A Hunger Free Summer for Southeast Michigan
Generous donors match your gift to help neighbors in sudden need
For 10 years, the Hunger Free Summer matching gift campaign has played a critical role in providing millions of meals over the summer to kids while they are out of school. This year, the Hunger Free Summer Plus campaign must meet an even greater need as Gleaners has become a lifeline for more neighbors across the region affected by school and business closures for community safety.
Gleaners is dedicated to serving as a reliable food resource for our communities, as it has for more than 40 years, and will continue its expanded food distributions through the summer. To support our communities at this increased level, we need your help now.
Citizens Bank, Toni Wisne Sabina Foundation, GM, Ford and other generous donors will match all gifts, doubling your ability to provide a Hunger Free Summer for Southeast Michigan. Every dollar given provides SIX meals for children, families, seniors and other vulnerable hungry neighbors, some of whom have never needed support before and otherwise wouldn’t know where to turn.
Our Partners
Underwriting Partner and Match Donor
Match Donor Supporters
Additional Support
Working to Meet the Need
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.
Ways to Donate
Donate Now:
You can donate right now to give our neighbors a Hunger Free Summer:
- Securely online by clicking the button below:
- By mail to 2131 Beaufait, MI 48207.
(Please include “Hunger Free Summer” on the memo line.)
Join the Food Fight:
By participating in the Hunger Free Summer Food Fight, you can help give our neighbors a Hunger Free Summer. The Food Fight is an annual food and fund collection in which organizations throughout the tri-county area compete against teams within their division to raise the most meals.
Help Fundraise:
You can create your own fundraiser on Facebook to get friends and family involved in Hunger Free Summer.
Latest News Towards A Hunger Free Summer
Gleaners Launches Summer Food Service Program to Provide a ‘Hunger Free Summer’ for Local Kids
Summer meal sites begin serving kids in need on July 1.
More ›General Motors Supports School Food Mobiles at Nine Local Schools
Gleaners is honored to receive the support of General Motors during this urgent time of need. For many years, General Motors has provided funding and given time to support Gleaners’ efforts to end childhood hunger.
More ›