November 20, 2025 • 37 mins
Our live broadcast of the 2025 WOOD Radio Turkey Drop for Mel Trotter Ministries, presented by Life EMS.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The West Michigan Morning News team is live for our
twenty second annual Turkey Drop for Meltrodter Ministry. Now Here's
Wood Radio, Steve, Kelly, Brett, Pikita and Lauren Smith.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Well, we are back on the air. Ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Thank you so much for your patients, your contributions, and
for the things that you do here in West Michigan
that just blow us away year in and year out.
We are joined at the microphone at Celebration cinemon North
by the CEO of Meltrotter Ministries, Chris Puluski. Chris, what
a day it has been. It's nice to see you
warming up.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
It's been an awesome day. It's Bill Chillyn in the morning,
but it warmed up. It has been a beautiful day.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
We were going to bring this thing home.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
We're on the until six o'clock, although those drop off
locations are live until seven o'clock.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Today, we're here a little.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Early because we have a unique situation and we've never
been in this situation before in the twenty two year
history of the Turkey Drop. Because while we were away,
we reached our goal, and the goal was five thousand turkeys.
We stand at five thousand, five hundred and eighty nine
(01:13):
turkeys right now. Chris reminded us that there is need
to increase the goal.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Right, Yeah, so we set a conservative goal. It's been
a challenging year for a lot of folks with cut
to snap benefits, just the economy with inflation, and so
we said, you know, if we could get five thousand,
that would be awesome. The need was for many more.
It was for thousands more actually, and yeah, so we
were hopeful with the five thousand being a difficult year.
(01:43):
But right now we believe the community. It's showing up. Well,
it's West Michigan and it's showing up, and we want
to reset our goal. And yeah, we're looking at sixty
five hundreds. Oh wow, so we're increasingly fifteen hundred from
original goals.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
It is me ripping up. You're gonna hear that this
is not easy.
Speaker 5 (02:03):
And as we say that, Chris, thank you so much
to West Michigan from early this morning showing up and
it's unbelievable. I mean, Miskeigan. We talked about holland all
of our great partners on the Lake Shore. Everyone is
getting the word out. Our great media coverage with our
TV partners and everything this morning and yesterday, so we
need you one more time. But you've been fantastic already.
(02:24):
We won't forget that. And like Steve said, we've never
had this before in our twenty two years going on
the air, and we're an hour early than we normally
go on the air.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
So what a day.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
It's been spectacular and I think one of the most
exciting things.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
So this is my second turkey drop. This is my
the first year.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Somebody said you're gonna go out and you're gonna collect turkeys.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I thought, oh, okay, and I.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Was amazed to see the community come out. So it
was you know, ems with their turkeys on a gurney,
it was different companies, it was individuals, and I got
to tell you, some of the best moments have been
when families have come to come down and they're kids
have dropped turkey in the donation bucket. So it's been
the community coming out. It was amazing to see last year.
(03:07):
This year, it's just this is my favorite day of
the year. This is my favorite day of the year
at work, just to see the community come out and
participate and do something very tangible.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Spoiler alert, The turkey is not the real turkey.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
It's one of the turkey's helpers, like the Santa Claus.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
So there's a person in the suit.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
And Stacey is the new vice president for Advancement at
Meltrotter Ministries, and she has been inundating me with stories
and people who have been emotionally.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Moved today bringing turkeys.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
A woman who has listened to this for years and
brought a turkey early and as the turkey, Stacy gave
her a hug and she wept openly and said, I've
heard this over the years and I've always wanted to
be a part of it, and now I'm a part
of it, and you too can be a part of it.
And all of these turkeys help families that don't get
Thanksgiving right. So we are in our family trying to
(04:03):
figure out we've got a gluten free, we have a
vegan right, how do you what do you do?
Speaker 2 (04:10):
There's somebody with that doesn't the dairy. Somebody doesn't like dairy.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
That's my youngest anyway, So our inconvenience is where do
they sleep and what do we feed them? There are
people here in West Michigan that aren't going to have
a Thanksgiving. So when they get together at school and
talk about the same thing, where you're going or who's
coming to you, there's a kid looking at his feet
because he can't be a part.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
She can't be a part of that conversation. And when
we talk.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
About that, West Michigan steps up and they've already donated
fifty five hundred turkeys. And when we started this thing
all those years ago, I remember standing out there in
the snow, stuck around four hundred something, wondering if this
is really something we should continue to do, and Chris
clearly it's something West Michigan wants to continue to doolutely.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
And at least in my mind, it's something so tangible
and people. It's been a rough year again, but this
is something the community can do and they are doing
and coming to my second turkey drop. It's wonderful to
see West Michigan shine.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
It's not always sunshiny.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
In wintertime, but this is one of the times where
the community truly shines and they give and.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
It's just wonderful to see.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
You know.
Speaker 6 (05:27):
Chris and I were having a funny conversation off the
air about how passionate we feel about Thanksgiving, and it
gets forgotten a lot because people are already decorating for Christmas.
So here's your opportunity to say, hey, we do need
to take a break and be thankful for what we
have and give out of that thankfulness to families who
may not have that opportunity. How incredible would it be
(05:48):
to know that you have actually created a holiday for
a family in West Michigan that may have gone years
without being able to do this.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
You hear those stories.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
We've been hearing them all day long, and I can't
stress enough how tangible it is. So there's different ways
that people can get involved during the holiday season. I mean,
at Meltroter, we're a Christian organization, so we ask people
to pray for our work. We pray for our staff,
we pray for the people that we're serving. We ask
people to pray for us. We ask people to come
down and serve and work in our kitchen, or volunteer
(06:19):
in our kitchen, or help us out in other ways.
We ask for donations. But today I think is just
really special because it's something so unique, tangible and a
Turkey who'd have thought it's such a tangible way for
families to come out and give.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Yeah, and Wood Radio dot com will link you to
Turkey drop dot org. Come and see us at Celebration
Cinnamon North or South. The Thrift Store at Cottonwood in Jennison.
In Miskegan, you can stop by it. The men's shelter
for the Miskegan Rescue Mission that's on Lakedin Gateway. Mission
is in Holland on River downtown. Ring the bell at
(06:56):
Meltrotter at two twenty five Commerce or Turkey.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Drop dot org.
Speaker 5 (07:00):
Mark Meyer and our friends at Life MS Ambulance have
handed me two family four packs great seats. These are
Steve Kelly seats. Let me tell you for Griffin's games
in December. One is December third, one is December tenth.
So we're gonna have some fun this hour. We're gonna
play Griffin's Trivia and you gotta make a donation. We
won't put a dollar amount, but we'd love to have
(07:21):
you give back because these were donated to help push
that limit up that Chris was talking about. So if
you listen this morning you can check it. But if
you listen this morning, we highlighted a Griffin's player who
got his first NHL goal as a red wing last
night in their four to two.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Victory over Seattle.
Speaker 5 (07:38):
If you know that, come into the Wood Radio Broadcast
Center and look for Oho out there.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
By the turkeys. He'll tell you where to go.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
First one in with the correct answer, and we'll nudge
you for a little donation. You're gonna get these Griffins
tickets to go take the family great seats for December third.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
The turkey has a forceful side, just so.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
You give hugs and make people weep. But if she's
got to get in your wallet, she'll do it.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
She will, she will. It can cost pain. Turkey drop
dot org for more information.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
So we're gonna take a fast commercial break and we're
gonna switch out. You're gonna hear one of the incredible
stories that every day rings in the halls at Meltrotter Ministries.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Someone who was a guest who is now a mentor.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
That's coming up after a quick commercial break again, Turkey
drop dot org. You'll find the link at Wood Radio
dot com. Special thanks to these businesses that have stopped
by Yoda Real Estate, Seatsman Construction, Life MS Ambulance, Earnhart Construction,
ajax Meyer, Christian Brothers, Automotive, Budget Blinds brought a whole
(08:43):
vanful Midwest Industrial Lumber. Qdoba dropped off food for the volunteers.
