The grants were awarded by the Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan Agent Charitable Fund (ACF), and funds will be used to replenish food due to the power outages so the organizations can continue serving neighbors in need.

Beginning on March 28, and in some areas, lasting through March 30, northern Michigan experienced impactful winter weather with extreme and severe ice accumulation. This weather has created significant impacts to critical services throughout the region; in particular, widespread power outages including loss of backup generators, loss of phone and cell services and impassable roads due to downed trees and other debris. Nonprofit organizations with impacted hunger-relief programs were nominated for emergency grants by their local Farm Bureau Insurance agent and selected by a committee of ACF donors.

Farm Bureau Insurance agent Jason Barbeau nominated Hope Shores Alliance and Trinity Episcopal Church for the emergency grants.

Barbeau said that Trinity Episcopal Church serves hot meals weekly, called Sunday Suppers, and was overwhelmed by the amount of people without power coming in. He added that the pantry at Hope Shores Alliance was helping supply food to children in need while schools were closed during the weeks after the storm.

Courtesy Photo Pictured, from left, Robert Barrigar, agent/owner of Robert Barrigar Agency, presents a check for $2,500 to Carol Rundell and Ellen Eagan for Trinity Episcopal Church, which provides Sunday Suppers as well as a food pantry.

Farm Bureau Insurance agent Bobby Barrigar nominated Alpena Childcare and Development Center for the emergency grant.

“The Alpena Childcare and Development Center’s food pantry sustained a loss of all of their food for school kids in Alpena,” Barrigar said. “They were one of the first ones back open and feeding kids in need. This money will help the pantry continue to give out food.”

The ACF, whose mission is to end hunger in Michigan, is a donor-designated fund administered through the Michigan Foundation for Agriculture. The Michigan Foundation for Agriculture, a nonprofit governed by Michigan Farm Bureau’s board of directors, positively contributes to the future of Michigan agriculture through leadership and educational programming. Through grant programs like Feeding the Future, Farm Bureau agents, clients and partners provide food and educational programs to Michigan residents struggling with hunger and aid the more than 3,000 hunger-relief agencies throughout the state.

Courtesy Photo Pictured, from left, Robert Barrigar, agent/owner of Robert Barrigar Agency, presents a check for $5,000 to representatives from Alpena Childcare and Development Center.