SECOM Resource Center

What SECOM Resource Center does

SECOM Resource Center is a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 that addresses food insecurity and economic hardship through an integrated suite of community programs. Its core offerings include a Healthy Food Pantry providing monthly groceries, The Market at SECOM (a farm-fresh produce market sourced from local farms such as Roots CSA and Bowerman Blueberries), a Community Garden, a Thrift Store, and Beads of Hope, a social-enterprise jewelry line whose proceeds support food programming. The organization serves more than 1,000 families per month from a single facility at 751 Burton St SE, where it relocated in 2023.

SECOM's business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue structure. Philanthropic sources — individual donations, foundation grants, and corporate sponsorships including a $10/month recurring Market/Pantry Sponsorship program — form the primary funding base. Earned revenue is generated through thrift store retail, farm-fresh market sales, and Beads of Hope jewelry sales. Distribution operates entirely from the single Grand Rapids site, with supply and demand concentration both tightly bounded to the local community.

Operationally, the organization runs with approximately 13 employees under Executive Director Pablo Garcia and a board chaired by Jimmy Nelson, PhD. Strategic partnerships with Calvin University, Grand Valley State University, local farms, churches, and health facilities provide volunteer labor, in-kind supply, and program referrals. SECOM became an independent 501(c)(3) in 1993 after operating under other auspices. No proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capabilities are evident; operations appear to rely on standard nonprofit and retail tooling.

Name

SECOM Resource Center

Legal name

South End Community Outreach Ministries

Website

https://secomministries.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SECOM Resource Center is a Grand Rapids, Michigan 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 that operates an integrated food pantry, farm-fresh market, community garden, thrift store, and jewelry social enterprise, serving over 1,000 local families per month.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Food Assistance Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF), Public Health & Health Equity Organizations (BPAGACAL)

Keywords

• Food pantry services
• Community resource center
• Food insecurity assistance
• Farm-fresh market
• Community garden program

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Private financial support from individuals through monetary donations, monthly giving programs (Plant a Seed campaign at $10/month), memorial and honor gifts, and legacy giving through wills, giving funds, stock donations, IRA rollovers, charitable remainder trusts, gift annuities, life insurance proceeds, and non-liquid assets.
2. Food Pantry and Market Operations: Revenue generated from The Market at SECOM farm-fresh market sales to neighbors. Products purchased from local farms at full price and sold at reduced cost to neighbors. Accepts EBT/P-EBT, Double Up Food Bucks, Senior Project Fresh, and WIC Project Fresh.
3. Thrift Store Sales: SECOM Second-Hand Thrift store generates revenue through sales of donated clothing and household items. Weekly sales include $5 fill-a-bag and $10 fill-a-bag promotions.
4. Beads of Hope Jewelry Sales: Handmade jewelry program (Beads of Hope) creates and sells women's hand-made jewelry. Products sold through SECOM store, with proceeds supporting the program and women entrepreneurs.
5. Sponsorships: Market and Pantry Sponsorship program where local businesses and organizations fund specific programs. One-month commitments available for sponsorship of Healthy Food Pantry or Market operations.
6. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding from foundations, businesses, community groups, and churches to support SECOM's food insecurity and resource programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SECOM Resource Center is a nonprofit community organization that delivers food security and community support services in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Its core offerings include a Healthy Food Pantry providing nutritious food to over 1,000 families monthly, a farm-fresh Market sourcing produce from local Michigan farms, a Community Garden with over 20 beds, a thrift store, and supporting programs including the Beads of Hope women's jewelry social enterprise and service learning partnerships with local colleges.

