Hi there, It’s Peter, CEO at South Michigan Food Bank. This summer, our neighbors are spending 11% more on groceries, meaning that ⅓ of their budgets are allocated to acquiring food for their families. They need all of us now more than ever. At our Food Bank, we’re spending 50% more on food than we …
Like food banks across the nation, South Michigan Food Bank faces a challenge: higher demand, lower resources. Supply chain interruptions and limited availability of bulk donated food mean that we are spending 50% more on food than we were pre-pandemic to fill that gap. In South Michigan, more than 150,000 people are experiencing hunger and …
A flourishing community depends on healthy connections and healthy lives. In the warm months, South Michigan Food Bank reinvests in the local community by acquiring fresh produce from local farmers to put in our fresh food boxes at Fresh Food Distributions. These partnerships support local and mean that the groceries we give our neighbors in …
April, Volunteer Month, is one of our favorites here at South Michigan Food Bank. This April, 294 volunteers dedicated 990 hours to pack 15,000 fresh food boxes and 3,000 pounds of cereal in our Clean Room for families in South Michigan! By filling fresh food boxes, repacking bulk items into family-sized packages, and sorting food, …
When COVID-19 was declared a pandemic nearly two years ago to the day, South Michigan Food Bank knew that we had to continue feeding people while keeping them as safe and healthy as possible. Our response was a community effort — donors, volunteers, and community partners all worked together to ensure no one in South …
Reflections on 2021 from our CEO, Peter Vogel The holiday season is a time that allows us to slow down and reflect more on our neighbors, our challenges, and our role in helping our neighbors transform those challenges into successes. As we head into this season here at the Food Bank, I’ve been reflecting on …
Food desert: an area that lacks easy access to affordable, nutritious food Much of South Michigan Food Bank’s service area is made up of these food deserts. Living in these areas could mean driving long distances to a grocery store, having limited methods of transportation, stretching the groceries at home to last longer between trips, …
South Michigan’s Desert | featuring Tekonsha’s Fresh Food Distribution Read More »
Last month, we shared the career paths of one of our drivers, John, and our Volunteer Manager, Alex. Today, we’re sharing the stories of our two Mikes: Mike McNamara, Inventory Manager, and Mike Glew, Logistics & Facilities Manager. Enjoy! Mike McNamara, Inventory Manager When Mike graduated from college in the 70s with a degree in …
Hands Behind the Hunger Fight: Our Paths to the Food Bank — Part 2 Read More »
There’s an unspoken pressure when you enter the workforce after high school or college graduation that you’re beginning an immutable career — it’s a message to make your first stepping stone count because it will be the type of business you’re in until you can comfortably retire in your 60s. But as I entered the …
Hands Behind the Hunger Fight: Our Paths to the Food Bank Read More »
Sometimes healthy eating can seem restrictive, but here at the Food Bank, we’re big believers in a well-rounded diet with healthy foods that we genuinely enjoy. (And, of course, some treats. After all, one of our favorite days of the week is cookie Tuesday — remember, it’s all about balance). Check out these healthy eating …