When MiMi Rankin began working for the Health Project in 1997, she asked why one of their programs, Making Men of Character, couldn’t also serve women. Soon, the program was renamed Men & Women of Character and MiMi was tasked … Continue reading
Friends of the Food Bank
“A lot of people chip in” — small pantry in Negaunee on-call to serve
When Billy and his wife Yasna, a nurse’s aide, moved from Marquette to Negaunee recently, their change in circumstance made it difficult to put food on the table. A friend suggested they check out their local St. Vincent De Paul, … Continue reading
A retired chef now uses Mobile Pantry food to create home-cooked meals
Sheila knows how to cook a great meal. Before she retired and returned home to the U.P., she worked in Minneapolis as the food service manager at an assisted living facility. In this role, she stocked the kitchen, came up … Continue reading
Librarians are nourishing kids through Library Lunches to Go
Kids who receive free or reduced-price lunches during the school year can’t always access enough food at home in the summer. That’s why Feeding America West Michigan is running Library Lunches to Go in partnership with the Kent District Library … Continue reading
Lake County “grandfamilies” find support at St. Ann’s
In the mid-1900s, Idlewild was a booming resort town that offered wealthy African Americans a summer getaway. Then, integration broadened these vacationers’ options, leaving Idlewild with a diminished economy. Today, Lake County towns like Idlewild and nearby Baldwin are still … Continue reading
“Food is the best way to love people” — two Marquette women share help and hope
Justina and Jenny share more than a membership at Marquette’s Silver Creek Church; they also share a history of having at times faced hunger. Right now the women are on opposite sides of the Mobile Pantry line, but both are … Continue reading