesday 10am - 7pm Thursday 10am - 2pm Friday 10am - 2pm

Father Fred Foundation

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Traverse City, MI
Father Fred Foundation

We listen. We care. We share. Serving 5 counties in northern Michigan, we strive
to help everyone who comes to seek assistance
with their essential needs.

The Father Fred Foundation is here to ensure that the basic human needs of our neighbors and friends in need are met.We provide food, clothing and household goods, and financial assistance to families in need in our five-county area. In the words of Father Fred himself, we are here to listen, care, share, and above all, provide hope for those who find themselves in difficult times. Our goal is to

ensure that no one in our community falls through the cracks -- and we do all this without accepting any state or federal aid.

09/01/2026

We still have a little summer left, but it's time to plan for fall! Our annual Fall Food Drive, which is held in Tom's and Oleson's stores, begins September 26, and volunteers make all the difference!

Consider signing up today. Individuals and groups welcome! It's a great volunteer opportunity for your business, church, school, or social group. 💙 Click the link below for more information and to sign up:
https://mailchi.mp/fatherfred/fall-food-drive-21075965

Questions? Contact Mary:
[email protected] or call 231-947-4003

08/28/2026

We had a great time on Monday at our annual summer volunteer picnic! We brought back our Hawaiian luau theme, and it was a hit! 🌺🌴🌼

It was a wonderful afternoon filled with lots of laughs, great food, music from our very own Jeff Wood, and time to simply sit back, relax, and visit with friends.

Most importantly, it was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and recognize our amazing volunteers and their dedication to the clients we serve. We recognized 19 special volunteers who reached anniversary milestones with Father Fred, ranging from 5 to 20 years of service!

Congratulations and thank you to the following volunteers celebrating anniversary milestones:

5 Years:
Marion Coltman, Mary Matheiu, Maggi Steele, Nanette Vallier, Kelly Lambert, Fred Taylor, Blaine Wittkopp, Ken Sams, Andrew Maniaci, and Vicki Mordell

10 Years:
Karla Horvath, Susan Johnson, Ken Andrzejewski, Eileen Burgess, Vern Barker, Sue Egan, and Ed Charron

15 Years:
Marsha Graff

20 Years:
Dave Romzek

Thank you to these dedicated volunteers, and to all of our amazing volunteers, for the time, compassion, and commitment you give to help those in need in our community. You are truly appreciated! 💙

08/27/2026

If you haven't already, check out our latest newsletter.....💙
Click to read:

https://fatherfred.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/26_FF.NewsletterSummer.pdf

08/26/2026

Very cool. Thank you, Great Lakes Incubator Farm!

08/25/2026

A huge thank you to the following companies for sponsoring our new truck!

Fox Grand Traverse Ford
Hallmark Construction
Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management – Clark Gingras, CFP
Old Mission Associates Landscape
Prout Financial Design
Smith & Johnson, Attorneys

To keep up with the demand for our services—and because our current truck was aging—we were very much in need of a new truck. We had been saving and planning for a new truck for quite some time, and with the help of these six very special sponsors, we were able to make it happen.

Thank you also to Nolan's To***co and Cigar Bar and the Traverse City AOH for making it part of the Cigar Dinner, and to Nuart for agreeing to do the graphics at a very affordable price.

Keep an eye out for it on the road as it picks up food and other supplies to help our neighbors in need!

Thank you to our sponsors and to all our donors for your support. Together, we are making a difference in our community. 💙

08/20/2026

A big thank you to TCYP - a program of Traverse Connect (Traverse City Young Professionals) for volunteering at our Giving Garden!

This awesome group spent the evening getting their hands dirty as they helped w**d, clean up, and harvest fresh produce—including digging up potatoes!

Thank you for supporting the Giving Garden, a partnership with SEEDS. The food harvested goes directly to the Father Fred Food Pantry, helping provide fresh, nutritious food to individuals and families in our community.

Thanks to everyone who came out to lend a hand and make a difference! 🌿 💙

08/19/2026

Our Back to School Shoes Program was a huge success! Over two weeks, we held seven events in four locations where we provided 1,770 pairs of new shoes, 3,540 pairs of socks, school supplies, and vision screenings to help local kids head back to school feeling confident, prepared, and ready to learn.

We loved every event and were so happy to see the countless smiles from children and the gratitude shared by so many parents. It was wonderful to see how much this program means to the families we serve.

A heartfelt thank you to all of the incredible volunteers who gave their time and energy to make these events possible. And a big thank you to Golden Shoes and New Balance for helping make this program a success, as well as everyone who donated and supported the program. We simply could not provide this special school-readiness program without the incredible support and generosity of our community. Thank you!
💙👟🧦👓📕🖍️✏️✂️🌟✨

To learn more about the Father Fred Foundation, visit https://fatherfred.org/

08/13/2026

It's been a great week in Traverse City with our Back to School Shoes events! We can't get enough of the smiles from kids and families who are so excited to receive new shoes, socks, school supplies, and vision screenings to help them get ready for the new school year.

We love watching kids pick out their new shoes—and then seeing them walk, run, and jump to put them to the test! There have been so many happy faces throughout the week, and we're especially touched by the joy and relief on parents' faces as they see how much this program helps their families. It's a reminder of just how important this program is to the children and families in our community.

We have two more days to go! PLEASE NOTE: You can still come if you have not registered — We will be accepting walk-ins today until 2:00pm, and tomorrow (Friday, August 14) from 10:00am until 2pm.

A huge thank you to Golden Shoes, New Balance, Vision to Learn, and all of the volunteers who make this program possible. We couldn't do it without you! 💙

Visit https://fatherfred.networkforgood.com/projects/251583-back-to-school-shoes to donate to the program.

Visit https://fatherfred.org/ to learn more about the Father Fred Foundation and this program.

08/12/2026

A huge thank you to All-Weather Seal of West Michigan for your very generous donation of $5,000! This will go a long way to help so many individuals and families in need in our community.

A special thanks to Dillon, who dropped off the check and also nominated Father Fred for the donation. Dillon shared that the Father Fred Foundation holds a special place in his heart — he volunteered with us a few years ago, and we also helped his family when he was a kid.

We love hearing stories like this. It's what makes our community so wonderful. Thank you so much, Dillon and All-Weather Seal of West Michigan, for your support! 💙

08/10/2026

We had a great day last Friday in Mancelona at our Back to School Shoes event! We couldn’t get enough of the smiles and excitement as kids ran, jumped, and even danced to test out their new shoes!

Kids and families were thrilled to receive new shoes, socks, school supplies, and vision screenings to help them start the new school year with confidence.

A huge thank you to Golden Shoes, Vision to Learn, and all of the wonderful volunteers who helped make the event a success. 💙

We are back in Traverse City this week, starting tomorrow! Visit https://fatherfred.org/ to learn more about the Father Fred Foundation and this program.

Visit https://fatherfred.networkforgood.com/projects/251583-back-to-school-shoes to donate to the program.

Address

826 Hastings Street
Traverse City, MI
49686

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 2pm
Wednesday	10am - 7pm
Thursday	10am - 2pm
Friday	10am - 2pm

Telephone

+12319472055

Website

https://linktr.ee/father_fred_foundation

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