Brower Lake norm Ski Shop out front right now volunteering
as well as National Nail.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
We appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Quick commercial break and we're back from Celebration Cinema. The
twenty second Annual Turkey Drop for Meltrotter Ministry continues on
Wood Radio.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Support our annual Turkey Drop for Meltrotter Ministries by making
a secure donation now at turkey drop dot org. Now
more live coverage of the twenty second Annual Meltrotter Turkey
Drop on NewsRadio Wood thirteen hundred and one oh six
nine a f M.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Steve Kelly, Brettmikita and Laurence Smith.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Adam Roadshow is out of the producer's booth, and we're
all over with social media, Facebook dot com, slash Wood
Radio and Instagram and that thing that used to be
Twitter is now x and we're streaming live right now
Facebook dot Com, slash Wood Radio as well. We're going
to welcome Mark Meyer back, our title sponsor with Life
MS Ambulance with a match as we have just increased
(09:50):
our goal. You heard about the need with Chris Puluski,
the CEO of Meltrotter Ministries. So we're aiming from our
original goal of five thousand to sixty five hundred birds,
and we're like a thousand away and we've got an
hour and forty minutes. So we are off the yar
at six to give room for Michigan basketball, but the
(10:13):
actual Turkey drop continues until seven. So there was a
little get together with Meltrotter earlier this year and the
keynote speaker was a guest that is now a mentor
at Meltrotter. I don't know if you know the story
of Meltrotter, but in nineteen hundred he was on his
way in Chicago to end his life. He, like me,
(10:36):
was an alcoholic and saw the warm lights of a
mission in Chicago and his life was saved and transformed.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
And he then began.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Some pretty important work which eventually led him to Grand Rapids,
and a variety of other missions have taken his lead.
And Meltrotter Ministries is now one hundred and twenty five
years old, and Stacy Jenkins was the keynote speaker, who,
like me, is somebody who knows a little bit about addictions. Stacy,
thank you so much for coming by today.
Speaker 7 (11:08):
Well, I'm minor to be here anything to support the cause.
Mel Trotter is just an amazing, amazing organization. Had not
it been for mel Trotter, I don't know where it'd be.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Give us a little of that story.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
I know it's emotional and it's sad, and it led
you to being unhoused, But now a mentor, I mean, wow,
when you stop to think about how inspirational that is.
Speaker 7 (11:38):
And well, I give all the honor to God, because
without Jesus in my life, it wouldn't be possible.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
My story started.
Speaker 7 (11:48):
I did well in school, exceptional kind of student, I guess,
went off to college, had some trouble, lady trouble. I'm
sure you guys don't know nothing about that, but anyway,
ended up dropping out of college, going into military, and.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Discovered drugs alcohol.
Speaker 7 (12:08):
Being a soldier, work hard, play hard, and I played
extra hard and it caught up with me. Got an
honorable discharge, but it was under.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Difficult circumstances.
Speaker 7 (12:22):
I will say my drinking and my drugging were probably
believed the leading cause while I exit military and life
went downhill from there, just incredibly fast, Like within two
or three months, my life was totally ruined. I went
(12:44):
from being a promise in high school student and a
awesome soldier to being like homeless on the streets, just
roaming around drinking and drugging.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
And then about.
Speaker 7 (12:56):
Long story short, but drinking and drugging is what me
to Michigan. I'm originally from Georgia and I ended up
here as a result of a job that brought me here.
My addiction issues went unaddressed and they showed up again,
and I ended up being homeless here for about seven
(13:17):
or eight years before I discovered mal Trotter. And the
day that I went, I didn't go for recovery. I
went for a bed and a meal. Oh, because I
guess everybody know that that's one of the many things.
Most people probably think that's all mal Trotter does. But
they have just a host of programs there, and I
(13:40):
ended up in the recovery program, the six month program,
and God just did amazing things in my life. And
I've been sober now almost three years, been gainfully employed,
drive for the I actually drive the public bus, drives
(14:01):
for the rapids. Back in school, working on my master's degree,
in City Life Church is a big part of my life.
They're strongly affiliated with Maltrotter Ministries. We do a lot
of collaborative kind of things, but mel Trotter was the
place that I found God again, and that organization is
(14:26):
just amazing in so many ways. I could go on
and own and own about it.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Man, you don't need us, I tell when I tell
your story, I say, every time you look out a
window in the city of Grand Rapids and you.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
See a bus go by, that might be one of them. Yeah,
that might be one.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Of the success stories of Meltrotter Ministries. And I think
it's easy to marginalize somebody when you walk by them
on the street and they might be in the middle
of their storm. But to see the potential and the
potential that can be reaped from grace, and grace comes
from place.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
It's like Meltrotter, of course.
Speaker 7 (15:02):
And I share with the people that I come into contact,
but come in in contact with a lot of people
on the bus, not just on the bus, but we
have some targeted things that we do to try to
help that population at City Life. But you know, I
tell them that you know, God is available and nobody
(15:26):
is beyond His grace. No matter how far you know
down the scale of life.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
You've gone.
Speaker 7 (15:31):
God's redeeming God, and you can redeem you and change
the course of your life. But you've got to be
a willing participant.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
You know.
Speaker 7 (15:39):
The things that you can't do for yourself, God will,
But the part that I can do, he won't do it.
You know, I had to once opportunity presented itself at
mel Trotter, I had to respond, you know, I had
to respond to what.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
God was doing. God bless you for saying sharing story.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
And I will ask you this for people that are
out there listening that don't think that there's help or
they don't know where to turn, your advice would be
that there is right.
Speaker 7 (16:11):
There's there's all kinds of opportunities out there. Mel Trotter
is probably one of just hundreds. But the difference between
all the others and Meltroter's it's very God centered. It's
Jesus Christ centered. And for me, that is the difference.
Any other literature you read n a AA, it talks
(16:34):
about higher power, but at mel Troter they name them
Jesus Christ. And I'm just eternally grateful for that and
there is help.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Nobody has to be hopeless.
Speaker 7 (16:46):
But I can understand how people become that way after
being in that lifestyle for so long. They think, you know,
this is it, just like I did when I ended
up there, and God just said no, not not yet.
I got things for you to do. And I'm just
glad to be a part of it. I'm glad to
(17:07):
be here. I'm actually honored, glad. They can't see me,
they see how nervous I am right now.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
That's what we love about Radio two.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
Who was the staff member when when we were at
the Meltrotter gala, I saw some people grabbing some tissues
when you started to talk. There were a couple of
staff members that got your attention right off the bat.
Speaker 7 (17:27):
Oh yeah. Probably the person who is most responsible for
my recovery or or just extending you know, that hand
out to me was a gentleman named Terrell Craig. I
hope you don't mind me saying his full name, but
you know, and he's he's just typical of the kind
(17:49):
of staffed as at melt Trotters. I had had had
interactions with him before, but you know, my pride wouldn't
let me tell him about my addiction. Uh Terrell Craig
is just a super extraordinary compassionate human being.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Like I say, he's one of many.
Speaker 7 (18:09):
At mel Trotter, I met so many just people who
didn't treat me like my circumstance, but treated me with
dignity and respect. Matt, Sabrina and so many others. They
have a wonderful staff. And I have to say something
about he's no longer there, but oh, I can't think
(18:32):
of his name.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
It'll come to you, ux Matt a little nervous. Matt
is also a former guest, right, we're talking about the
same guy.
Speaker 7 (18:40):
Well, actually I think Matt was never a guest there,
but he is in recovery. Yeah, yeah, And they have
an amazing staff there. When it comes to you, Leonard, Leonard,
he was also at the Gallup, yes, and just an
amazing I'm just super spiritual, very pointed, no holds bars though,
(19:06):
you know, you don't give it to you like you
need to have it, you know, which is a gospel, man,
the gospel that.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Is the truth.
Speaker 7 (19:15):
And if you want to, you know, get a real
reflection of yourself, try to reading some scripture. It's like,
oh man, it falls short there but God's grace is amazing.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
It's amazing.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
I think it's about time for you to get your
own podcast. Stacy Jenkins, a former guest now mentor God
bless you.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Thanks for coming in and sharing your story.
Speaker 7 (19:40):
One last thing I'd like to say, if you want
to be blessed, give to Mail Trotter. You will be
blessed God. I'm always blessed the blesser.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Wow dot org. You can do so. Right now, we're
going to take a quick break for news.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
We'll get Mark Meyerbacker title sponsor with Life MSS Ambulance.
