A host of families in Southeast Michigan won’t have to question where their next meal is coming from in a crisis thanks to Gleaners Community Food Bank and generous donations from residents.
Volunteers from Kroger and the National Association of Letter Carriers came together Monday to sort and pack thousands of pounds of donated food collected during the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive.
The campaign is held the second Saturday in May and has been going on since 1993, according to Angela Halverson, director of community giving for Gleaners. A few days before the collection, letter carriers provide residents with special bags that contain information about Stamp Out Hunger.
On the designated date, those participating put the bags on their porch and the letter carrier delivers the regular mail and picks up the donation and it goes to their respective branches.
Gleaners and postal vehicles take the food to partners and pantries in participation. Halverson said the support for the campaign has been trending upward.
“We have a huge partnership with Kroger and the NALC,” she said. “There had about 40 volunteers. They are a great group of people.”
They packaged the boxes at the Gleaners location in Taylor on Monday. Even a day after the volunteers began sorting and boxing donations, there was still loads of food to package.
“I imagine by the end of the week we should have it all done,” Halverson said. “It takes a good chunk of time. That’s a good problem to have.”
Last year it is estimated about 600,000 pounds of food was collected throughout the entire campaign.
With food prices on the rise, Halverson said this is really going to help those families facing food insecurities and are making some difficult decisions.
In addition to rising food costs, she noted that schools, which provide breakfast for children, will be out for the summer soon.
The timing for the donation is good, she believes.
Gleaners has a place on its website where some recipients of the food have expressed their gratitude for the program and those who have donated.
Some say the opportunity to get food came at a crucial time for their family.
Halverson added there are testimonials from clients posted and positive, they always want to make sure they are “treating clients with dignity” acknowledging that “any of us could be in their position.”
Since 2010, Gleaners and neighboring agencies have received more than 14.3 million pounds of food through the Stamp Out Hunger food drive, providing essential meals to families in need.
The initiative is just one of the many ways Gleaners and its partners to help provide nutritious meals reach local families facing food insecurity, especially those with children who rely on school lunches as their primary source of nutrition.
Gleaners serves five Southeast Michigan counties, including Wayne, and provides food to nearly 350 partner agencies such as schools, soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, and others across the region.
Anyone interested in finding a food pantry for some assistance can visit Pantrynet.org and put in their zip code. The appropriate selection can be made from there for the type of service that is needed.
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