Cass County School Supply Spectacular Registration is Now Open
Registration is now open for the 2026 School Supply Spectacular, and United Way of Southwest Michigan is asking Cass County families who could use a hand to sign up before backpacks run out. The annual event gives local students in need a free backpack filled with age-appropriate school supplies so they can start the year ready to learn. Online registration is now open at SchoolSupplySpectacular.com. Backpacks are available to children from pre-K through 12th grade who reside in or attend school in
Nearly 29,000 Working Households in Southwest Michigan Can't Afford the Basics, New ALICE Data Shows
Nearly 29,000 working households across Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties earned above the federal poverty level in 2024 but still too little to cover the basics, according to new data released today by United For ALICE in partnership with United Way of Southwest Michigan. The figures reflect 2024, the most recent year available through the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which reports on a lag. These households are referred to as ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.
Local High School Musicals Featured and Awarded at LMC’s WAVE Awards honoring Excellence in High School Musical Theatre
Thirteen local High Schools participated in the fifth annual WAVE Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre at the Mendel Center Jenkins Theatre on the Benton Harbor Campus, 2755 E. Napier Ave. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. This year the WAVE Awards has grown to include students and arts educators from Berrien, Van Buren, and Cass Counties in Michigan and St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties in Indiana. The participating schools were evaluated by 10 adjudicators, and about 890 students
Southwest Michigan Study Explores How a Year-Round Marketplace Could Improve Food Access While Supporting Regional Agriculture
For generations, Southwest Michigan farmers have shaped the region's economy and identity, with the Benton Harbor Fruit Market (BHFM) serving as a key connection point between growers and buyers. Today, that system faces growing challenges. Farmers struggle with uncertainty in selling their products, and many residents lack consistent access to fresh, locally grown food. A regional feasibility study is now underway to explore whether a year-round local produce marketplace at BHFM could help address both