We'll have a match as we go into the last
half hour of our broadcast. Still another hour on top
of that to give Stacey, thank you so much for
coming in today.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
I'm glad to be here this time.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Anything Tail, the twenty second annual Turkey Drop for Meltrotter
Ministries continues. We're at Celebration Cinema North Steve Kelly, Brett Pekiter,
Lawrence Smith on Wood Radio talk to you in a
couple of minutes.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
Support our annual Turkey Drop for Meltrotter Ministries by making
a secure donation now at turkey drop dot org. Now
more live coverage of the twenty second annual mel Trotter
Turkey Drop on news radio WOUOD thirteen hundred and one
oh six nine A f am.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Well, as you may have heard, it's not very often
that we come on the air over our goal and
then readjust because, as Chris Puluski, the CEO of Meltrotter
Ministries mentioned a little while ago, they're pretty conservative about
the number that we listed as a goal given how
weird this year and especially the last few weeks have been,
so we've readjusted in the last hour up to sixty
(21:05):
five hundred turkeys. The title sponsor of the Turkey Drop
in its twenty second year, as it is so many
other years, is Life MS Ambulance, and the president and
founder co founder is Mark Meyer. Back with us now
at Celebration Cinema. Mark, thanks for doing this too.
Speaker 8 (21:20):
Oh, absolutely good evening everybody, and it's always great to
have the bar set higher and people love when we
do that. So kudos to you guys for taking on
the challenge and say let's do this.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Mark brought in a little match, so we have a
check that we can use to help with that. So
if you would like to go to Woodradio dot com
or turkeydrop dot org right now. Your donation will be
matched until we Oh, I shouldn't hold.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
On too, I forgot. Sorry. We have a five.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Hundred dollars match that's on the books right now, So
get to turkey drop dot org or drop off your
bird at any of our location celebration cinemon Author South.
The thrift store for Meltrotter Ministries is on Cottonwood in Jennison.
Don't forget about the Lake Shore as well, Miskegan on
Lakedon at the Miskegan Rescue Mission and in Holland at Gateway.
(22:16):
Then Meltrotter's Downtown at two twenty five commerce. Just ring
the doorbell and somebody will run out and take your bird,
and you are doubling your giving power right now.
Speaker 8 (22:25):
We'll take advantage of the match. Everybody, please in Lauren
reminded me, don't hand the check to Steve.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Yeah, so we do have it secure.
Speaker 8 (22:35):
The check is secured, everybody, So let's take advantage of
the match and max it out. We know you can
do it. We know we can get that sixty five hundred.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
And just a reminder, we're broadcasting an hour early than
we normally do. We normally go to the end of
this thing, so you have until seven o'clock. Like Steve mentioned,
it's easy. If you're saying, hey, traffic or whatever, you're
running laid home from work, Turkey drop dot org you
can make a donation. I did right here with our
crew before it went on the air, and it's it's
real simple.
Speaker 6 (23:00):
And as your resident traffic girl, I can tell you
things look smooth right now. Absolutely, Oh my gosh, any
one of our five drop off locations are completely clear.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
I wanted to give you a chance to talk about
the staff again because the first drop off every year
comes in an ambubette and it's a whole bunch of
turkeys and you get everybody behind this thing well.
Speaker 8 (23:22):
And one of the things that we talk about at
life EMS is that for us to be effective at
bringing compassion along with skill to all of West Michigan
and our daily duties, so to speak, is to not
take yourself so seriously.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
So it's a great day.
Speaker 8 (23:37):
I know Brett was hammering me because I didn't have
my turkey at and that was an oversight.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
I couldn't find it.
Speaker 8 (23:43):
But nonetheless, but you know, just to do something fun
and so do something where it's out of character, so
to speak. And they did a great job in loading
a truck full of just jammed of frozen turkeys with
the live turkey that we have here. Who we appreciated
(24:03):
that turkey saying, Hey, our cousins are going for a.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Good call away. How about a couple of words on
this community.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
You, as a business person representing a pretty philanthropic family yourselves,
talk to us a little bit about how West Michigan
steps up.
Speaker 8 (24:21):
Well, you know, it's a natural thing and so it's
it's really beyond you know, we talk about giving back,
but it's really beyond that. It's just kind of a
natural instinct to help the community out that we serve,
that we grew up in, that we live in every
day with our families, and so how can we make
(24:41):
it better because it helps everybody. I mean, it just
it's one of those things where you can't operate a
business in a community that is not successful, and so
how can we help them and especially help those that
need to hand up, as the folks at Melt Trotter
would say, to be successful. And so at any rate,
it's just a full circle thing. And then if you
(25:02):
want to operate your business in a vacuum, you will
never succeed. And so I think that's just the core
of Western Michigan entrepreneurship. And it's Holland, Muskeige and Grand
Rapids everywhere. And so wherever you hear this broadcast on
the Lake Shore, there's places that Steve listed earlier. Bring
those turkeys. They stay in the community. And I think
(25:24):
that's another thing that's a little different in West Michigan
is so much of the fundraising in the giving. People
have the confidence it stays right here.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
And we want to invite you to be a part
of a great news story. And what I mean by
that is we get a lot for what we do
where people say, boyd you see in the news this
or that happened or whatever. Well, here's a story that
everyone is covering, they have for years, and we thank
them for that to get the word out. But you
can be a part of that great story, you know,
whether you want to do it anonymous, whether you want
to do it with a business, whatever the case might be.
(25:56):
And that's what's so cool about why you know you
hear Chris talk about it, I talked about it, you guys,
I know feel this way it's one of the greatest
days of the year.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
But it doesn't have to be just today. That's right.
Speaker 5 (26:06):
We can continue this on.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
But this is where the great story starts.
Speaker 8 (26:10):
Well, it starts the holiday season, and all of us,
especially those of us that have been doing this for
twenty two years, we look forward to tomorrow. Chris Is
CEO of Meltroder Ministries, is going to be on with
you guys live and share the the actual final total.
And that is just so cool. I mean it just
(26:30):
and I think Lauren will ensure that traffic will be
perfect tomorrow. If everybody steps up and gets us past
the sixty five hundred, I think that's the goal.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
I don't think we've elvera done that in twenty two years.
You make a donation, traffic's gonna be better Green Live.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
That's right.
Speaker 8 (26:46):
Well, you've already taken care of the weather, so it's
just traffic, you know.
Speaker 6 (26:50):
You know Mark, I once again, you guys, we are
matching right now. You have the opportunity for that donation
to go even further thanks to your generosity, And I
really just applaud your passion because you can see how
much good this does in the community and I think
it speaks volumes as that business owner is and as
a neighbor that you guys show up every single year,
you ander employees.
Speaker 8 (27:11):
Well, you know, it's one of those things where I
encourage everybody if you haven't learned about Meltrodter Ministries or
a lot of the other great not for profits in
helping people in West Michigan, learn about it, because you
get so much fulfillment. I've been getting texts from folks
that we knew, our kids went to school together, whatever
today with a picture saying, Hey, I'm dropping this turkey off,
(27:34):
you know, and whatever they may be retired, I'm dropping
this turkey off in celebrations South. But at any rate,
those of us that have seen up close and personal
the work that Meltrotter does, you just never look back.
Speaker 3 (27:49):
Yeah, and when a guy like you've put their name
on it, we have to understand that there's something behind
it too. And when wood Radio jumps on board now
one hundred years old, Meltrotter Ministries is one hundred and
twenty five years old. Wow, not many businesses succeed that long.
The need is great and the organization is unbelievable, and
(28:11):
now is the time for you to jump on board
and give what radio dot com. You'll find the link
turkey drop dot org for more information about either drop
off locations. Just being a part of this taking a
picture doing your own social media is really cool as well.
As Mark said, we've run into so many people that
come in year in and year out.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
It's almost like a class reunion so far.
Speaker 8 (28:32):
No, it is so gratifying. People come in and say
I've been here every year. Families come in, sports teams
come in, high school team. I mean, it's just, you know,
it's one of those things that everybody can get behind.
