Funds Used To Expand Produce Capacity With Refrigerated Trailer
(June 16, 2017 – Detroit, MI) … The Morgan Stanley Foundation, through Feeding America, has awarded Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan (Gleaners) a $25,000 grant that will help improve the food bank’s produce capacity. Grant funds purchased a refrigerated trailer that increases Gleaners’ capacity to source fresh fruits and vegetables, and provides a mobile unit that will be used to pick up and distribute fresh produce throughout southeastern Michigan.
“We are so grateful to the Morgan Stanley Foundation for their generous support of our efforts to increase Gleaners’ capacity and reach more people with nutritious, fresh produce,” said Gleaners President Gerry Brisson. “The foundation’s continued support allows Gleaners to ensure that children and families have the nourishment they need to thrive.”
Since 2009, the Morgan Stanley Foundation has partnered with Feeding America to provide more than
$13 million in charitable funding, planning advice, volunteering and nutritious meals. Their Produce Capacity Grant supports investments in sustainable solutions that better enable the growth of non-retail produce programs.
These awards build on the Morgan Stanley Foundation’s longstanding commitment to children’s health. Feeding America also serves as a lead national partner in the United States for Morgan Stanley Healthy Cities, an initiative that brings together national and local nonprofits to create a linked network of nutritious food, safe play spaces, and wellness education and health screening for children and families of communities in need.
“We are proud to continue our commitment of providing fresh produce to kids and families and to ensure that they get the essentials for a healthier life,” said Joan Steinberg, Global Head of Philanthropy at Morgan Stanley and President of the Morgan Stanley Foundation.
Lack of refrigeration space forces Gleaners to occasionally turn down produce offered by local farms. They agency will use the new trailer as additional cooling space when parked at their main distribution center in Detroit and it will increase their capacity to source fresh produce, augmenting the current cooling space at their warehouses. Gleaners will also use the mobile trailer to increase their transportation ability, allowing future participation in the Feeding America regional produce cooperatives.
About Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan
For 40 years, Gleaners Community Food Bank has been “feeding hungry people and nourishing our communities.” Last year, Gleaners distributed more than 38 million pounds of emergency food to over 534 partner schools, soup kitchens, shelters and pantries in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Monroe counties. Of every dollar donated, Gleaners uses 95 cents for foodand food programs. One dollar provides three meals for a hungry neighbor. For more information, visit www.gcfb.org
About Feeding America
Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
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