Free pre-school enrollment still open, sign up for a virtual finance class, and more

Free pre-school enrollment still open, sign up for a virtual finance class, and more

E-Newsletter | Rep. Kara Hope | Aug. 28, 2026

Dear Neighbor,

Here is some information you may find helpful, including news and resources from your state government.

It’s not too late to apply for Michigan’s free pre-school program, the Great Start Readiness Program, for this school year. All families with four-year-old children are encouraged to apply. Priority will be given to those at or below 400% of the federal poverty level, which is approximately $128,000 for a four-person family. Participation in the program is estimated to save families $14,000 a year on childcare costs. According to the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, the Great Start Readiness Program saw a nearly 16% increase in applications from July 2025 to July 2026.

Learn more and apply at GreatStartToQuality.org/Free-Preschool-Programs.

The Michigan Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program will begin a contract with a new infant formula manufacturer, Mead Johnson, starting Nov. 1. The infant formula available under this new contract is nutritionally comparable to the formula manufactured by Abbott Similac, who holds the current contract. More than 187,000 Michiganders, including 40,000 infants, receive WIC benefits monthly. More information is available here.

A case of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) has been confirmed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in Roscommon County. EEE is spread through mosquito bites. To prevent inflection, Michiganders are encouraged to use U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents; wear shoes, socks, and light-colored long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors; ensure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens without tears; use bed nets when sleeping outdoors; and eliminate all sources of standing water around your home once a week. More information can be found here.

A local credit union is hosting a free 16-class virtual education program on Pathways to Financial Freedom. This course will cover understanding savings and credit, improving credit scores, budgeting, lending, investing, and first-time home buying. Classes will take place from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. every other Thursday starting Sept. 10, continuing through April 1, 2027. Enrollment is open through Aug. 31.

Learn more and apply here.

The Greater Lansing Food Bank’s mobile food pantry will be at Tabernacle of David Church, 2645 W. Holmes Road., in Lansing on Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. This event is open to the public, and identification is not required. The distribution may end early if food runs out. Organizers ask that participants do not line up more than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. For more information, call the Greater Lansing Food Bank at 517-853-7800.

Follow my official Facebook account for the most up-to-date information. E-news contains a lot of good information, but it takes several days — up to a week — to get approved and sent.

Sincerely,

Kara Hope
State Representative

Michigan’s Senior Project Fresh program offers $25 in free benefits to use on fresh fruits, vegetables, and honey at participating farmers’ markets and roadside stands. Eligible participants must be Michigan residents and either:

• Age 60 or older with a total household income of $28,952.50 or less for an individual, or $39,127.50 for a couple
• Age 55 and older and belong to a Michigan federally recognized tribe or urban tribal group.

The program will be open though Oct. 31. Apply online, or contact the Tri-County Office on Aging at 1-888-224-3030 option 5 to find out more information. Learn more about Senior Project Fresh here.