And again, if you've had one of those days where
you've had a lot of meetings or whatever, don't feel
like you accomplished anything, just go online, donate for a
(28:54):
couple of turkeys, and just feel good about starting the
holidays season.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
And when you tell your kids you did, make sure
when you're sitting around the Thanksgiving table, you say, remember
last week we help provide this for a family that
wouldn't have a chance to get it ordinarily. Mark Meyer,
thanks for coming in again. You're a busy guy. This
is a great cause and you're on it every single year.
Speaker 8 (29:15):
Well, my honor and again I think to your last
point for people to visualize, this helps folks maybe start
a family tradition that they haven't been able to because
of their circumstances in their life. Melt Triter's helping them
get going. This is a way to jump start their
first tradition maybe of a first Thanksgiving meal. That's a
(29:37):
pretty big deal. And thanks everybody in West Michigan for
your help. Thanks you guys here at Iheartmedian Wood Radio.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
Awesome job.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
As always life ems's president co founder Mark Meyer, great
stuff is always.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
Thank the staff for us too. Absolutely thank you.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
Take a quick commercial break and come back to bring
home at least the broadcast right now. As Brett mentioned,
this thing goes until seven o'clock this year evening, and
we'll keep the website lights on. I think that's how
you there's a click button that we'll.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Pay the clapper. We'll pay the.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
Extra freight that's right, smiddy for the overnight electricity on
Turkey drop dot org.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Go to Wood Radio dot com to find out more.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Will bring Chris Pulaski back and we'll get at least
a total for now, as we've revised our goal, take
advantage of the generous match from Life VMS Ambulance, Steve Kelly,
Brett Pikita, Lawrence Smith, Adam Rocho doing a boatload of
social media. That is our friend John hilt In the
producer's situation back at.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
The radio station too, so we have to say thanks
to him. We'll be back.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
A twenty second annual turkey Drop for Meltrotter continues on
Wood Radio.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
Well support our annual turkey drop for mel Trotter ministries
by making a secure donation now at turkey drop dot org.
Now more live coverage of the twenty second annual mel
Trotter Turkey Drop on News Radio with thirteen hundred and
one oh six nine a f M.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
It's Steve Kelly and Brett Pikita and Laurence Smith. I
wanted to shout out a couple of businesses too that
made some big donations. Randy's Long Care just dropped off sixteen.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Turtles, all right, Ray.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
And our friends at Taco Barracho, which is right on
Michigan stuper delicious, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Very savory.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
They've got a little outdoor seating here, so they've given
and they've sort of made a commitment to Meltrotter Ministries
as well.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Yep, they're going to provide a believe, one meal a
month to our guests and help come and serve.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Who was that so turkey dropped dot org Let me
give you that. That's the voice of Chris Puluski in.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
The background, the CEO of Meltrotter Ministries.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
This is his second Turkey drop.
Speaker 3 (31:47):
That means there have been twenty of them before him,
and so far this is on pace to be I
don't want.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
To say that we're doing very well. I don't want
to get ahead of myself.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
We've changed a goal and we originally said five thousand,
and now we said sixty five hundred, and we're certainly
not there yet. So the drop off locations are here,
Celebration Cinema North. You may go to Celebration Cinema South
on Cottonwood. There's a mel Trotter Ministry's thrift store that's
in Jennison. They're open until seven for this as well.
(32:20):
The mission downtown ring the bell at two twenty five.
Commerce Miskegan Rescue Mission is on board. My gosh, what
a great passionate person we had on the air from
there a little earlier. Today they're on lakedin and then
in Holland Gateway Mission Men's Center. Stop by there, Turkey
Drop dot Org, Woodradio dot com badly about the Griffins.
Speaker 5 (32:42):
Yeah, I want to say shout out to our good
friend Randy Cleeves. I know Smitty, you talked to him earlier.
I mean, unbeknownst to us, they came out their staff.
I mean their old hockey team is in rock for
They've got a game tonight eight o'clock, so check it out.
In ninety six won the game. But thank you to
Randy and all the staff that are back here and
just supporting Wood Radio on the Turkey Drop.
Speaker 3 (33:00):
Miltrotter awesome, So Chris Boloski, who is the CEO of
Meltrotter Ministries, I wanted to get because you stood here
and listened to Stacy as well. Stacy spoke at the
gala a couple of months ago at Frederick Meyergarden and
just blew everybody away. He said he was nervous, but
everything he said was should have been written down and studied.
(33:22):
You see more Stacy's than we do on a daily basis.
But that pretty special person. He's a rock star.
Speaker 4 (33:30):
I don't know what to say he helps to inspire
people that are in our program, so at the Dictionary
Recovery Program, Workforce developments, and he helps to give him
a hope. He says, I I was where you are
at now and here's how I got here.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
And people look up to him.
Speaker 4 (33:44):
He's a mentor, he's a motivator, and he's just a
great community voice and it's where we want to see people.
We want to see people succeed, and he's.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
He loves to talk about it.
Speaker 4 (33:53):
So we're very grateful for Stacy.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
And going back to school. We mentioned mentor, but he's
going back to school to get his masters.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
How cool is that His master's in addiction recovery. And
he said, maybe one day I'll work for you. I said, absolutely,
bring it on. We would love that. So yeah, he's got,
he's got, he's got a future, and he's got a
vision for a future, something that you don't see often.
And again, he's just such an inspiration to myself and
our guests.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
He helps them.
Speaker 4 (34:22):
To show that there is actually hope when they're feeling
that at lowest.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
It's so easy to walk by somebody on the street
and feel uncomfortable like I do, and not know what
to say and not know what to do. The folks
at Meltrotter Ministries know what to say and they know
what to do and you can walk alongside them.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
Now with your donation, it's.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
Turkey dropped today, but we in these extra hours that
we do the broadcast, remind you that you can be
a continual part of Meltrotter Ministries, either with time or talent,
and you do classes to give people, tour to find
out more information.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
Nobody walks out of there without being changed.
Speaker 4 (35:04):
We want people to get involved, so we please sign
up on our website to volunteer or if you want
to take a tour, we would love to show you around.
We'd love to show you that we try to keep
people from becoming homeless. If they do become homeless, we
have a shelter, we've got medical care, we've got meals,
but we also have programs to help people to launch
so they don't have to stay homeless. We have workforce
(35:26):
development with our Workforce arm Next Steps of West Michigan.
We've also got affordable and transitional housing. So our goal
is to share the loving compassion of Jesus with anybody
facing hunger and homelessness. Now to do that. We don't
want them to have to be in a shelter, so
we do everything to keep them from coming in and
to get them out as soon as possible.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
We need to thank some very special people Life the
MS Ambulance, our title sponsor, and Mark Meyer, m Katie,
mattys Kuyper, De graph Yoda real Estate, Norm Ski Shop
year in and year out. You guys don't just eight,
but you also stand outside and help people do that too,
And harvest health is so important as well.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
You may still give drop off at.
Speaker 3 (36:09):
Any of our locations until seven o'clock turkeydrop dot org
to find out more information.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
Chris will allow you to read this total.
Speaker 3 (36:18):
Where we are right now is a six ish still
another hour. Where do we stand in our goal for now?
Sixty five hundred?
Speaker 4 (36:25):
So the goal again sixty five hundred. We are at
five thousand, eight hundred and six. Okay, so we need
folks to come out. This is crunch time. This is
crunch time.
Speaker 3 (36:35):
We will be back on the air tomorrow morning starting
at five.
Speaker 2 (36:38):
Chris is back on the air at seven.
Speaker 3 (36:39):
Did we tell you that seven o'clock tomorrow morning we
will get the final.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
For this thing? Continue to give.
Speaker 3 (36:46):
We'll get to Michigan basketball after the top of the hour.
This is the twenty second annual Turkey drop for Meltrotter
Ministry Steve Kelly, Brett Pikita, Lawrence Smith, Adam Morocho.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
Thank you, John Elp. See you tomorrow morning.
The West Michigan Morning News team is live for our
twenty second annual Turkey Drop for Meltrodter Ministry. Now Here's
Wood Radio, Steve, Kelly, Brett, Pikita and Lauren Smith.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Well, we are back on the air. Ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Thank you so much for your patients, your contributions, and
for the things that you do here in West Michigan
that just blow us away year in and year out.
