DETROIT, Nov. 9 2020 – Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan has received a $81,500 grant from the Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation (Dresner) in support of the food distribution programs at the Mercado Food Hub in the Ford Resource and Engagement Center located in southwest Detroit.
In addition to funding food distributions through the existing food pantry at the Mercado Food Hub, Dresner is also supporting the new Fresh Market Pantry at the Ford Resource and Engagement Center. This new initiative provides weekly distribution of nutritious, highly perishable foods most requested by food insecure households in the area.
“Gleaners is so grateful for Dresner Foundation’s continued support,” says Gerry Brisson, president and CEO. “This generosity allows our team to deliver heightened levels of nutritious healthy food to households hit hard by the effects of the pandemic. Together, we are delivering much more than food. We are providing greater stability, health, and empowerment to our neighbors who are struggling with so much due to the current crisis.”
Foundation funds would support the food provided through two different models at the Food Hub:
Client-Choice Pantry: Provides nutritious and culturally appropriate food to eligible families residing in the area around the Southwest FREC location. Families and seniors are eligible to receive 150 pounds of food at their scheduled appointment time.
Fresh Market Pantry: A once weekly additional distribution of fresh produce and dairy available without appointment and during convenient evening hours. Fresh Market Pantry is open to all members of the public who are eligible for food assistance, including Mercado clients. After launching in June 2020, Fresh Market Pantry at the Mercado serves an average of 275 households every week, providing approximately 50 pounds of fresh healthy foods, including fruits, vegetables, milk, cheese and eggs.
About the Dresner Foundation
The Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation is dedicated to transforming lives in profoundly positive ways through grants focused on health, youth and family, and animal welfare. At the Dresner Foundation, we believe in working with organizations in our focus areas to create opportunity, have community impact and promote well-being.
To better serve communities during the COVID-19 outbreak, the Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation has realigned its grantmaking strategy for the remainder of 2020. The Foundation will prioritize supporting organizations that are addressing urgent needs of impoverished and vulnerable youth, families, and individuals. Supported programs will address basic needs, such as food access, housing insecurity, and financial assistance for essential needs and services. For more information, visit dresnerfoundation.org.
About Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan
Headquartered in Detroit, Gleaners operates five distribution centers in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Monroe counties and provides food to more than 500 partner soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and other agencies throughout southeast Michigan. Each year, Gleaners distributes more than 45 million pounds of food to neighbors in need. Every dollar donated provides three meals and 92 cents of every donated dollar goes to food and food programs. With increased food insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gleaners estimates more than 80 million pounds of food will be distributed by the end of 2020 through new emergency response efforts and continued support of community partners. For more information, visit gcfb.org.