COMSTOCK PARK, Mich., June 17, 2020 — The Pokagon Fund is a longtime supporter of Feeding America West Michigan’s Mobile Food Pantry program and will provide 24 food distributions for neighbors in Berrien County this year. In total, 60,000 meals worth of nutritious food will end up on the plates of neighbors facing hunger in Chikaming, Three Oaks and New Buffalo Townships.
Sustained by the Four Winds New Buffalo Casino, the Pokagon Fund’s vision is “that all residents who live in areas surrounding the Pokagon Tribal Lands will thrive.”
Ensuring families have enough to eat is integral to this vision, especially in Berrien County, which has one of the highest rates of food insecurity in the food bank’s 40-county service area.
Last year, 1 in 7 neighbors in the county faced hunger. The COVID-19 crisis has made it even more difficult for many to make ends meet. As a result, 1 in 5 are projected to experience hunger this year. Children are even more at risk. Last year, 1 in 6 faced hunger, but in 2020, 1 in 4 is expected to struggle.
Fortunately, these neighbors can receive the food they need to thrive at Mobile Pantries sponsored by the Pokagon Fund. Details about these distributions is available here.
About Feeding America West Michigan
Serving local families in need since 1981, Feeding America West Michigan reclaims safe surplus food from farmers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers. That food is distributed through a network of more than 800 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other hunger-relief agencies in 40 of Michigan’s 83 counties from the Indiana border through the Upper Peninsula. For more information, visit FeedWM.org or call 616-784-3250.