The Frederick S. Upton Foundation grant to fund Berrien County Mobile Pantries over next three years

Two Mobile Pantry volunteers pose behind a line of food.

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich., June 29, 2022 — The Frederick S. Upton Foundation granted $36,000 to Feeding America West Michigan in support of their Mobile Food Pantry program in Berrien County. This grant will help provide funding for Mobile Pantries for three years.

Last year, the food bank brought 144 Mobile Pantries to the county. Each distribution provided 4-5 days’ worth of supplemental groceries — including fresh produce, dairy products and other food — to neighbors experiencing food insecurity. Funds like those provided by the Frederick S. Upton Foundation ensure the food bank can continue to run this program in the county.

Berrien County Mobile Pantries are run by numerous host sites, including churches, schools and community centers. Dozens of community members volunteer their time to make each food distributions possible.

“Feeding America West Michigan relies on donations from organizations like the Frederick S. Upton Foundation to continue bringing Mobile Pantries to neighbors facing hunger in Berrien County and to the rest of Southwest Michigan,” said the food bank’s foundation relations manager, Jacob Sabourin. “We’re incredibly grateful for their consistent support of our mission.”

About Feeding America West Michigan

Serving local families in need since 1981, Feeding America West Michigan reclaims millions of meals’ worth of safe, surplus food from various sources. With the help of countless volunteers, the food bank sorts, stores and distributes this food through a network of more than 700 partners to fill hundreds of thousands of neighbors’ plates instead of landfills. The food bank’s service area consists of 40 of Michigan’s 83 counties from the Indiana border north through the Upper Peninsula. For more information, visit FeedWM.org or call 616-784-3250.

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