We are joined at the microphone at Celebration cinemon North
by the CEO of Meltrotter Ministries, Chris Puluski. Chris, what
a day it has been. It's nice to see you
warming up.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
It's been an awesome day. It's Bill Chillyn in the morning,
but it warmed up. It has been a beautiful day.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
We were going to bring this thing home.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
We're on the until six o'clock, although those drop off
locations are live until seven o'clock.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Today, we're here a little.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Early because we have a unique situation and we've never
been in this situation before in the twenty two year
history of the Turkey Drop. Because while we were away,
we reached our goal, and the goal was five thousand turkeys.
We stand at five thousand, five hundred and eighty nine
(01:13):
turkeys right now. Chris reminded us that there is need
to increase the goal.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Right, Yeah, so we set a conservative goal. It's been
a challenging year for a lot of folks with cut
to snap benefits, just the economy with inflation, and so
we said, you know, if we could get five thousand,
that would be awesome. The need was for many more.
It was for thousands more actually, and yeah, so we
were hopeful with the five thousand being a difficult year.
(01:43):
But right now we believe the community. It's showing up. Well,
it's West Michigan and it's showing up, and we want
to reset our goal. And yeah, we're looking at sixty
five hundreds. Oh wow, so we're increasingly fifteen hundred from
original goals.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
It is me ripping up. You're gonna hear that this
is not easy.
Speaker 5 (02:03):
And as we say that, Chris, thank you so much
to West Michigan from early this morning showing up and
it's unbelievable. I mean, Miskeigan. We talked about holland all
of our great partners on the Lake Shore. Everyone is
getting the word out. Our great media coverage with our
TV partners and everything this morning and yesterday, so we
need you one more time. But you've been fantastic already.
(02:24):
We won't forget that. And like Steve said, we've never
had this before in our twenty two years going on
the air, and we're an hour early than we normally
go on the air.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
So what a day.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
It's been spectacular and I think one of the most
exciting things.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
So this is my second turkey drop. This is my
the first year.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Somebody said you're gonna go out and you're gonna collect turkeys.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I thought, oh, okay, and I.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
Was amazed to see the community come out. So it
was you know, ems with their turkeys on a gurney,
it was different companies, it was individuals, and I got
to tell you, some of the best moments have been
when families have come to come down and they're kids
have dropped turkey in the donation bucket. So it's been
the community coming out. It was amazing to see last year.
(03:07):
This year, it's just this is my favorite day of
the year. This is my favorite day of the year
at work, just to see the community come out and
participate and do something very tangible.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Spoiler alert, The turkey is not the real turkey.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
It's one of the turkey's helpers, like the Santa Claus.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
So there's a person in the suit.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
And Stacey is the new vice president for Advancement at
Meltrotter Ministries, and she has been inundating me with stories
and people who have been emotionally.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Moved today bringing turkeys.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
A woman who has listened to this for years and
brought a turkey early and as the turkey, Stacy gave
her a hug and she wept openly and said, I've
heard this over the years and I've always wanted to
be a part of it, and now I'm a part
of it, and you too can be a part of it.
And all of these turkeys help families that don't get
Thanksgiving right. So we are in our family trying to
(04:03):
figure out we've got a gluten free, we have a
vegan right, how do you what do you do?
Speaker 2 (04:10):
There's somebody with that doesn't the dairy. Somebody doesn't like dairy.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
That's my youngest anyway, So our inconvenience is where do
they sleep and what do we feed them? There are
people here in West Michigan that aren't going to have
a Thanksgiving. So when they get together at school and
talk about the same thing, where you're going or who's
coming to you, there's a kid looking at his feet
because he can't be a part.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
She can't be a part of that conversation. And when
we talk.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
About that, West Michigan steps up and they've already donated
fifty five hundred turkeys. And when we started this thing
all those years ago, I remember standing out there in
the snow, stuck around four hundred something, wondering if this
is really something we should continue to do, and Chris
clearly it's something West Michigan wants to continue to doolutely.
Speaker 4 (05:00):
And at least in my mind, it's something so tangible
and people. It's been a rough year again, but this
is something the community can do and they are doing
and coming to my second turkey drop. It's wonderful to
see West Michigan shine.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
It's not always sunshiny.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
In wintertime, but this is one of the times where
the community truly shines and they give and.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
It's just wonderful to see.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
You know.
Speaker 6 (05:27):
Chris and I were having a funny conversation off the
air about how passionate we feel about Thanksgiving, and it
gets forgotten a lot because people are already decorating for Christmas.
So here's your opportunity to say, hey, we do need
to take a break and be thankful for what we
have and give out of that thankfulness to families who
may not have that opportunity. How incredible would it be
(05:48):
to know that you have actually created a holiday for
a family in West Michigan that may have gone years
without being able to do this.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
You hear those stories.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
We've been hearing them all day long, and I can't
stress enough how tangible it is. So there's different ways
that people can get involved during the holiday season. I mean,
at Meltroter, we're a Christian organization, so we ask people
to pray for our work. We pray for our staff,
we pray for the people that we're serving. We ask
people to pray for us. We ask people to come
down and serve and work in our kitchen, or volunteer
(06:19):
in our kitchen, or help us out in other ways.
We ask for donations. But today I think is just
really special because it's something so unique, tangible and a
Turkey who'd have thought it's such a tangible way for
families to come out and give.
Speaker 3 (06:34):
Yeah, and Wood Radio dot com will link you to
Turkey drop dot org. Come and see us at Celebration
Cinnamon North or South. The Thrift Store at Cottonwood in Jennison.
In Miskegan, you can stop by it. The men's shelter
for the Miskegan Rescue Mission that's on Lakedin Gateway. Mission
is in Holland on River downtown. Ring the bell at
(06:56):
Meltrotter at two twenty five Commerce or Turkey.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Drop dot org.
Speaker 5 (07:00):
Mark Meyer and our friends at Life MS Ambulance have
handed me two family four packs great seats. These are
Steve Kelly seats. Let me tell you for Griffin's games
in December. One is December third, one is December tenth.
So we're gonna have some fun this hour. We're gonna
play Griffin's Trivia and you gotta make a donation. We
won't put a dollar amount, but we'd love to have
(07:21):
you give back because these were donated to help push
that limit up that Chris was talking about. So if
you listen this morning you can check it. But if
you listen this morning, we highlighted a Griffin's player who
got his first NHL goal as a red wing last
night in their four to two.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Victory over Seattle.
Speaker 5 (07:38):
If you know that, come into the Wood Radio Broadcast
Center and look for Oho out there.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
By the turkeys. He'll tell you where to go.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
First one in with the correct answer, and we'll nudge
you for a little donation. You're gonna get these Griffins
tickets to go take the family great seats for December third.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
The turkey has a forceful side, just so.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
You give hugs and make people weep. But if she's
got to get in your wallet, she'll do it.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
She will, she will. It can cost pain. Turkey drop
dot org for more information.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
So we're gonna take a fast commercial break and we're
gonna switch out. You're gonna hear one of the incredible
stories that every day rings in the halls at Meltrotter Ministries.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Someone who was a guest who is now a mentor.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
That's coming up after a quick commercial break again, Turkey
drop dot org. You'll find the link at Wood Radio
dot com. Special thanks to these businesses that have stopped
by Yoda Real Estate, Seatsman Construction, Life MS Ambulance, Earnhart Construction,
ajax Meyer, Christian Brothers, Automotive, Budget Blinds brought a whole
(08:43):
vanful Midwest Industrial Lumber. Qdoba dropped off food for the volunteers.