Product overview

SECOM Resource Center is a community nonprofit organization offering a coordinated suite of food security and community support services. The core offerings include the Healthy Food Pantry providing nutritious food assistance, The Market at SECOM farm-fresh market with local produce, and the Community Garden with over twenty beds for neighbor cultivation. Additional programs include a Thrift Store, the Beads of Hope women's jewelry social enterprise, internship opportunities (Market Internship, Community Resource Specialist Internship, Garden Assistant, Education Internship), Service Learning partnerships with educational institutions, and community partnership programs for resource tabling and workshops. These services work together to address food insecurity, provide economic opportunities, and empower families in the Grand Rapids 49507 and 49546 communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Healthy Food Pantry

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 families served per month at the Healthy Food Pantry
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Wells OrchardsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal farm supplying fresh produce to The Market at SECOM. SECOM purchases produce at full price from local farmers and resells at reduced cost to neighbors.
• Crisp Country AcresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal farm supplying fresh produce to The Market at SECOM.
• Carlson Arbogast FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal farm supplying fresh produce to The Market at SECOM.
• Rakowski FarmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal farm supplying fresh produce to The Market at SECOM.
• Visser FarmsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal farm supplying fresh produce to The Market at SECOM.
• New City Urban FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal urban farm supplying fresh produce to The Market at SECOM.
• Calvin College School of NursingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerService learning partnership where nursing students provide blood pressure and blood sugar screenings for SECOM neighbors. Students gain clinical experience while providing valuable health services to the community.
• Cornerstone University School of Social WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerService learning partnership where social work students assist in the food pantry to provide assistance for neighbors. Students gain hands-on experience while supporting pantry operations.
• Access of West Michigan Good Food SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit partner committed to increasing access to healthy, green, fair, and affordable foods for Kent County residents. Informs The Market at SECOM's decision-making.
• Michigan Good Food CharterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolicy framework partner informing SECOM's food systems work and commitment to equitable food access.
• Neland ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch partner hosting Pop-Up Pantry on 1st Tuesday of each month at 940 Neland Ave SE. No appointment needed; 12pm-2pm.
• Community of Christ - UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch partner hosting Pop-Up Pantry on 1st Thursday of each month. No appointment needed; 12pm-2pm.
• The Branch ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch partner hosting Pop-Up Pantry on 2nd Tuesday of each month. No appointment needed; 12pm-2pm.
• Exalta HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth partner hosting Pop-Up Pantry on Final Thursday of each month. No appointment needed; 12pm-2pm.
• West Michigan Farm MarketsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting Double Up Food Bucks program that matches Bridge Card sales up to $10/day in FREE Michigan Fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets.
• HealthNetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing temporary transportation to food pantries within Kent County for those without transportation. Contact: (616) 632-1015.
• Meals on Wheels Western MichiganminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing home-delivered meals for individuals 60+ years old who may be eligible for transportation and food assistance services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: National umbrella network for food banks including Feeding America West Michigan. Comparable as the broader incumbent in the same category, providing infrastructure and donor reach SECOM cannot match alone.
• Salvation Army of Kent County: National-affiliated, locally-operated social services organization with food pantry, thrift store, and emergency assistance in Grand Rapids. Closely comparable multi-program community services model.
• Food Bank Council of Michigan: Statewide association coordinating Michigan food banks. Operates in the same food assistance category but at a policy and aggregation level rather than direct service.
• United Way of Kent County: Grand Rapids-area social services funding intermediary. Operates in overlapping social services space with broader community focus and substantial donor infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Food Gatherers: Ann Arbor-area food bank and rescue program serving Washtenaw County. Comparable food assistance nonprofit operating a similar mix of distribution, pantry, and community programs.
• Degage Ministries: Grand Rapids nonprofit serving low-income and homeless populations with food, clothing, and resource navigation. Directly comparable as a neighborhood-based community resource center in SECOM's market.
• Gleaners Community Food Bank: Southeast Michigan regional food bank distributing food through partner pantries. Comparable food bank operating model serving food-insecure populations in Michigan.
• Access of West Michigan: Kent County-based nonprofit already partnered with SECOM, focused on healthy food access. Comparable mission and overlapping geography make it a close peer for food equity work.
• Mel Trotter Ministries: Grand Rapids-based community resource organization providing food, shelter, and wraparound services. Comparable as a faith-rooted, multi-program social services nonprofit operating in the same city.
• Feeding America West Michigan: Regional food bank serving West Michigan, including the Grand Rapids area. Directly comparable as a food assistance nonprofit operating pantries and mobile distributions in overlapping service geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/secomresourcecenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/secom_resource_center
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/secomresourcecenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SECOM Resource Center