Winter is a tough time for families in need and sometimes they face tough choices: Pay for skyrocketing heating bills or put food on the table? For some, it means going without food to make sure their family stays warm during the brutal Michigan winter.
These
economic tradeoffs take a toll on our hungry neighbors, and more than
670,000 people in our community are food insecure. The From Hearts to
Homes campaign offers much-needed support to families and individuals in
need, and comes at a good time right after the holidays. Kroger and
Gleaners teamed up on the food drive this past January, and resulting in
the collection of 94,405 pounds of food. That’s the equivalent of
78,670 meals for hungry families in southeastern Michigan!
There
were several opportunities for people to contribute. Kroger shoppers
were encouraged to purchase $5 or $10 From Hearts to Homes bags filled
with nutritious groceries including protein and rice that are later
delivered to families in southeastern Michigan. Volunteers also stepped
up to help Gleaners serve more families, including the Metro Detroit
Young Professionals Kiwanis Club, who helped collect donations at the
Troy Kroger. They collected eight grocery carts worth of food in the
first shift alone!
Since 2012, Kroger and Gleaners
have partnered each January on the food drive held throughout the month
at 95 Kroger stores in Wayne, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, and Livingston
counties. The From Hearts to Homes campaign is part of Kroger’s Zero
Hunger | Zero Waste initiative to end hunger and food waste in
communities Kroger serves by 2025.
Thanks to our wonderful volunteers and fantastic partner Kroger for all you do to help our hungry neighbors!