Food Bank of Eastern Michigan
Food insecurity is a familiar issue for Michigan residents, regardless of the county they reside in. The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan caters to a significant portion of these individuals, particularly in our Northern and North Central Regions. While our headquarters are based in Flint, our mission extends across 22 counties, spanning from St. Clair to Cheboygan.
According to a national census, our service area comprises over 1,400,000 citizens, with 15% of them grappling with food insecurity. Among these numbers are 35,030 individuals who live north of Gladwin County (including Arenac). Given the substantial demand from these predominantly rural areas, it is crucial that we leverage our partnerships with various agencies to address this need.
One such agency, The Hillman Lions Club, has been actively enhancing their community service initiatives. Through grants and donations, they have expanded their equipment inventory, acquiring a new freezer and, notably, installing new doors for their distribution center.
Barb Durflinger, Treasurer and Chairperson of the Mobile Pantry Program, explains the necessity for the new garage doors: "We needed to replace our sliding doors, as they would often get blocked by accumulated snow during winter, causing delays in distributions.” The new electronic doors resolve this issue by opening vertically, eliminating the need to clear a pathway.
Another valued partner, Styma Potato Farms, generously donates their misshapen and aesthetically imperfect produce to the Food Bank at no cost. Located in Posen, Styma operates as growers, packers, and shippers of professionally graded potatoes year-round.
Erwyn Styma, co-owner of the farm, along with his wife Carey, elaborates on their operations: "We grow, store, and process graded potatoes for 10 to 11 months annually, shipping them in retail and food service-sized containers nationwide."
When asked about their partnership with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, Carey attributes it to her mother-in-law, Yvonne. She explains, "[Yvonne] sought an outlet for our cosmetically challenged potatoes and eventually connected with Terry Nix, Vice President of Food Sourcing and Logistics for the Food Bank. Together, they devised a plan to package and distribute these potatoes to individuals and families in need."
Our team will also partner with Michigan State University on a new hunger study for 2024. In this project, MSU representatives will travel to various distribution sites to collect data on food insecurity. These visits are scheduled between late May and September of this year, with the MSU team conducting the survey. It's worth noting that some of our northern agencies, such as the Otsego County Food Pantry and the Roscommon County Food Pantry, will play a crucial role in the study and serve as capture/recapture sites.
Additionally, MyMichigan Health has established a new food pantry at their Alpena Family Medicine Clinic. They are also in the process of setting up a pantry at their West Branch site. During each visit, patients are asked to identify their Social Determinants of Health, including food insecurity. If anyone identifies as food insecure, they will receive a bag of supplemental, shelf-stable items, along with a list of other local food outreach resources.
Ultimately, MyMichigan Health aims to develop this program into a fully operational “Food Farmacy” serving the entire MyMichigan network. Each respective city will offer healthy options tailored to specific diets and restrictions identified by patients' medical providers. This program marks the first of its kind in northern Michigan.
Keeping a watchful eye over our northern regions are Outreach Manager Courtney Holmes and Outreach Coordinator Katie Bondie. These two wonderful employees cultivate and maintain strong relationships with our partner agencies (as well as the public). Should issues ever arise, Courtney and Katie serve as our points of contact and “problem solvers” to make sure that our friends up north are given the prompt care and attention they deserve. They truly are invaluable assets to our team.
In conclusion, the issue of food insecurity affects a significant portion of Michigan residents, prompting the vital intervention of organizations like the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. Partnerships with agencies like The Hillman Lions Club and Styma Potato Farms highlight collaborative efforts to fight hunger, while MyMichigan Health's new and upcoming pantries and the hunger study with Michigan State University signify ongoing commitment to addressing food insecurity. Additionally, the dedication of our team members helps to underscore the importance of fostering strong relationships with communities in need. Ultimately, these collective efforts aim to improve access to nutritious food, marking significant progress in combating food insecurity throughout eastern Michigan.
The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) located in Flint, Michigan. Details can be found at www.FBEM.org or by visiting them on Facebook. A calendar of food distributions can be found at www.fbem.org/find-food. The Food Bank is an equal opportunity provider.