Barbara Lee, representing the Momentum Center and the City of Grand Haven, used a public-comment slot at the Nov. 21 Community Mental Health of Ottawa County meeting to announce new community offerings and to seek volunteers and locations.

Lee said the Momentum Center will begin "free food Fridays" with a hot meal available to anyone at its Grand Haven location and that the program is sponsored by a donor; she invited volunteers to help serve. She also announced a town hall on Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. focused on mental-health practices for the holidays and a series of Dec. 3 public learning and listening sessions (8 a.m., 12 noon and 6 p.m.) to explain a friendship-bench pilot and start recruiting volunteer 'bench buddies.'

"Tonight, we have the first of our free food Fridays... the free meal is open to anybody," Lee said, adding that the meal is "a meal, not just food because that also includes community."

Lee asked for assistance finding a New Holland location because she was told a Max Transit route that serves the area may stop in the spring; she asked that the board or staff connect her with the McIntosh area coordinating council and Max Transit representatives.

Board members later referenced the friendship-bench concept and suggested benches could be phone-free to encourage interpersonal interaction. The board did not take formal action on the items during the meeting.

Lee's announcements were among several public comments at the end of the meeting that also touched on person-centered planning, assessment tools and service gaps for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Next steps: Momentum Center will begin the weekly meal program immediately and run the Dec. 1 town hall and Dec. 3 sessions in Grand Haven; the board recommended connecting Momentum Center with local transit and coordination resources.