Brower Lake norm Ski Shop out front right now volunteering
as well as National Nail.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
We appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Quick commercial break and we're back from Celebration Cinema. The
twenty second Annual Turkey Drop for Meltrotter Ministry continues on
Wood Radio.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
Support our annual Turkey Drop for Meltrotter Ministries by making
a secure donation now at turkey drop dot org. Now
more live coverage of the twenty second Annual Meltrotter Turkey
Drop on NewsRadio Wood thirteen hundred and one oh six
nine a f M.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
Steve Kelly, Brettmikita and Laurence Smith.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
Adam Roadshow is out of the producer's booth, and we're
all over with social media, Facebook dot com, slash Wood
Radio and Instagram and that thing that used to be
Twitter is now x and we're streaming live right now
Facebook dot Com, slash Wood Radio as well. We're going
to welcome Mark Meyer back, our title sponsor with Life
MS Ambulance with a match as we have just increased
(09:50):
our goal. You heard about the need with Chris Puluski,
the CEO of Meltrotter Ministries. So we're aiming from our
original goal of five thousand to sixty five hundred birds,
and we're like a thousand away and we've got an
hour and forty minutes. So we are off the yar
at six to give room for Michigan basketball, but the
(10:13):
actual Turkey drop continues until seven. So there was a
little get together with Meltrotter earlier this year and the
keynote speaker was a guest that is now a mentor
at Meltrotter. I don't know if you know the story
of Meltrotter, but in nineteen hundred he was on his
way in Chicago to end his life. He, like me,
(10:36):
was an alcoholic and saw the warm lights of a
mission in Chicago and his life was saved and transformed.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
And he then began.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Some pretty important work which eventually led him to Grand Rapids,
and a variety of other missions have taken his lead.
And Meltrotter Ministries is now one hundred and twenty five
years old, and Stacy Jenkins was the keynote speaker, who,
like me, is somebody who knows a little bit about addictions. Stacy,
thank you so much for coming by today.
Speaker 7 (11:08):
Well, I'm minor to be here anything to support the cause.
Mel Trotter is just an amazing, amazing organization. Had not
it been for mel Trotter, I don't know where it'd be.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Give us a little of that story.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
I know it's emotional and it's sad, and it led
you to being unhoused, But now a mentor, I mean, wow,
when you stop to think about how inspirational that is.
Speaker 7 (11:38):
And well, I give all the honor to God, because
without Jesus in my life, it wouldn't be possible.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
My story started.
Speaker 7 (11:48):
I did well in school, exceptional kind of student, I guess,
went off to college, had some trouble, lady trouble. I'm
sure you guys don't know nothing about that, but anyway,
ended up dropping out of college, going into military, and.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Discovered drugs alcohol.
Speaker 7 (12:08):
Being a soldier, work hard, play hard, and I played
extra hard and it caught up with me. Got an
honorable discharge, but it was under.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Difficult circumstances.
Speaker 7 (12:22):
I will say my drinking and my drugging were probably
believed the leading cause while I exit military and life
went downhill from there, just incredibly fast, Like within two
or three months, my life was totally ruined. I went
(12:44):
from being a promise in high school student and a
awesome soldier to being like homeless on the streets, just
roaming around drinking and drugging.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
And then about.
Speaker 7 (12:56):
Long story short, but drinking and drugging is what me
to Michigan. I'm originally from Georgia and I ended up
here as a result of a job that brought me here.
My addiction issues went unaddressed and they showed up again,
and I ended up being homeless here for about seven
(13:17):
or eight years before I discovered mal Trotter. And the
day that I went, I didn't go for recovery. I
went for a bed and a meal. Oh, because I
guess everybody know that that's one of the many things.
Most people probably think that's all mal Trotter does. But
they have just a host of programs there, and I
(13:40):
ended up in the recovery program, the six month program,
and God just did amazing things in my life. And
I've been sober now almost three years, been gainfully employed,
drive for the I actually drive the public bus, drives
(14:01):
for the rapids. Back in school, working on my master's degree,
in City Life Church is a big part of my life.
They're strongly affiliated with Maltrotter Ministries. We do a lot
of collaborative kind of things, but mel Trotter was the
place that I found God again, and that organization is
(14:26):
just amazing in so many ways. I could go on
and own and own about it.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
Man, you don't need us, I tell when I tell
your story, I say, every time you look out a
window in the city of Grand Rapids and you.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
See a bus go by, that might be one of them. Yeah,
that might be one.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Of the success stories of Meltrotter Ministries. And I think
it's easy to marginalize somebody when you walk by them
on the street and they might be in the middle
of their storm. But to see the potential and the
potential that can be reaped from grace, and grace comes
from place.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
It's like Meltrotter, of course.
Speaker 7 (15:02):
And I share with the people that I come into contact,
but come in in contact with a lot of people
on the bus, not just on the bus, but we
have some targeted things that we do to try to
help that population at City Life. But you know, I
tell them that you know, God is available and nobody
(15:26):
is beyond His grace. No matter how far you know
down the scale of life.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
You've gone.
Speaker 7 (15:31):
God's redeeming God, and you can redeem you and change
the course of your life. But you've got to be
a willing participant.
Speaker 2 (15:39):
You know.
Speaker 7 (15:39):
The things that you can't do for yourself, God will,
But the part that I can do, he won't do it.
You know, I had to once opportunity presented itself at
mel Trotter, I had to respond, you know, I had
to respond to what.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
God was doing. God bless you for saying sharing story.
Speaker 5 (16:00):
And I will ask you this for people that are
out there listening that don't think that there's help or
they don't know where to turn, your advice would be
that there is right.
Speaker 7 (16:11):
There's there's all kinds of opportunities out there. Mel Trotter
is probably one of just hundreds. But the difference between
all the others and Meltroter's it's very God centered. It's
Jesus Christ centered. And for me, that is the difference.
Any other literature you read n a AA, it talks
(16:34):
about higher power, but at mel Troter they name them
Jesus Christ. And I'm just eternally grateful for that and
there is help.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
Nobody has to be hopeless.
Speaker 7 (16:46):
But I can understand how people become that way after
being in that lifestyle for so long. They think, you know,
this is it, just like I did when I ended
up there, and God just said no, not not yet.
I got things for you to do. And I'm just
glad to be a part of it. I'm glad to
(17:07):
be here. I'm actually honored, glad. They can't see me,
they see how nervous I am right now.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
That's what we love about Radio two.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
Who was the staff member when when we were at
the Meltrotter gala, I saw some people grabbing some tissues
when you started to talk. There were a couple of
staff members that got your attention right off the bat.
Speaker 7 (17:27):
Oh yeah. Probably the person who is most responsible for
my recovery or or just extending you know, that hand
out to me was a gentleman named Terrell Craig. I
hope you don't mind me saying his full name, but
you know, and he's he's just typical of the kind
(17:49):
of staffed as at melt Trotters. I had had had
interactions with him before, but you know, my pride wouldn't
let me tell him about my addiction. Uh Terrell Craig
is just a super extraordinary compassionate human being.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
Like I say, he's one of many.
Speaker 7 (18:09):
At mel Trotter, I met so many just people who
didn't treat me like my circumstance, but treated me with
dignity and respect. Matt, Sabrina and so many others. They
have a wonderful staff. And I have to say something
about he's no longer there, but oh, I can't think
(18:32):
of his name.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
It'll come to you, ux Matt a little nervous. Matt
is also a former guest, right, we're talking about the
same guy.
Speaker 7 (18:40):
Well, actually I think Matt was never a guest there,
but he is in recovery. Yeah, yeah, And they have
an amazing staff there. When it comes to you, Leonard, Leonard,
he was also at the Gallup, yes, and just an
amazing I'm just super spiritual, very pointed, no holds bars though,
(19:06):
you know, you don't give it to you like you
need to have it, you know, which is a gospel, man,
the gospel that.
Speaker 3 (19:14):
Is the truth.
Speaker 7 (19:15):
And if you want to, you know, get a real
reflection of yourself, try to reading some scripture. It's like,
oh man, it falls short there but God's grace is amazing.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
It's amazing.
Speaker 3 (19:27):
I think it's about time for you to get your
own podcast. Stacy Jenkins, a former guest now mentor God
bless you.
Speaker 2 (19:38):
Thanks for coming in and sharing your story.
Speaker 7 (19:40):
One last thing I'd like to say, if you want
to be blessed, give to Mail Trotter. You will be
blessed God. I'm always blessed the blesser.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Wow dot org. You can do so. Right now, we're
going to take a quick break for news.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
We'll get Mark Meyerbacker title sponsor with Life MSS Ambulance.
