Food insecurity rates are rapidly increasing across the United States and we’ve seen this to be true right here in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Continue reading
Kelly Reitsma
Investing in Senior Food Programs
A significant portion of the people we serve as your local food bank are seniors. Seniors can often have a more difficult time accessing the food they need due to factors such as limited finances or chronic health conditions. Continue reading
Providing Fresh Food to All Neighbors in Need
Multiple times a day, thousands of pounds of food are loaded onto our trucks and sent out to change the lives of hundreds of neighbors experiencing hunger. Food bank staff work together daily to keep our Mobile Food Pantry program running. They load up the trucks with a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, protein and baked goods, and then one of our drivers heads out to distribute the food with the help of our Mobile Pantry partners. Continue reading
Get to Know Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America
In September of last year, Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, took a trip to visit us here in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. She toured our warehouse, met with our staff and volunteers and rode in one of our trucks up to a Mobile Food Pantry in Sault Ste. Marie! We got the chance to ask her a few questions, so read on to get to know Claire! Continue reading
2024 Issue 1
In this Issue of Full Plate Press, you’ll learn about the significant increase in the need for food in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, and how you can take action today to join in the work to end hunger. You will also read about how the food bank is investing in food programs that benefit seniors in need, as well as how our Mobile Food Pantries prioritize providing fresh foods. At the end, you get to read an insightful interview with Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America the national organization. Continue reading
Prioritizing Fresh Produce on Mobile Food Pantries
Mobile Food Pantries are like farmers markets on wheels that provide supplemental groceries—including produce, protein, dairy, grains and more—to anyone in need at no charge. They are an effective avenue for distributing fresh, perishable food to those who need it. … Continue reading