Food Bank Council of MI distributes to food banks
LANSING, MI – Recognized for its commitment to global health, the Pfizer Foundation recently awarded a $500,000 grant to the Food Bank Council of Michigan to provide emergency food during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Pfizer Foundation funds come as demand on state food banks are at an all-time high. The grant allows the Food Bank Council’s network to distribute emergency food to hungry Michiganders. This is a critical time as businesses remain closed and families struggle to make ends meet.
“This public health crisis has created an unprecedented need for emergency food,” said Dr. Phil Knight, executive director, Food Bank Council of Michigan. “The Pfizer Foundation’s generous grant means those who are facing food insecurity will have one less thing to worry about during these tremendously difficult times.”
The Food Bank Council represents Michigan’s seven regional food banks. This network provides food to all the state’s 83 counties.
Each food bank received a portion of the Pfizer Foundation grant. Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan received $102,410 to assist its emergency food efforts.
“People across our state are accessing food assistance for the first time in their lives. Our team at Gleaners is working expanded hours to serve additional households through drive-up distributions, emergency food box deliveries, and more,” said Gerry Brisson President and CEO at Gleaners. “This support helps our entire food bank network continue to be a stabilizing force for our neighbors in need.”
Last year, the network distributed 205 million pounds of food, with over 80 million pounds consisting of fresh produce. The COVID-19 public health crisis, however, has generated an unprecedented need for emergency food.
For more information on the Food Bank Council of Michigan’s response to COVID-19, visit https://www.fbcmich.org/covid-19/.
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Founded in 1984, the Food Bank Council of Michigan was created to implement a unified strategy to address and alleviate hunger statewide. FBCM works with its regional food banks and over 2,800 hunger relief agencies, private companies, farmers, state and federal officials, and other allies to make sure no Michigander goes without food.