We'll have a match as we go into the last
half hour of our broadcast. Still another hour on top
of that to give Stacey, thank you so much for
coming in today.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
I'm glad to be here this time.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
Anything Tail, the twenty second annual Turkey Drop for Meltrotter
Ministries continues. We're at Celebration Cinema North Steve Kelly, Brett Pekiter,
Lawrence Smith on Wood Radio talk to you in a
couple of minutes.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
Support our annual Turkey Drop for Meltrotter Ministries by making
a secure donation now at turkey drop dot org. Now
more live coverage of the twenty second annual mel Trotter
Turkey Drop on news radio WOUOD thirteen hundred and one
oh six nine A f am.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
Well, as you may have heard, it's not very often
that we come on the air over our goal and
then readjust because, as Chris Puluski, the CEO of Meltrotter
Ministries mentioned a little while ago, they're pretty conservative about
the number that we listed as a goal given how
weird this year and especially the last few weeks have been,
so we've readjusted in the last hour up to sixty
(21:05):
five hundred turkeys. The title sponsor of the Turkey Drop
in its twenty second year, as it is so many
other years, is Life MS Ambulance, and the president and
founder co founder is Mark Meyer. Back with us now
at Celebration Cinema. Mark, thanks for doing this too.
Speaker 8 (21:20):
Oh, absolutely good evening everybody, and it's always great to
have the bar set higher and people love when we
do that. So kudos to you guys for taking on
the challenge and say let's do this.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Mark brought in a little match, so we have a
check that we can use to help with that. So
if you would like to go to Woodradio dot com
or turkeydrop dot org right now. Your donation will be
matched until we Oh, I shouldn't hold.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
On too, I forgot. Sorry. We have a five.
Speaker 3 (21:53):
Hundred dollars match that's on the books right now, So
get to turkey drop dot org or drop off your
bird at any of our location celebration cinemon Author South.
The thrift store for Meltrotter Ministries is on Cottonwood in Jennison.
Don't forget about the Lake Shore as well, Miskegan on
Lakedon at the Miskegan Rescue Mission and in Holland at Gateway.
(22:16):
Then Meltrotter's Downtown at two twenty five commerce. Just ring
the doorbell and somebody will run out and take your bird,
and you are doubling your giving power right now.
Speaker 8 (22:25):
We'll take advantage of the match. Everybody, please in Lauren
reminded me, don't hand the check to Steve.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Yeah, so we do have it secure.
Speaker 8 (22:35):
The check is secured, everybody, So let's take advantage of
the match and max it out. We know you can
do it. We know we can get that sixty five hundred.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
And just a reminder, we're broadcasting an hour early than
we normally do. We normally go to the end of
this thing, so you have until seven o'clock. Like Steve mentioned,
it's easy. If you're saying, hey, traffic or whatever, you're
running laid home from work, Turkey drop dot org you
can make a donation. I did right here with our
crew before it went on the air, and it's it's
real simple.
Speaker 6 (23:00):
And as your resident traffic girl, I can tell you
things look smooth right now. Absolutely, Oh my gosh, any
one of our five drop off locations are completely clear.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
I wanted to give you a chance to talk about
the staff again because the first drop off every year
comes in an ambubette and it's a whole bunch of
turkeys and you get everybody behind this thing well.
Speaker 8 (23:22):
And one of the things that we talk about at
life EMS is that for us to be effective at
bringing compassion along with skill to all of West Michigan
and our daily duties, so to speak, is to not
take yourself so seriously.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
So it's a great day.
Speaker 8 (23:37):
I know Brett was hammering me because I didn't have
my turkey at and that was an oversight.
Speaker 2 (23:42):
I couldn't find it.
Speaker 8 (23:43):
But nonetheless, but you know, just to do something fun
and so do something where it's out of character, so
to speak. And they did a great job in loading
a truck full of just jammed of frozen turkeys with
the live turkey that we have here. Who we appreciated
(24:03):
that turkey saying, Hey, our cousins are going for a.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Good call away. How about a couple of words on
this community.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
You, as a business person representing a pretty philanthropic family yourselves,
talk to us a little bit about how West Michigan
steps up.
Speaker 8 (24:21):
Well, you know, it's a natural thing and so it's
it's really beyond you know, we talk about giving back,
but it's really beyond that. It's just kind of a
natural instinct to help the community out that we serve,
that we grew up in, that we live in every
day with our families, and so how can we make
(24:41):
it better because it helps everybody. I mean, it just
it's one of those things where you can't operate a
business in a community that is not successful, and so
how can we help them and especially help those that
need to hand up, as the folks at Melt Trotter
would say, to be successful. And so at any rate,
it's just a full circle thing. And then if you
(25:02):
want to operate your business in a vacuum, you will
never succeed. And so I think that's just the core
of Western Michigan entrepreneurship. And it's Holland, Muskeige and Grand
Rapids everywhere. And so wherever you hear this broadcast on
the Lake Shore, there's places that Steve listed earlier. Bring
those turkeys. They stay in the community. And I think
(25:24):
that's another thing that's a little different in West Michigan
is so much of the fundraising in the giving. People
have the confidence it stays right here.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
And we want to invite you to be a part
of a great news story. And what I mean by
that is we get a lot for what we do
where people say, boyd you see in the news this
or that happened or whatever. Well, here's a story that
everyone is covering, they have for years, and we thank
them for that to get the word out. But you
can be a part of that great story, you know,
whether you want to do it anonymous, whether you want
to do it with a business, whatever the case might be.
(25:56):
And that's what's so cool about why you know you
hear Chris talk about it, I talked about it, you guys,
I know feel this way it's one of the greatest
days of the year.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
But it doesn't have to be just today. That's right.
Speaker 5 (26:06):
We can continue this on.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
But this is where the great story starts.
Speaker 8 (26:10):
Well, it starts the holiday season, and all of us,
especially those of us that have been doing this for
twenty two years, we look forward to tomorrow. Chris Is
CEO of Meltroder Ministries, is going to be on with
you guys live and share the the actual final total.
And that is just so cool. I mean it just
(26:30):
and I think Lauren will ensure that traffic will be
perfect tomorrow. If everybody steps up and gets us past
the sixty five hundred, I think that's the goal.
Speaker 5 (26:40):
I don't think we've elvera done that in twenty two years.
You make a donation, traffic's gonna be better Green Live.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
That's right.
Speaker 8 (26:46):
Well, you've already taken care of the weather, so it's
just traffic, you know.
Speaker 6 (26:50):
You know Mark, I once again, you guys, we are
matching right now. You have the opportunity for that donation
to go even further thanks to your generosity, And I
really just applaud your passion because you can see how
much good this does in the community and I think
it speaks volumes as that business owner is and as
a neighbor that you guys show up every single year,
you ander employees.
Speaker 8 (27:11):
Well, you know, it's one of those things where I
encourage everybody if you haven't learned about Meltrodter Ministries or
a lot of the other great not for profits in
helping people in West Michigan, learn about it, because you
get so much fulfillment. I've been getting texts from folks
that we knew, our kids went to school together, whatever
today with a picture saying, Hey, I'm dropping this turkey off,
(27:34):
you know, and whatever they may be retired, I'm dropping
this turkey off in celebrations South. But at any rate,
those of us that have seen up close and personal
the work that Meltrotter does, you just never look back.
Speaker 3 (27:49):
Yeah, and when a guy like you've put their name
on it, we have to understand that there's something behind
it too. And when wood Radio jumps on board now
one hundred years old, Meltrotter Ministries is one hundred and
twenty five years old. Wow, not many businesses succeed that long.
The need is great and the organization is unbelievable, and
(28:11):
now is the time for you to jump on board
and give what radio dot com. You'll find the link
turkey drop dot org for more information about either drop
off locations. Just being a part of this taking a
picture doing your own social media is really cool as well.
As Mark said, we've run into so many people that
come in year in and year out.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
It's almost like a class reunion so far.
Speaker 8 (28:32):
No, it is so gratifying. People come in and say
I've been here every year. Families come in, sports teams
come in, high school team. I mean, it's just, you know,
it's one of those things that everybody can get behind.
