Images Courtesy of Gleaners
In Southeast Michigan, over 700,000 households rely on food distributions from Gleaners Community Food Bank to address food insecurity. Gleaners and several others are dedicated to providing access to healthy, nourishing food for those in need. The issue of hunger does not discriminate, and it is crucial for everyone to actively participate in solving this pressing problem.
As Detroit gears up to commemorate Hunger Action Month, the Metro Detroit area will focus on a week-long initiative addressing food insecurity. From September 2 to 8, Hunger Awareness Week will bring together the community for fundraisers and food drives—National Food Bank Day on September 6. The goal is to unite Metro Detroit residents’ efforts to confront the escalating hunger crisis and support local organizations dedicated to ensuring access to food for those in need.
Image courtesy of Gleaners
Kristin Sokul, Gleaners’ Senior Director of Advancement Communications, Marketing, and Media/PR, emphasized the significance of September as Hunger Action Month and highlighted the collective effort of the entire community to raise awareness about the true nature of food insecurity, which transcends individual identity and location.
“We know that it (food insecurity) lives in every community that we serve, and so helping others understand some of what households are facing in their own neighborhoods, the difference that they can make, and helping remove some of the stigmas about what it means to get help, because by and large, we’re not an organization who is serving needy people who are a problem to be solved, Sokul said.
“We believe that every person is worth investing in. And when we make sure that households are Hunger Free, it strengthens our communities overall.”
Addressing a Persistent Crisis
Despite ongoing efforts, food insecurity remains a pressing issue in Detroit, with nearly one in three residents affected. Hunger Awareness Week seeks to bring attention to this crisis, encouraging residents, businesses, and government leaders to take action. Local food banks and non-profits, including Gleaners Community Food Bank and Forgotten Harvest, organize events to provide meals to those in need while raising public awareness.
“In our last fiscal year, we (Gleaners) served almost 800,000 households, and we operate in a five-county area of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, and Livingston. We also work closely with Forgotten Harvest within Wayne, Macomb, and Oakland, where Forgotten Harvest is a food rescue,” Sokul explained.
Community Engagement and Events
The month-long effort will include a variety of community activities:
Food Drives: Donation points will be set up across the city, allowing residents to contribute non-perishable food items to help stock local food pantries.
Volunteer Opportunities: Organizations will host special volunteer days, inviting Detroiters to assist in sorting, packing, and distributing food to underserved neighborhoods.
Gleaners Volunteers, Image Courtesy of Gleaners
Calls for Long-Term Solutions
While Hunger Awareness Week and the month provide immediate relief, they also remind us that long-term solutions are necessary. Food advocates are calling for increased investment in food access programs, urban farming initiatives, and better wages to lift families out of poverty. Hunger Awareness Week aims to foster hope and action, reminding everyone that fighting hunger is a responsibility the entire community shares.
Gleaners is deeply engaged in addressing the ongoing crisis from various perspectives. For the past 14 years, the ‘Mow Down Hunger’ program has been instrumental in the fight against hunger. Additionally, the matching gift campaign has played a crucial role in ensuring that children returning to school can access nutritious food.
The Weingartz family, owners of a lawn equipment provider, is the match sponsor for the ‘Mow Down Hunger’ campaign to provide meals for students and families during Hunger Action Month. They generously match donations of up to 1 million meals.
“We have our Mow Down Hunger campaign that operates in tandem with Hunger Action month, and what’s great about that is we’re very focused again on making sure that we’re taking care of students and families as they go back to school. But because of the Weingartz’s, they match up to 1 million meals,” Sokul said.
When an individual donates one dollar, their contribution has double the impact. Typically, every dollar received can provide three meals, considering purchasing power and the quantity of donated food. However, with the matching donations, each dollar can provide up to six meals, doubling the impact of each contribution.
“So when you’re thinking about kids, just for easy math, you’re feeding a child for two entire days with that $1, so it really is a great opportunity for someone to have an impact, no matter what their financial capabilities.”
For more information on how to donate and to sign up to be a volunteer, visit www.gcfb.org
About Post Author
