The Hungry Kids Grow Up: Beyond the Fairways, Giving Becomes Legacy

A little over one week ago, media from across West Michigan gathered at Blythefield Country Club as executives, LPGA legends and community leaders helped launch another season of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. Cameras clicked, interviews rolled and headlines were prepared.

I was there too.

Not simply as media.

But as someone representing a generation of people whose stories rarely reach microphones — the hungry kids who grew up.

Because sometimes standing with a press badge feels heavier than carrying a camera. Sometimes it feels like holding proof that survival happened.

The room was filled with accomplished athletes, business leaders and community partners. Yet what struck me most was something quieter: years ago, I may have been among the children benefiting from organizations much like the ones being celebrated.

There are moments in life when the distance between who you were and who you became feels impossibly small.

This was one of them.

There is something powerful about giving.

At first, it may feel small — a few dollars at a checkout lane, a volunteer shift, a donation, a helping hand. Over time, generosity has a way of shaping identity. It defines families, communities and, sometimes, corporations.

That spirit is exactly what the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give has become across West Michigan.

Since 2008, Meijer’s year-round Simply Give program has helped stock food pantry shelves throughout the Midwest, generating more than $100 million through support from customers, employees and community partners. The previous 11 tournaments alone have generated more than $13 million for local food pantry partners.

The numbers are significant.

The quieter stories behind them may matter even more.

There are more people than many realize who know what it feels like to miss meals — not because of fasting, poor choices or lack of ambition, but because circumstances become heavier than resources. Some carry those memories long after stability arrives.

I know because I was one of them.

During parts of my educational journey, organizations and missions like The Other Way Ministries helped provide stability during difficult moments. Their support did more than fight hunger. It created enough room mentally and emotionally to remain focused on school, growth and building a future.

Food insecurity is often invisible.

Its impact is not.

For nearly 60 years, The Other Way Ministries has served neighbors on Grand Rapids’ West Side, relying on partnerships and community support to continue that work under the leadership of Scott Bloem.

“The support we receive from the Meijer LPGA Classic and Simply Give makes a tremendous difference in the lives of those we serve,” Bloem said. “Our food programs are often the entry point where neighbors are introduced to The Other Way.”

Those introductions can become life-changing.

Bloem shared the story of Richard, who first came through pantry services while experiencing homelessness and other challenges. Conversations over coffee led to counseling connections and support through programs serving individuals without permanent housing. Richard later moved into transitional housing before ultimately securing permanent housing on Grand Rapids’ West Side.

“Donations from Simply Give through both the Meijer LPGA Classic and the Bridge Street Market are the catalyst that fuels significant support of food for our pantry,” Bloem said. “Richard has gone from being one of the first tenants in our transitional housing unit to finding permanent housing on the West Side.”

The story illustrates something difficult to measure in annual reports: hunger relief often becomes relationship building, and relationship building can become stability.

From June 18-21, 2026, families, fans and some of the world’s best golfers will again gather in West Michigan. But tournament leadership says the event has always represented something larger than sport.

“You know, years from now when people remember the Meijer LPGA Classic and what it did for the community, I really hope it’s about bringing families together to feed families in need in the community,” said Cathy Cooper, Executive Director of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. “That’s really, really what this is all about.”

Cooper said the tournament requires nearly 10 months of preparation and depends heavily on volunteers and community members working behind the scenes.

“What I will tell you is, as we build this, I see amazing people coming together,” Cooper said. “They do it with smiles. And they do it with love.”

That sense of ownership extends beyond tournament grounds.

“The Other Way Ministries has been walking alongside our West Side neighbors for nearly 60 years — but we’ve never been alone,” Bloem said. “The support of community partners like Meijer and events like the Meijer LPGA Classic enables us to provide the programs and services we do.”

Bloem added: “We simply could not do this work without thoughtful, engaged community partners like Meijer.”

In a business environment often measured by quarterly reports and market share, Meijer’s most visible moments may happen during tournament week. Its quieter legacy may be found elsewhere — inside stocked pantry shelves, transitional housing units, conversations over coffee or students trying to remain focused while carrying burdens classmates never see.

As someone who spends time near the course and along the Rouge River, one of the more remarkable details is watching the surrounding environment and community remain cared for before, during and after an event bringing thousands into the area.

Professionals understand details matter.

Communities remember what is left behind.

Perhaps that is the true story of the Meijer LPGA Classic.

Not simply what happens during tournament week.

But what remains afterward.

I know because I was once among the children organizations like these quietly carried forward — children trying to focus on school while hunger occupied space where certainty should have been.

So the question is not whether you plan to attend.

The better question may be this:

Who around you might need help — and what could happen if enough people simply gave?

Because generosity, much like hunger, has ripple effects.

And sometimes the smallest acts end up defining who we become.