Bridge the Gap - Feeding America West Michigan

Food insecurity has risen sharply in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula – with no end in sight

Food insecurity has been increasing quietly in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula since 2021.

Why? The cost of living has increased faster than people’s ability to keep up. Wages and retirement funds have failed to keep pace, and more neighbors than ever are making tough choices between paying bills and buying food.

As a result, demand for charitable food has increased 70.7 percent since 2021.

At the same time, federal food resources are being cut.

This scenario is a brewing perfect storm. Join us as we work to avoid a scenario where the food bank is unable to meet demand and people in our state go hungry.

Join us today. Learn more. Support our work.

Illustration of a food truck that is partially colored in with "$150,000 left!" written above it.

Rolling toward our goal!

When you partner with us to Bridge the Gap, you ensure that our neighbors have enough nutritious food. When our neighbors are equipped with nutritious food, they are prepared to learn, work, grow, and lead healthy lives. Don’t miss this chance to provide meals and hope!

Demand has risen 70.7 percent since 2021.

50,000 more neighbors struggle to put food on
the table this year.

Federal food sources and funds were cut.

BTG funds: What are they being used for?

Panelists speak at Feeding America West Michigan’s Bridge the Gap Town Hall kick-off. A display screen shows a pie graph that details the allocation of campaign goal funds. Our ambitious goal to raise $1.5 million through our Bridge the Gap...

Neighbors thrive with the supportive community provided by our partners

Neighbors who turn to food pantries for help often become highly effective volunteers TrueNorth Community Services lives the motto posted on a sign at the entrance: “Good Happens Here!” When our neighbors turn to our partner agencies for food assistance,...

Agency partners link Feeding America West Michigan to neighbors with food and friendship

Cheryl Youngquist, right, takes the time to know and build friendships with volunteers, staff and neighbors who turn to Love in Action in Grand Haven for food assistance. During a winter mobile food distribution, Cheryl hugs Doris, a friend of...

Food bank takes action to Bridge the Gap

Feeding America West Michigan hosted a virtual town hall-style panel discussion to kick off Bridge the Gap, a campaign to prepare for a looming increase in demand for charitable food. Town hall panelists shared the impact of pending federal changes...

Volunteers and “the last mile”

Volunteers at a mobile food pantry at Discovering Christ Church in Muskegon County. Every day, volunteers at fixed and mobile pantries come face to face with the need for charitable food throughout West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. For four...

We thank local farmers for partnering with us to end hunger

First-generation farmer Maria Case riding on a tractor with her child. Maria and her husband Trevor worked with Feeding America West Michigan to provide local pork products for our neighbors through LFPA. A federal program to purchase locally grown food...

Food pantry visitors come from all walks of life

John relies on food from mobile food pantries to stretch his Social Security retirement as far as possible because it’s no longer enough to cover all of his expenses. Most visit to fill periodic gaps when their funds won’t stretch...

Forecast: Need for food will rise in 2026 and beyond

A volunteer prepares for a Mobile Food Pantry distribution at Northland Church of Christ in Grant. Attendance at mobile food pantries is at record levels, and Feeding America West Michigan is preparing for even higher demand in 2026 due to...

Despite strong economy, 1 in 7 lack nutritious food

Neighbors line up to wait for the start of a recent Mobile Food Pantry drive-through distribution in Hamilton. Charitable food system is stretched and unprepared for a surge in demand A crisis of food insecurity has been growing quietly throughout...