And again, if you've had one of those days where
you've had a lot of meetings or whatever, don't feel
like you accomplished anything, just go online, donate for a
(28:54):
couple of turkeys, and just feel good about starting the
holidays season.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
And when you tell your kids you did, make sure
when you're sitting around the Thanksgiving table, you say, remember
last week we help provide this for a family that
wouldn't have a chance to get it ordinarily. Mark Meyer,
thanks for coming in again. You're a busy guy. This
is a great cause and you're on it every single year.
Speaker 8 (29:15):
Well, my honor and again I think to your last
point for people to visualize, this helps folks maybe start
a family tradition that they haven't been able to because
of their circumstances in their life. Melt Triter's helping them
get going. This is a way to jump start their
first tradition maybe of a first Thanksgiving meal. That's a
(29:37):
pretty big deal. And thanks everybody in West Michigan for
your help. Thanks you guys here at Iheartmedian Wood Radio.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
Awesome job.
Speaker 3 (29:43):
As always life ems's president co founder Mark Meyer, great
stuff is always.
Speaker 2 (29:49):
Thank the staff for us too. Absolutely thank you.
Speaker 3 (29:52):
Take a quick commercial break and come back to bring
home at least the broadcast right now. As Brett mentioned,
this thing goes until seven o'clock this year evening, and
we'll keep the website lights on. I think that's how
you there's a click button that we'll.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Pay the clapper. We'll pay the.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
Extra freight that's right, smiddy for the overnight electricity on
Turkey drop dot org.
Speaker 2 (30:13):
Go to Wood Radio dot com to find out more.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Will bring Chris Pulaski back and we'll get at least
a total for now, as we've revised our goal, take
advantage of the generous match from Life VMS Ambulance, Steve Kelly,
Brett Pikita, Lawrence Smith, Adam Rocho doing a boatload of
social media. That is our friend John hilt In the
producer's situation back at.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
The radio station too, so we have to say thanks
to him. We'll be back.
Speaker 3 (30:39):
A twenty second annual turkey Drop for Meltrotter continues on
Wood Radio.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
Well support our annual turkey drop for mel Trotter ministries
by making a secure donation now at turkey drop dot org.
Now more live coverage of the twenty second annual mel
Trotter Turkey Drop on News Radio with thirteen hundred and
one oh six nine a f M.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
It's Steve Kelly and Brett Pikita and Laurence Smith. I
wanted to shout out a couple of businesses too that
made some big donations. Randy's Long Care just dropped off sixteen.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Turtles, all right, Ray.
Speaker 3 (31:18):
And our friends at Taco Barracho, which is right on
Michigan stuper delicious, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Very savory.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
They've got a little outdoor seating here, so they've given
and they've sort of made a commitment to Meltrotter Ministries
as well.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
Yep, they're going to provide a believe, one meal a
month to our guests and help come and serve.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
Who was that so turkey dropped dot org Let me
give you that. That's the voice of Chris Puluski in.
Speaker 3 (31:42):
The background, the CEO of Meltrotter Ministries.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
This is his second Turkey drop.
Speaker 3 (31:47):
That means there have been twenty of them before him,
and so far this is on pace to be I
don't want.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
To say that we're doing very well. I don't want
to get ahead of myself.
Speaker 3 (32:00):
We've changed a goal and we originally said five thousand,
and now we said sixty five hundred, and we're certainly
not there yet. So the drop off locations are here,
Celebration Cinema North. You may go to Celebration Cinema South
on Cottonwood. There's a mel Trotter Ministry's thrift store that's
in Jennison. They're open until seven for this as well.
(32:20):
The mission downtown ring the bell at two twenty five.
Commerce Miskegan Rescue Mission is on board. My gosh, what
a great passionate person we had on the air from
there a little earlier. Today they're on lakedin and then
in Holland Gateway Mission Men's Center. Stop by there, Turkey
Drop dot Org, Woodradio dot com badly about the Griffins.
Speaker 5 (32:42):
Yeah, I want to say shout out to our good
friend Randy Cleeves. I know Smitty, you talked to him earlier.
I mean, unbeknownst to us, they came out their staff.
I mean their old hockey team is in rock for
They've got a game tonight eight o'clock, so check it out.
In ninety six won the game. But thank you to
Randy and all the staff that are back here and
just supporting Wood Radio on the Turkey Drop.
Speaker 3 (33:00):
Miltrotter awesome, So Chris Boloski, who is the CEO of
Meltrotter Ministries, I wanted to get because you stood here
and listened to Stacy as well. Stacy spoke at the
gala a couple of months ago at Frederick Meyergarden and
just blew everybody away. He said he was nervous, but
everything he said was should have been written down and studied.
(33:22):
You see more Stacy's than we do on a daily basis.
But that pretty special person. He's a rock star.
Speaker 4 (33:30):
I don't know what to say he helps to inspire
people that are in our program, so at the Dictionary
Recovery Program, Workforce developments, and he helps to give him
a hope. He says, I I was where you are
at now and here's how I got here.
Speaker 2 (33:42):
And people look up to him.
Speaker 4 (33:44):
He's a mentor, he's a motivator, and he's just a
great community voice and it's where we want to see people.
We want to see people succeed, and he's.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
He loves to talk about it.
Speaker 4 (33:53):
So we're very grateful for Stacy.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
And going back to school. We mentioned mentor, but he's
going back to school to get his masters.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
How cool is that His master's in addiction recovery. And
he said, maybe one day I'll work for you. I said, absolutely,
bring it on. We would love that. So yeah, he's got,
he's got, he's got a future, and he's got a
vision for a future, something that you don't see often.
And again, he's just such an inspiration to myself and
our guests.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
He helps them.
Speaker 4 (34:22):
To show that there is actually hope when they're feeling
that at lowest.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
It's so easy to walk by somebody on the street
and feel uncomfortable like I do, and not know what
to say and not know what to do. The folks
at Meltrotter Ministries know what to say and they know
what to do and you can walk alongside them.
Speaker 2 (34:43):
Now with your donation, it's.
Speaker 3 (34:44):
Turkey dropped today, but we in these extra hours that
we do the broadcast, remind you that you can be
a continual part of Meltrotter Ministries, either with time or talent,
and you do classes to give people, tour to find
out more information.
Speaker 2 (35:01):
Nobody walks out of there without being changed.
Speaker 4 (35:04):
We want people to get involved, so we please sign
up on our website to volunteer or if you want
to take a tour, we would love to show you around.
We'd love to show you that we try to keep
people from becoming homeless. If they do become homeless, we
have a shelter, we've got medical care, we've got meals,
but we also have programs to help people to launch
so they don't have to stay homeless. We have workforce
(35:26):
development with our Workforce arm Next Steps of West Michigan.
We've also got affordable and transitional housing. So our goal
is to share the loving compassion of Jesus with anybody
facing hunger and homelessness. Now to do that. We don't
want them to have to be in a shelter, so
we do everything to keep them from coming in and
to get them out as soon as possible.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
We need to thank some very special people Life the
MS Ambulance, our title sponsor, and Mark Meyer, m Katie,
mattys Kuyper, De graph Yoda real Estate, Norm Ski Shop
year in and year out. You guys don't just eight,
but you also stand outside and help people do that too,
And harvest health is so important as well.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
You may still give drop off at.
Speaker 3 (36:09):
Any of our locations until seven o'clock turkeydrop dot org
to find out more information.
Speaker 2 (36:16):
Chris will allow you to read this total.
Speaker 3 (36:18):
Where we are right now is a six ish still
another hour. Where do we stand in our goal for now?
Sixty five hundred?
Speaker 4 (36:25):
So the goal again sixty five hundred. We are at
five thousand, eight hundred and six. Okay, so we need
folks to come out. This is crunch time. This is
crunch time.
Speaker 3 (36:35):
We will be back on the air tomorrow morning starting
at five.
Speaker 2 (36:38):
Chris is back on the air at seven.
Speaker 3 (36:39):
Did we tell you that seven o'clock tomorrow morning we
will get the final.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
For this thing? Continue to give.
Speaker 3 (36:46):
We'll get to Michigan basketball after the top of the hour.
This is the twenty second annual Turkey drop for Meltrotter
Ministry Steve Kelly, Brett Pikita, Lawrence Smith, Adam Morocho.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
Thank you, John Elp. See you tomorrow morning.
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