Giving Back to the Battle Creek Community

We love being a part of the Battle Creek community. This is a place where everyone can live, work and play. That’s thanks to the people who make up our community and the volunteers who give back.

In order to foster a culture of vitality, it’s important to have people who are passionate about giving back to the community around and want to celebrate our city.

That’s why our team put together a list of some of the best ways to give back in the Battle Creek community. Keep reading to find out about some awesome opportunities.

Offer to Help

One of the easiest ways to give back to your community is to volunteer when opportunity comes knocking. If you’re a part of an organization, club, or other group, make it a point to volunteer the next time they ask.

You can also keep an eye out on the people around you. If you see someone struggling with groceries or if a classmate needs a ride, offer to help out. That helps to spread a feeling of community among all of us in Battle Creek.

Look for Opportunities

Keep an eye out for larger opportunities in the community. Some neighborhoods may have associations that you can join. Other groups in the community focus on different cultures or interests. Find one that you like, and then start asking how you can help them out.

You can also try asking teachers, supervisors, or other role models if they know of any opportunities to give back. If you can’t find any, try hosting a food drive with your friends or coworkers. Then drop the collected items off at a local charity.

Make sure to check out our blog about the simple ways you can improve Battle Creek for more ideas. There are also a lot of local resources available to you. Check out Neighborhood Planning Councils, United Way, and BCCF if you need a good place to start.

Sign Up to Volunteer

When in doubt, you can always volunteer to give back. Depending on where you volunteer, you can commit to a one-time experience or to a recurring position.

If you’re interested in flexible volunteer work, try getting involved in our Street Team or one of our other volunteer opportunities. We’re always looking for a dedicated volunteer base to help promote a culture of vitality.

There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer in our community. Even if an organization doesn’t say that they are actively looking for volunteers, many will still gladly take your help. Try reaching out to causes that you’re passionate about. After all, when you volunteer for something you care about, you’re more likely to enjoy yourself and make a real impact.

Our team is dedicated to creating a culture of vitality in the Battle Creek community and ensuring that Battle Creek is a city where everyone can live, work, and play. Want to learn more? Visit our website to learn about how we are moving Battle Creek forward.

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Focus On Dan Rombaugh: Quality Service in Battle Creek

Battle Creek is filled with local businesses that have a passion for providing the best service to our community. They do this through unique and genuine approaches to customer service. To keep this spirit alive, local business owner, Dan Rombaugh, has created a friendly and approachable setting to serve the people of Battle Creek.

Meet Dan Rombaugh

Dan Rombaugh is an entrepreneur and the owner of DR Drain Cleaning in downtown Battle Creek. Dan first got into the drain cleaning business about 25 years ago, and he’s stuck with it ever since. After noticing that the Battle Creek area was in need of a reliable drain cleaning service, Dan created DR Draining Cleaning in order to help the people of Battle Creek.

Dan’s company stands out in Battle Creek, thanks to the company’s exceptional customer service. He understands what it’s like to be busy or running a little late and that circumstances may come up. In those events, people might need to reschedule. Because of this, DR Drain Cleaning has flexible scheduling and pricing.

A Commitment to Developing Job Skills

Currently, Dan has three full-time employees who work hard on each and every job. When Dan and his employees set out to clean drains, whether they’re commercial or residential, the team ensures that they do each step of the process right so they can provide the best service possible.

Dan’s commitment to quality service stems from the environment he creates at DR Drain cleaning. “You have to be a people person. When I was hiring a couple of my guys, we started from scratch… We train them to know the business inside and out from my prospective, so there are no bad habits.”

Keeping the Momentum Going

If you are considering starting a business in Battle Creek, Dan offers advice on how you can keep your momentum going. “I didn’t have a ton of support when I started my business. Everybody thought I couldn’t do it. But starting my business has been a great way to meet new people, and the business has been doing really well.”

Dan encourages the entrepreneurs of Battle Creek to keep their heads up through the hard times and to push forward while focusing on the goal.

We love sharing the stories of those in Battle Creek who are moving us forward. They do this by creating a culture of vitality and showing a commitment to developing local job talent. Do you know somebody who we should Focus On? Click here to send us their name, contact information, and what they are doing to make a difference.

Want to help us move Battle Creek forward? Join us! Click here to get involved!

Meet Carmen Meinhardi, Our March “Get Caught” Recipient

BCVision is challenging community members to “Get Caught” moving Battle Creek forward through job creation and training, talent development, and community vitalization.

Meet Carmen

Carmen Meinhardi, the March “Get Caught” campaign recipient, is a special education teacher at Battle Creek Central who has taught in the school for over a decade. Carmen goes beyond just teaching students. She leads the American Red Cross Club, heads up the Work Base Learning Program for students, and does a lot more within Battle Creek. Her other activities include everything from Habitat for Humanity and Girl Scouts to BC Pride and finding homes for stray animals.

A Culture of Vitality

Although Carmen ended up in Battle Creek accidentally, she says, “It’s the best accident to happen to me.” We agree completely! Through her countless contributions to Battle Creek, Carmen is creating a culture of vitality both inside her classroom and out.

Keeping the Momentum Going

Carmen continues to keep the momentum up by helping to place her students in work based learning environments and getting them involved in volunteer experiences. She is fostering growth in her students to be the next generation of community leaders.

Carmen shares that the “Get Caught” recognition means a lot to her. “I am a little overwhelmed. I’ve been teaching for 17 years, and I am humbled by it. It feels good to know that people know what I care about and what I’m working for. It means a lot to be seen by the people who care about me and reinforces that what I am doing is making a difference.”

The Best Part

Carmen says the best part of contributing to the community is knowing that she gets to be a part of supporting people (and animals) in the area. In fact, Carmen shares that the most important thing you can do as a human is, “be a part of and provide support for your community.”

Do you know someone who is helping to move our community forward? Learn more about how to nominate someone today. Make sure to read about our past “Get Caught” recipients like Vickie Brennan, Randy Yother. and so many more!

Meet Randy Yother, Our February “Get Caught” Recipient

BCVision is challenging community members to “Get Caught” moving Battle Creek forward through job creation and training, talent development, and community vitalization.

Meet Randy

Randy Yother, the February “Get Caught” campaign recipient, was born and raised in Battle Creek; he knows the neighborhoods like the back of his hand. Randy could see that the kids in Battle Creek could benefit from a better environment to live, learn, and play in. This is how Randy came to co-found The Post Foundation of Battle Creek.

A Culture of Vitality

The Post Foundation provides support to schools and neighborhoods around Battle Creek through creating community gardens, building playgrounds, backpacks filled with supplies, book events and more!

The Post Foundation helps to create a culture of vitality by helping the kids in Battle Creek thrive in the environments where they spend the most time: their schools and neighborhoods.

Keeping the Momentum Going

Randy is so appreciative that Battle Creek has given him the ability to give back to the city. “I’ve been fortunate to work at Post for 40 years and now I can give back to the community,” he shares.

The Best Part

Randy says that the best part about what he does is seeing children smile, saying, “It’s all about the kids.” Randy shares that his favorite thing about Battle Creek is the community in general, because, “…like a family, we stick together and make it better.”

Randy explains that he was shocked when he was announced as the Get Caught winner for February, saying, “It’s very nice and heartfelt. It’s an honor and I appreciate it”.

We thank Randy for creating a culture of vitality and for “Getting Caught” doing amazing things for the Battle Creek Community.

 

Do you know someone who is helping move our community forward? Read here to learn more about how to nominate someone today! And, make sure to read about our past “Get Caught” recipients: Vickie Brennan, Javier Fortoso and Coach Casey.