Right now, life has changed for everyone. With schools and businesses closed, many people across southeast Michigan are in sudden need.
The team at Gleaners is working around the clock to distribute food to our hungry neighbors during this difficult time. Our existing food distribution to hundreds of partners and schools continues, and we have added new services to safely and efficiently distribute emergency food across our communities.
In the past week, Gleaners launched more than 35 new drive-up mobile food distribution sites in response to the state of emergency. The additional locations served an average of 275 families per site—more than 10,500 in total as of March 27. Each family receives 36 pounds of nutritious emergency food. Site coordinators help direct the flow of each drive-up food distribution in order to serve each car quickly and safely while adhering to social distancing recommendations. Guests are asked how many families are in need, and food is placed directly in the trunk or backseat.
Gleaners’ goal is to have more than 55 new sites operating by the end of March, with several sites distributing each day.
The extraordinary support from our partner agencies, new site coordinators and team members has ensured our distribution sites run smoothly and our hungry neighbors are well taken care of.
If you need help: Call 2-1-1- to be connected to an emergency food assistance nearest you.
Visit our food distribution page for more information about Gleaners’ drive-up sites.
To support these increased efforts, Gleaners has dramatically extended our hours of operations. Our employees are stepping into new roles and meeting the increase in need with care and compassion.
Our partners are also adapting their services to safely and effectively reach their communities. Gleaners is honored to work alongside many incredible organizations and individuals who make sure their families are fed.
“For many, it’s a really scary time. If we can provide families with confidence and hope to get through this—that means a lot.”
–Heidi Brombrisk, Kids Helping Kids Program Coordinator
“Some of the population we are serving are people I have never seen in my life. It just goes to show that people are in need. They are coming out in great numbers and traveling great distances to get support.”
–Michelle Cade, Service Worker at FOCUS: Hope and Site Coordinator for Gleaners’ School Food Mobile
As an essential service provider, Gleaners will remain a stabilizing force for families and our partners in this great time of need. And you can help! Here are a few ways to help feed kids, families and seniors in your community:
Make a Donation
Monetary gifts help us collect food and ensure distributions continue to make it to those most in need.
Create a Virtual Food Drive
Start Virtual Food Drives and help Gleaners access our most needed items.