Our Location

Please note: staff are currently working virtually.

118 Commerce Ave SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Our Staff

Contact us at entf@hwmuw.org.

Wende Randall (she, her, hers)
Director
wrandall@hwmuw.org

Emily Madsen (she, her, hers)
Data Analyst
emadsen@hwmuw.org

Janelle Vandergrift (she, her, hers)
Kent County Food Policy Coordinator
jvandergrift@hwmuw.org

Nick Dobkowski (he, him, his)
Administrative Assistant
ndobkowski@hwmuw.org

Our History

The Kent County Essential Needs Task Force (ENTF) was formed in 1982 in response to the struggles that people living in Kent County residents were facing  to meet their basic needs. ENTF focuses on system change with an emphasis on collective impact and the interconnectedness of all systems.

Our Governance Committee

The Governance Committee of the ENTF was formed in 2013.   Seven organizations came together to take on leadership roles and guide ENTF.  A formal Memorandum of Understanding was created and Heart of West Michigan United Way was named the fiduciary and employer of record for ENTF.  The seven participating organizations are:

  • Co-Chair: City of Grand Rapids - Connie Bohatch
  • Co-Chair: Kent County - Paul Petr
  • West Michigan Works! - Tawana Brown
  • City of Wyoming - Rebecca Rynbrandt
  • Heart of West Michigan United Way - Michelle VanDyke
  • Department of Health and Human Services - Tracey Fountain
  • The Salvation Army - Pilar Meyer-Dunning