Communities gear up for holiday food bank collections
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LANSING - As the holiday season is fast approaching, food banks in Michigan are gearing up for the busiest time of the year.
In Detroit, a holiday food drive is already on the calendar. According to its website, WDIV-TV (Channel 4) is partnering with Capuchin Soup Kitchen for its annual "Thanks & Giving" event on Nov. 11.
This drive will collect donations for holiday food boxes, including canned vegetables, gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, stuffing, macaroni and cheese and pie supplies.
Another event is "Rockin' for the Hungry," according to Danielle Wyman, the communications and public relations officer at Food Gatherers in Washtenaw County.
Rockin' for the Hungry is a "five-day radiothon aiming to raise 1.5 million meals for neighbors facing hunger," said Wyman.
According to Food Gatherers' website, the event will be broadcast live with Ann Arbor's WQKL-FM 107 One, and the food and proceeds will help county residents facing food insecurity.
Food banks such as Feeding America West Michigan, for example, are working to make accessible mobile pantries available. Mobile food distributions allow organizations to bring groceries directly into communities where transportation is limited.
According to its website, Feeding America West Michigan, based in Kentwood, has a mobile pantry schedule which covers communities including ones in Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa and Berrien counties.
Food pantries in the Upper Peninsula also gain donations through two big events.
WLUC-TV 6 in Negaunee hosts an annual "Canathon," which is part of a major regional event spanning the UP.
According to Kathy Juetten, a Pelkie resident and St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry volunteer, the Canathon is a great way for the community to donate to food pantries.
Juetten said, "The food that you gather in your area stays in your area, whether that be for St. Vincent de Paul or the Salvation Army."
Juetten also mentioned another event, "Stuff a Blue Goose", where the State Police work with grocery stores to fill an old patrol car with donations such as food, toys and school supplies. Often people purchase a food bag from the store and bring it outside to the old patrol car where it is collected and donated to food pantries in that county.
"The local grocery stores ask us what we are low on," said Juetten. "They make up packages that people can buy, and then the troopers have their cars out front and bring the food from those donations over to St. Vinny's."
Volunteers play a critical role in helping food banks and pantries operate, according to Denise Donahue of the Food Bank Council of Michigan.
Volunteers sort and pack food, prepare boxes and help with distribution, and there are opportunities for drivers, office support and volunteers with specialized skills.
The holidays are important times for community support, according to Donahue.
"We encourage people who want to connect with their local food bank to see what opportunities are available," Donahue said, "whether that's making a donation, volunteering or supporting a local campaign."