When Small Conversations Spark Big Change
Nonprofit Love Thy Neighbor and the power of two small words: “Let’s talk”
The first thing most people notice when they walk into Love Thy Neighbor in Traverse City isn’t the stacks of hand-assembled layettes or the line of donated walkers and wheelchairs. It’s the feeling, an unhurried calm that suggests whoever just arrived isn’t an interruption, but the reason the place exists at all.
Matt Chapman, CEO of Love Thy Neighbor, says that nearly every day starts the same way: with a phone call or someone appearing at the door, unsure what to expect, apprehensive to ask for help. Last year, that happened thousands of times.
“Most people think they need just one thing,” Chapman says. “A crib. A gas card. A referral. But once we sit down and start talking, we usually discover the story is much bigger.”
That’s where Love Thy Neighbor does its real work: listening, connecting, and walking alongside people who may feel like they’re carrying their entire world on their shoulders.
From One Room to a Community Anchor
Long before Love Thy Neighbor became the bustling support hub it is today, it started with something much simpler—a handful of volunteers responding to neighbors who were struggling.
The early days were small and informal. A few dedicated community members stocked diapers, gently used clothing, and baby blankets in a spare room at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Word spread quickly: If you needed help, you came here. No paperwork. No hoops to jump through. Just people helping people.
As the stories multiplied and more families came looking for support, it became clear that the need had grown far beyond what a few volunteers and a storage room could sustain. Requests were increasing—strollers, car seats, hygiene products, emergency supplies—and families were showing up with challenges that stretched far beyond baby gear.
The organization needed room, structure, and independence.
That’s when Love Thy Neighbor took the step to become an independent nonprofit, allowing it to expand its services, apply for grants, form partnerships, and build a more formal support system. What began as a small ministry evolved into a full-fledged community resource still driven by compassion, but now equipped with the tools to offer sustainable, long-term help.
Chapman says the move to independence didn’t change the heart of the organization. If anything, it sharpened it. Love Thy Neighbor would continue to meet immediate needs, but it would also begin walking alongside families long after the crisis passed.
A Legacy Built on Listening
Once the nonprofit was established, more than 13 years ago, the next major chapter came with Tony Nelson, who stepped into leadership as CEO with no idea how transformative the experience would be.
“I was so shy when I started,” Nelson recalls. “I didn’t even like talking on the phone.”
As he sat with parents in crisis, caregivers stretched too thin, and single moms starting over, something shifted. Nelson realized the work wasn’t about handing out items, it was about giving people space to breathe.
“Once you’re here, you’re part of this place,” he says simply.
Under Nelson’s guidance, Love Thy Neighbor expanded far beyond its early roots. It became a broad network offering transportation support, a growing hygiene pantry, emergency rent and utility assistance, a medical loan closet, life-skills classes, mentorship matching, holiday support programs, and its crib ministry, which continues to serve dozens of families annually.
Before long, Love Thy Neighbor was helping more than 1,700 families a year. But Nelson’s legacy isn’t measured in numbers. It’s measured in the names and faces.
There was Ariel, who came in for a crib years ago and is now a friend and steady volunteer. “She wanted to be a stylist,” Nelson remembers. “We helped pay for cosmetology school, helped her get licensed. Now she comes over every month to cut my hair.”
There was Mario, who became a biking partner after Nelson loaned him one of his electric bikes. And Mamie, a single mom of five who found herself suddenly alone and overwhelmed.
“It’s not about the service,” Nelson says. “It’s about connection. You don’t forget each other.”
The work is steady and quiet, but it changes people, the families, the volunteers, and those leading the movement. “The biggest change I’ve seen here is me,” Nelson says. “If you’re trying to help people grow, you end up growing too.”
A New Chapter, Same Heart
When Nelson officially stepped back in July of this year, he worried the handoff would be difficult. Instead, the first time he met Chapman, he knew immediately the mission was in good hands.
“When I interviewed him, I saw his passion immediately,” Nelson says. “I knew he was the right person.”
Even after stepping down as CEO, Nelson now serves as the organization’s accountant and a loyal volunteer.
Chapman brought a fresh perspective and the same deep respect for showing up. He still calls families personally. He still asks questions until he understands the full picture. And he still starts every interaction with the same invitation: “Let’s talk.”
Last year alone, those conversations led to: $14,700 in car repairs, 365 people receiving medical equipment, over 900 families using the hygiene pantry, and dozens of families receiving holiday, food, or emergency rent support. In total, Love Thy Neighbor allocates more than $85,000 each year in direct assistance.
If you are in need, looking to volunteer, or just want to hear the words “Let’s talk,” contact Love Thy Neighbor at (231) 941-5683 or visit lovethyneighborgt.org.
By the Numbers
Based on 2024 data, here is the impact of Love Thy Neighbor in the Grand Traverse Region and beyond.
Annual Reach
3,250 phone calls and in-person visits
2,305 referrals to partner agencies
1,746 families supported across all programs
Transportation Support
Car repairs: $14,742.56 (47 families)
Gas cards: $4,500 (141 families)
Wellness Programs
Hygiene pantry: $6,025 (937 families)
Medical loan closet: $769.23 (365 individuals)
Family Basics
Crib ministry: $8,736.95 (66 cribs)
Home appliances: $1,246.22 (6 families)
Adopt-a-Family Christmas: $19,900 (46 families)
Thanksgiving food certificates: $1,125 (25 families)
Christmas food certificates: $1,125 (25 families)
Guidance & Skill Building
Mentorship: $14,225.56 (12 individuals)
Budget program: $200 (16 participants)
Healthy cooking class: $765.54 (21 participants)
Crisis Response
Emergency rent/utility support: $12,458 (39 families)