On the West Side of Grand Rapids, community isn’t just a concept – it’s a way of life. Few organizations embody that spirit more fully than The Other Way Ministries. For 58 years, this neighborhood-rooted nonprofit has been walking alongside us as neighbors to build stability, connection, and opportunity. Their story is woven deeply into the fabric of the West Side, and their partnership with local institutions like Meijer and Bridge Street Market shows what can happen when a community truly invests in itself.

Written by Jordan Kossuth

A Legacy Anchored in Listening

Ask anyone on the West Side and chances are they’ve heard of The Other Way Ministries – though they may not be familiar with the full scope of their work. This was true even for current Executive Director Scott Bloem, who first encountered the organization while living in his first apartment on the West Side and working in youth programs for local public schools. Nearly everyone he encountered had something positive to say about the ministry’s rich history and impact. Now, after 6+ years in his role, Scott helps lead a dedicated team of about 30 people to continue to build on that legacy.

The Other Way Ministries began in the late 1960’s, when a young pastor named Dick TerMaat moved into the neighborhood during a time of rising gang activity. Ater spending time listening to his neighbors and getting to know local youth, he became convinced that young people needed “another way” forward.

What began as simple youth outreach gradually expanded into a full-scale community organization serving residents of all ages. Nearly six decades later, TOWM continues to operate from its activity center on Fulton Street, remaining a place where anyone can walk in and be met with dignity, relationship, and practical support – values that leaders like Scott still hold at the core of the organization’s mission.

Meeting a Growing Need with Compassion

Food insecurity has become one of the most urgent challenges in the United States. Rising costs of rent, childcare, utilities, and groceries have pushed many families to the brink. Pre‑pandemic, about 150 people came through TOWM’s food pantry each month. Today that number is closer to 1,000 neighbors, showing that since the pandemic, the need hasn’t leveled off – it has surged.

TOWM approaches their food pantry with a simple philosophy. If you walk through the door, you need food — and we’re here to help. They are here to offer support without barriers, judgement, or paperwork.

Each household receives 5–7 days’ worth of groceries, including dairy, meats, produce, and even household essentials like toilet paper and soap. Item quantities are dependent upon household size, ensuring families get what they need.

Volunteers serve as the lifeblood of the pantry – guiding neighbors through shelves, stocking items, or picking up food from retail partners. Anyone can sign up for daytime volunteer shifts directly on their website

More Than a Pantry: Lifelong Support for Neighbors

What sets The Other Way Ministries apart is that the food pantry is only one doorway into a much broader, relationship-centered approach to community support. TOWM recognizes that food insecurity is just one part of a larger web of challenges facing individuals and families today.

In response, the organization offers a wide range of programs designed to meet immediate needs while also supporting long-term stability and growth. From housing and employment assistance to counseling and financial goal-setting, every service is built around the belief that strengthen relationships create a strengthened community.

TOWM also operates the Little Lights Early Childhood Center – a lifeline for working parents facing issues with childcare affordability. Their claim to fame? Families pay an average of just $20 per week! With market rates reaching upwards of $350/week or more (if you can even find it), this service removes a major financial barrier.

As The Other Way Ministries continues to grow and add new programs, the goal is always the same – to walk alongside neighbors for the long term, helping them build and maintain stability and independence.

Scott Bloem, Executive Director Katie Carpenter, Development and Communications Coordinator
Photo: Kate English Photography

Creating Opportunities for the Next Generation

Youth remain at the heart of their mission – providing opportunities for young people to find another way forward.

For K-5 students at Sibley Elementary School, they offer after-school programing tutoring, mentorship, and a safe space to make friends and simply “be kids”. In the summer months, they offer a 7-week program Monday-Thursday, which includes meals and transportation. A full six-hour day can include anything from hands-on learning to field trips to the lakeshore.

Their teen programs offer a supportive social group that stays connected through adolescence into early adulthood. For over 30 years, the Youth Employment Services (YES) program has offered paid summer internship opportunities and weekly mentorship meetings for teens from 14-18 years of age.

Bridge Street Market is a long-time employment partner, offering on-site experience and often extending real job offers afterward. The goal? To offer teens not just their first job, but the skills and confidence to get their second one too!

Scott Bloem, Executive Director
Photo: Kate English Photography

A Vital Partnership: Meijer’s Simply Give Program

Scott fondly recalls the opening of Bridge Street Market, “They have a great origin story in the neighborhood – engaging the community during the design phase in ways that not every business would have taken the time and effort to do.”

TOWM’s food pantry is strengthened in a major way by its long-standing partnership with Meijer and its Simply Give program. When shoppers scan a Simply Give donation card at checkout, Meijer passes those funds along to a designated local pantry. For Bridge Street Market, that partner has always been The Other Way Ministries.

Several times a year, Meijer hosts Double Match Days, where every $10 donation becomes $30 worth of food for local families. These days are critical, and TOWM works hard to spread the word so neighbors and supporters can maximize the impact.

Scott highlights that the partnership with Bridge Street Market also extends beyond fundraising. During a recent power outage, we held pallets of freezer items for TOWM to avoid food spoilage. It's a relationship built on trust, proximity, and shared commitment to the community.

Keep an eye on Bridge Street Market’s social media pages for the next upcoming Double Match Day.