Food gatherers’ volunteers fight hunger

by Pam Hennigan
Contributor

As the school year draws to a close, for many of us this means beaches, vacations, summer jobs, or time spent relaxing. For many children in Washtenaw County this means missing out on a meal that would have been provided through a free or reduced-cost school lunch program.

With images of hungry children on TV, many people think child hunger is a faraway problem. But the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports 1 in 6 children have food insecurities, that only gets worse when school is out for the summer.

In Washtenaw County, the nonprofit organization Food Gatherers leads anti-hunger efforts, supplying food pantries and procuring millions of pounds of food a year through rescue, donation and other activities.

Headquartered on Ann Arbor’s north side, Food Gatherers has many partners who all work together to fight hunger in our communities.

Major event in June

The organization puts on two large fundraising events during the year. One is coming soon.

Known as Grillin’, the event is a summer picnic fundraiser happening this year on June 10, from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds on Ann Arbor-Saline Road, near Wagner Road.

Grillin’ is a celebration of the role culture plays in the community, said Markell Miller, MPH, the director of community food programs, at Food Gatherers. “Supporters and volunteers come together with staff and share the values surrounding the event, and everyone has a great time.”

Live music, great food, cash bar, and children’s events makes this fundraiser a family event. There is a raffle and silent auction. This event takes place rain or shine.

Grillin’ and an end-of-year event, Rockin’, support activities that let Food Gatherers provide 5.4 million meals to community members in need.

One effort addresses that summer gap in school lunches.

Food Gatherers has a Summer Food Service Program, said Miller who has been with the organization since 2013.

There is a Meet Up and Eat Up, which is funded by the USDA through the Michigan Department of Education. Food Gatherers sponsors about 40 sites in the Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Whitmore Lake areas. In addition, Food Gatherers provides training at community sites such as public libraries, to provide meals and financial needs, through fundraising and grants.

Many college kids are also eligible for food assistance. Food Gatherers partners with WCC, Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan to help provide a network of services for students. There has been an increase of awareness and visibility, and now it is being measured in an effort to better provide for students in need.

Getting involved

Students can also help. Food Gatherers has many ways to volunteer, whether at a fundraising event, working at the warehouse, or riding along to pick up donations.

Community members can also organize food drives with friends or other organizations. (A group of Community High School students raised $60,000). Miller said $1 can provide three meals. “No amount of money donated is too small.”
Advocacy is another powerful way to help.

There is still stigma around food assistance, said Sara McDonnell, communications coordinator of Food Gatherers. And there are a variety of reasons for the negativity. “There is an appeal to a political perspective, and grossly exaggerated bad examples” she said. “People tend to think they are far removed from thinking they will ever need this help. It is not someone who is lazy or who wants to take advantage. We are helping prevent a disaster from getting worse.”

Talking to friends and family, learning about the issues and asking questions of lawmakers all help.
While food banks like Food Gatherers are important, they simply fill in the holes where the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program—or SNAP ­­—does not reach.

“For every one meal Food Gatherers provides, SNAP provides 12,” said Miller. “Food Gatherers is a critical resource for many people, and if SNAP was taken away, we would not be able to meet that need.”
food resources

• grillin’ | june 10, 3–8 p.m.
Advanced tickets are $75 for adults and $10 for children.
At the door: $85 for adults and $10 for children.

• more information on food gatherers
http://www.foodgatherers.org

• on snap benefits
https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap

• food security info from wcc’s bailey library
http://libguides.wccnet.edu/foodjustice/foodsecurity

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to correct the name of the USDA-funded program Meet Up and Eat Up. 

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