A recent Feeding America study projects that by the end of 2020 the number of individuals facing food insecurity in Washtenaw County could rise by more than 40% overall, and for children specifically, the food insecurity rate could rise by 103%. Food Gatherers network of food pantries and grocery distributions throughout the county is and will continue to be a critical resource for families and children who are hungry.
When school starts this fall, free meals provided by the schools since March will end for some at-risk children – those too young to attend school and newly food insecure children because of the pandemic – and change in scope for others. This is because a federal waiver that provided free food to all children when the schools closed has expired and there will be a shift back to school meal programs that provide food for enrolled students only. Food Gatherers is working closely with school districts to make sure that kids have access to the healthy food they need to learn and grow. This may include supplementing school meal distributions with produce and groceries, providing food for a grocery distribution in a school that is open, and ensuring that local food pantries and grocery distributions are able to meet the need.
About Food Gatherers
Food Gatherers is the food bank and food rescue organization serving all of Washtenaw County. This includes Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Twp., Ann Arbor, Saline, Chelsea, Dexter, and Milan. In fiscal year 2020, Food Gatherers provided enough food for more than 18,000 meals every day, roughly 7.8 million pounds of food a year! Food Gatherers operates the Community Kitchen in the Delonis Center in Ann Arbor, serving shelter residents and community members in need of a meal. Food Gatherers supplies the food distributed through 170 partners in hunger relief including food pantries, grocery and produce distributions, and meal programs for food-insecure families and individuals in Washtenaw County. Food Gatherers is a publicly supported non-profit which depends on our community for donations of food, money, and volunteer time. Last year, more than 5,500 people volunteered to help Food Gatherers fight hunger where we live. Food Gatherers is among the top 1% of charities that have earned 15 consecutive four-star ratings from Charity Navigator for strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.
Do you need assistance?
If you or someone you know needs food, Food Gatherers and their partner pantries will help anyone who needs groceries. Please visit www.foodgatherers.org/needfood to see a list of pantries and their hours or call Food Gatherers at 734-761-2796. Outside of Washtenaw County call 211 for food assistance.
How you can help those in need
When you support Food Gatherers, you support the collection, inspection, and distribution of healthy food throughout Washtenaw County to feed your hungry neighbors. You are feeding hungry children, adults, seniors, and veterans in all 6 cities and 20 townships of our County. Make a gift online at www.foodgatherers.org/families or call to make a credit card donation, 734-606-0753. You can also donate by check made payable to Food Gatherers and mailed to Food Gatherers, 1 Carrot Way, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; please note Food for Families in the memo line. Find details on other ways to help including volunteering and hosting your own virtual fundraiser at www.foodgatherers.org/covid19.
