Working together to end hunger in Southwest Michigan is only possible with the generosity of local organizations and their devotion to helping their community. Among our many partnerships, the Pokagon Fund in New Buffalo and the United Way of Southwest Michigan in St. Joseph stand out for their long-term commitment to reducing food insecurity.
United Way of Southwest Michigan
For over 80 years, the United Way of Southwest Michigan has drawn people together to help their community. In addition to supporting efforts against food insecurity, they focus on education, financial stability, and health, centering on Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained and Employed (ALICE) residents. ALICE is the term used to refer to people who work full-time but struggle to cover their living expenses. Approximately one in five Berrien County residents fit this description.
“Everything that we do has to help ALICE stay out of poverty, or lift ALICE into a higher threshold,” said Anna Murphy, President and CEO of United Way of Southwest Michigan. “When people have access to food, they can use their financial resources for something else. Housing, transportation, all of these things continue to be a challenge in any community. When you’re looking for food, these other things become so big. I always want to solve all of those issues and put myself out of a job.”
In addition to funding mobile food pantries in the area, United Way of Southwest Michigan partners with businesses to offer the School Supply Spectacular in Cass County, supports the OutCenter of Southwest Michigan, the Samaritan Counseling Center mental health service programs, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Southwest Michigan, and so much more.
The Pokagon Fund
The Pokagon Fund is a private organization supported by revenue from The Four Winds Casinos, which is owned by The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi. Since 2007, the Pokagon Fund has worked hard to serve the needs and enhance the lives of residents in Southwestern Berrien County as well as Hartford, Dowagiac, and South Bend, Indiana.
The Pokagon Fund supports a wide range of services and nonprofits, municipalities, and school districts. They support Neighbor by Neighbor, a basic needs and utility assistance and self-sufficiency organization, as well as the 60-mile Marquette Greenway, the Red Arrow Linear Parkway, backpack supply giveaways, arts and cultural programming, and more.
Dan Petersen, The Pokagon Fund’s executive director, emphasized the importance of helping to eliminate food insecurity in the community.
“Food insecurity is everywhere,” he said. “A lot of people think of New Buffalo and Three Oaks as a more affluent community, but there is still a lot of need, especially as costs rise for food and other basic needs. I think food and housing are the foundation for success. We want to make sure that folks have those basic needs met. Just having that consistent food source for people is extremely beneficial.”
He also credits the success of the efforts against food insecurity to meaningful local partnerships.
“One of the success stories is the volunteerism that we’ve seen in order to pull this off,” he said. “We have great partners in the Harbor Country Rotary Club, the Episcopal Church of the Mediator, Harbor Community Church, and the New Buffalo American Legion. They’re really the superstars of our programming.”