Food Bank Of Eastern Michigan Inc

THE FOOD BANK OF EASTERN MICHIGAN'S MISSION IS TO BE THE FOOD SOURCE FOR PEOPLE IN NEED. PARTNERING WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO FEED THE HUNGRY, WE ADVOCATE AND BUILD A COMMUNITY SOLUTION TO A COMMUNITY PROBLEM. BY LEVERAGING AN ABUNDANCE OF PRODUCT FROM A MULTITUDE OF SOURCES, WE "CHANGE THE FACE OF HUNGER."

AS THE LEADING HUNGER RELIEF ORGANIZATION IN EASTERN MICHIGAN, THE FOOD BANK OF EASTERN MICHIGAN SOURCES AND DISTRIBUTES FOOD, BOTH PURCHASED AND RESCUED TO FOOD INSECURE RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT OUR 22-COUNTY SERVICE AREA. COLLABORATING WITH 700 HUNGER RELIEF PARTNERS, SUCH AS; FOOD PANTRIES, SOUP KITCHENS, SCHOOLS, SHELTERS, AND HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES, THE FOOD BANK IS A VITAL COMPONENT IN THE BATTLE AGAINST HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY. THE FOOD BANK IS A CONTRACT RECLAMATION SITE WITH EIGHT CORPORATE RETAILERS (ALDI, DOLLAR GENERAL, COSTCO, KROGER, MEIJER, SAM'S CLUB, TARGET AND WALMART) VIA 227 STORE LOCATIONS; AND PROVIDES DISASTER RELIEF MOBILE DISTRIBUTIONS DURING PUBLIC EMERGENCIES. TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNERS, WE DISTRIBUTE NUTRITIOUS FOODS, INCLUDING FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, PROTEIN, DAIRY AND SHELF-STABLE OPTIONS SO OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED CAN CREATE WELL-BALANCED MEALS. IN 2021, 43 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD SUPPORTED NEARLY 200,000 PEOPLE. THE FOOD BANK HAS SOLIDIFIED ITSELF AS THE "FOOD SOURCE" IN EASTERN MICHIGAN AND HAS BECOME THE AUTHORITY OF ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE HUNGRY. SINCE THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC IN EARLY 2020, THE FOOD BANK OF EASTERN MICHIGAN HAS SEEN AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 40% IN NEED FOR SERVICES. ACCORDING TO THE MOST RECENT CENSUS HOUSEHOLD PULSE SURVEY, NEARLY 10% OF AMERICANS HAVE REPORTED THEY "SOMETIMES- OR "OFTEN" DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT. CURRENT INFLATION RATES ARE CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN FOOD, FUEL AND HOUSING EXPENSES. FOR MANY AMERICANS, THESE COSTS MAKE UP ABOUT 30-40% OF THEIR MONTHLY BUDGETS, HOWEVER FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, THESE COSTS MAY BE CLOSER TO 60% OF THEIR MONTHLY INCOME. HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY DISPROPORTIONALLY AFFECTS THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, OFTEN LEAVING CHILDREN AND SENIOR CITIZENS WITHOUT CONSISTENT ACCESS TO FOOD. OUR NETWORK OF HUNGER RELIEF PARTNERS, MOBILE DISTRIBUTIONS AND FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS SUCH AS; SENIOR BOX, SCHOOL BACKPACK, AND CHILDREN'S FEEDING PROGRAMS WORK TO BRIDGE THESE GAPS AND PROVIDE NUTRITION FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST.