A Hunger Free Summer for Southeast Michigan

Children who rely on school meals haven’t had access to those meals since mid-March and approximately half a million of our neighbors in Southeast Michigan, who are now unemployed, have seen their resources strained for months. Seniors and other at-risk neighbors – including veterans, health care patients, new mothers, disabled and formerly homeless individuals and others who have limited mobility to secure food for themselves – have faced decreased access to resources and community. As millions of households across Michigan have lost income, the price of groceries grew, further increasing household stress.

This is where Gleaners, through the support of donors like you, steps in:

Emergency Food Distribution Sites:
Gleaners is continuing to operate approximately 70 emergency distribution sites across Southeast Michigan, from urban to rural regions, serving about 300 households at each site through the summer. These sites offer balanced nutrition – including fresh milk, fruits, vegetables, lean protein and shelf-stable items – with no appointment necessary and built on a “no contact” model. Most of these sites operate every two weeks, 5-6 per day, Monday through Friday (and alternating Saturdays).

Summer Food Service Program and School Food Mobiles:
From June through August, Gleaners will host its Summer Food Service Program and School Food Mobiles at sites across Southeast Michigan to maintain the food support families and kids have come to rely on in summer months when school is out.

Food Boxes for Vulnerable Neighbors:
To help seniors and other at-risk neighbors, Gleaners is building food boxes – made possible through a partnership with the Food Bank Council of Michigan and statewide Area Agencies on Aging – to ensure limited mobility and isolation do not prevent necessary nutrition. These food boxes provide enough nutritionally balanced shelf-stable foods for more than 20 meals.