News Photo by Kayla On Monday, Hope Shores Alliance Advocacy Services Manager Tressa Snider is seen stocking shelves at the HSA Food Pantry. HSA, Sunrise Mission, Friendship Room, Resurrection Lutheran Feeding Kids, Salvation Army, Trinity Episcopal Food Pantry, Boys and Girls Club, Grace Lutheran Food Pantry, and the Alpena Community College Food Pantry will take part in the Support Local Heroes Fighting Hunger event on Sept. 20.

ALPENA — The League of Women Voters of Northeast Michigan (LWVNEMI) is hosting a Support Local Heroes Fighting Hunger event to connect community partners with donors and volunteers from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Alpena County Library.

League Vice President Elaine Stenger and League Pubilicity Director Deb Staeb told The News that the event is organized like an expo, and community partners will have the opportunity to set up tables where donors and volunteers can learn more about the needs of their organization.

“The idea of ‘How can we help?’ really was floating around the League, and so a team formed,” Stenger said, adding that about five or six people are on the project team. “We just wanted to brainstorm, ‘How can we help?’ and food seemed the most basic need.”

Stenger added that with the League’s connections with food pantries in the area, they learned of pantries facing an “increased demand or need.”

Stenger said the project team believes the increased need for food assistance in the community is due to the rural characteristics of Alpena County.

Stenger and Staeb said food pantries and food assistance programs will have tables at the event to secure contributions.

“The whole goal of this event is to help fund the food programs,” Stenger said. “This is about making contributions right to the food pantry and volunteering.”

Stenger said the League is asking representatives from the pantries and programs to bring “needs lists.” For example, if a participating organization needs volunteers, they should specify which times and days.

“We wanted specific asks from the pantries so that we could respond to them as much as possible,” Stenger said.

Staeb explained the event is open to the community.

“Anybody can participate,” Staeb said. “You don’t have to be a part of a group. You can come alone, you can come with friends. You can come with another organization and participate.”

Hope Shores Alliance, Sunrise Mission, Friendship Room, Resurrection Lutheran Feeding Kids, Salvation Army, Trinity Episcopal Food Pantry, Boys and Girls Club, Grace Lutheran Food Pantry, and the Alpena Community College Food Pantry will take part in the Support Local Heroes Fighting Hunger event on Sept. 20.

Stenger added that there is no deadline to reserve a spot at the event. She said the League will accommodate whoever wishes to participate.

Those interested should contact the League at events@lwvnemi.org.

MICHIGAN FOOD INSECURITY STATISTICS

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service grants households Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits up to 130% of the federal poverty guideline, and 165% where elderly and disabled members are part of a separate household. Per month, a household of four can make up to $3,380 per month at 130% of the guideline and $4,290 per month of the 165% guideline.

In Alpena County, 3,905 residents and 2,669 households received benefits, as of July 2024, according to the USDA. In total, Alpena County residents were issued about $1.3 million for SNAP benefits in 2024.

As of 2023, the USDA reported that about 16% of Michigan residents were living in poverty, with about 20% of Michigan children, ages newborn to 17, living in poverty.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.