Help a neighbor, it's Your Turn

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Making ends meet in many West Michigan households is easier said than done.

But the viewers of 24 Hour News 8 made life easier for a lot of people by pitching in and helping their neighbors. It was all a part of the Christmas in May campaign, which collected eight essential items.

Meet Kimberly Gillon, who benefited from the campaign. She is a single mom of three, and disabled.

"It's frustrating, especially when you have kids and you know they have needs that you have to provide for them in really tough times," she said.

Christmas in May was all about collecting items for families that aren't always available in food pantries: toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, shampoo, diapers, laundry detergent, deodorant, dish soap and bar soap.

The West Michigan community stepped up to the task, and so did the WOOD TV staff.

"As a mom, I know how much diapers cost," said Emily Linnert, of 24 Hour News 8.

Linnert was one of many staff members who on Monday, loaded up items from Christmas in May, to pass along to people affected by the economy.

Now, it's Your Turn.

Your Turn is a continuation of distribution of the eight items we all collected. We are asking West Michigan to continue the giving by thinking of someone you know personally that has been impacted by the loss of employment.

1. Take a grocery bag and fill it based on the needs of the family that you have chosen. If they do not have a baby, don’t include diapers.

Or if they have a baby, consider giving an entire bag of diapers. You decide.

2. Print out one of the three Your Turn tags that can be found in the right hand column of this page. You can choose an anonymous tag, one that you can personalize or even one you can customize with your own message.

3. Leave the bag on their front door step with the Your Turn tag inside.

4. Come back here and share your story on the comment form below. We are hoping that each act of kindness and generosity will spark a continuing act of kindness and generosity.