Veurink RV Center Leads Donation Drive for Food Pantry – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Even though selling and repairing RVs is what keeps the lights on, the Veurink family believes in going the extra mile for their neighbors in need.
That’s why this summer, Veurink RV Center (VRV) is spearheading a donation drive for Streams of Hope food pantry in Grand Rapids, Mich. The “2025 Pantry Pile-up” is being supported by Midway RV Center, Dutchmen RV, KZ RV, and RVBusiness.
“The actual donation period will be June 2 through the 21,” said VRV Creative Marketing Director Mollee Veurink. “We kind of thought, ‘Hey, this is when we’re going to get customers in our door just to bring awareness of even what’s happening in our own community.’”
Veurink said the hope is the more awareness from customers, the more donations there will be to Streams of Hope. Even though it’s a food pantry, Veurink said they do more than provide meals to those in need.
“If you’re going through a rough season of life, they’ve got that resource for the spiritual side,” she said. “We fully support that ministry.”
Streams of Hope is asking for many items to meet the growing need for help. Not only do they need canned goods, they will also accept cereal bars, cereal, dry pastas, hygiene products and baby products. Veurink says there’s a big need for diapers and baby formula, since those tend to go quickly when needed by a family.
Those wanting to give to the collection will be able to do so at both of Veurink’s locations. Its center in Grand Rapids is located at 7144 Division Ave. S., while the Newaygo branch is at 8669 S. Mason Dr.
Midway RV Center is also serving as a drop-off location. Its address is 5590 Division Ave. S. in Grand Rapids.
Veurink said the pantry is just about a mile from their Grand Rapids location, and about two miles from Midway. For the pair of businesses, charity begins at home.
“One kind of cool thing we like to do is invest in the community,” said Veurink. “When our customers invest in us, we’re able to invest back into the community. Whether we’re employing people right in our own neighborhood and we’re able to provide jobs, but also if someone’s in need we’re able to kind of hear that and be intentional with helping them in any way.”
This summer’s donation drive is being run by the company’s REACH team, the all-volunteer force made up of Veurink RV’s employees. It’s a labor of love, that usually gets 20 to 25 employees to lend a hand for any given project. Veurink said the employees are always happy to help out, and even many new hires sign-up for projects shortly after their start dates.
Veurink credits that volunteer spirit to family business’s culture, carefully crafted by her father, Tim Veurink. Even though his son and her brother, Matt, is now the general manager, she said their dad handles the behind the scenes “visionary-type stuff.”
“He said it’s easy to write a check, but it’s cool to be able to see a different perspective and it opens the eyes of the team,” Veurink said. “We do more than just sell and fix RVs.”
Once the donation drive is finished, all the items will be driven to Streams of Hope – hopefully, Veurink said, inside of campers.
