Vision for a Brighter Michigan, food pantry resources, scam alerts, and more

E-Newsletter | April 10, 2026 | Rep. Kara Hope

Dear Neighbor,

Here is some information that I hope you will find helpful, including news and resources from your state government.

🔆 MI House Democrats’ Vision for a Brighter Michigan

For the past year, Michigan House Democrats have traveled the state to hear what issues are top of mind for residents. Your concerns and suggestions helped us create a roadmap for House Democrats to work on the challenges facing Michigan residents. Learn more on our Vision for Michigan website.

The Vision for a Brighter Michigan focuses on the following:

Making Life More Affordable – removing the obstacles that make it harder for people to get ahead and working to help Michiganders keep more of their hard-earned dollars.
Healthcare without Barriers – ensuring every person can afford the quality primary, preventative and specialized care they need.
Quality Education and Workforce Development – ensuring every student gets a world-class education and has a clear path to a successful future.
Building Better Communities and Local Economies – improving the quality of life for every neighborhood in every town by investing in responsible growth and public safety.

Together, we can create a brighter future for every Michigander. Learn more at HouseDems.com/VisionForMI.

🥫 Greater Lansing Food Bank Food Pantry Distributes in South Lansing

The Greater Lansing Food Bank’s mobile food pantry will be at the following locations in Lansing this week:

Saturday, April 11, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Restoration Life Church, 5455 Willoughby Road, Lansing.
Thursday, April 16, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., at New Mount Calvary Church, 3800 W. Miller Road, Lansing.

These events are open to the public, and identification is not required. The distribution may end early if food runs out. Please do not line up more than 30 minutes in advance of the scheduled start time. For more information, call the Greater Lansing Food Bank at (517) 853-7800.

🤝 Basic Needs Assistance Available Wednesdays at South Lansing Library

You can receive help getting identification, food, shelter, mental health care, and rehabilitation services every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the South Lansing Library, 3500 S. Cedar Street, Lansing, MI 48910. This service is available through a partnership between the Capital Area District Library and Advent House to offer drop-in basic needs assistance. A member of Advent House’s Street Outreach team will be available to assist. More information is available here.

🛡️ MI Attorney General Warns Vendors About Fraudulent Facebook Events

The Michigan Attorney General is warning vendors about reports of fraudulent Facebook event pages impersonating art fairs and festivals attempting to sell fake booth spaces. Scammers will direct vendors interested in reserving a booth space to send payments through Zelle directly to the individuals operating the account.

To ensure that you are working with a legitimate fair or festival, the attorney general is recommending vendors contact the organizers directly to confirm the Facebook event and host is legitimate before sending any payment.

If you think an event page may be fraudulent, you can report it to Facebook, the Federal Trade Commission and the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

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 it approved and sent.

Sincerely,

Kara Hope
State Representative
House District 74

In Case You Missed It . . .

BWL Hosting Community Resource Fair

The Lansing Board of Water & Light (BWL) has partnered with local organizations for a Community Resource Fair from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, at the Alfreda Schmidt Community Center, 5825 Wise Road, Lansing, MI 48911. This fair will be an opportunity for BWL residential customers and greater Lansing residents behind on bills to get connected to resources and financial assistance. This event is free and open to the public. More information is available here.

Get Your Electronic Tax Refunds, Contact MI Open Account for Assistance

Starting this tax season, the IRS will no longer send paper checks to taxpayers for their federal tax refunds. Refunds instead will be issued by direct deposit or other secure electronic methods. Having an account with a financial institution is necessary to receive your refund. To prepare for this, taxpayers should establish a relationship with a bank or credit union now if they have not already done so. The Michigan Open Account Coalition offers certified low or no-cost account options at nearly 40 financial institutions. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/DIFSOpenAccount.

Free Tax Assistance Available at Lansing Libraries

United Way of South Central Michigan’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program will have mobile tax prep units at Capital Area District Library branches in Lansing through mid-April. Households earning up to $69,000 can get free tax preparation services from trained, IRS-certified tax preparers. Register for an appointment here.