Volunteers Pack 75% Of The Food We Distribute
IN 2021, OUR VOLUNTEERS
FRESH FOOD PACKING
Prepare and package food to be distributed through our pantries and Fresh Food Distributions to those in need.
Our Fresh Food Distributions provide, on average, 22 pounds of fresh produce, meat, dairy, bakery, and other fresh items to 140 families at each of our 100 sites! In 2021, we provided 5.8 million pounds of fresh items throughout our eight-county service area. By volunteering to pack food, you ensure families have healthy options and well-rounded meals!
CLEAN ROOM
Take bulk food items like cereal, frozen broccoli, or peanut butter and package them into smaller sealed bags for redistribution.
In 2020, we opened our Clean Room, a special space in our warehouse dedicated to repackaging bulk food donations into family-sized packages. One of the best things about this room is that it is temperature-controlled, meaning we can work with temperature-sensitive foods, like frozen produce, to provide our clients with a healthy range of foods to fill their tables.
FRESH FOOD PHARMACY
Help prepare boxes of food items for our Fresh Food Pharmacy Program, which provides clients with 20+ nutritious meals to help manage chronic illnesses.
For our Fresh Food Pharmacy, we partner with Grace Health to deliver these boxes directly to clients’ doors. By volunteering to pack these boxes, you’re helping your neighbors stand against their chronic illnesses and achieve health!
Food Pantries In Kalamazoo County See Growing Need As Food Costs Skyrocket Holidays Near
Kalamazoo County food pantries see increased need
KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI The number of families seen seeking food assistance has doubled over the second half of 2022, said representatives of two different food pantries in Kalamazoo County.
Our need really started to increase in June of this year, when inflation started to kick in, gas prices were really high, and just in general, a lot of coinciding factors happened that families found themselves really struggling to keep up, said Greta Faworski, associate director with Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes.
On average, Faworski said, the pantry has been serving about 600 people per day and has been registering 200 new families per month over the past six months.
What we are finding is, this is the first time a lot of people are coming to a food pantry or have gotten food assistance or maybe they havent been here for a long time, Faworski told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette.
And many of them are employed. Its just a lot of factors, the cost of everything, the cost of rent, the cost of food, obviously, at the grocery store has gone up tremendously, and they are just not able to stretch it that far.
Asking for help
The pantry, like Twelve Baskets in Portage, supports individuals with food insecurities across the county. For most, Faworski said, they dont become regular clients.
Keeping up
The pantry, which distributes food one day a week, allows its clientele to come as often as they need.
Mobile Food Pantry Schedule
This schedule is provided as a courtesy. It is not guaranteed to be error free, and may be updated or changed at any time, so use it at your own risk. If you spot an error in one of the listings, please . All Mobile Pantries are scheduled in Eastern Standard Time.
You can also find this information and many other food resources in map form on our Resource Map. If you have questions about a specific Mobile Pantry, please contact the host agency.
Many Mobile Food Pantry sites will allow you to pick up food as a proxy for another household that cannot physically attend. You will need to be prepared to provide the name, address and household size of any other family you are picking up for. Most Mobile Pantry sites have a limit on how many households you can pick up for and should tell you that limit if you ask.
Also Check: Second Harvest North Central Food Bank
Comerica Bank And Kalamazoo Growlers Food Drive Benefitting South Michigan Food Bank Generates Over 61000 Meals
Combination of community food donations and $10,000 in financial support from Comerica Bank helps combat food insecurity in Kalamazoo
KALAMAZOO, Mich., Aug. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The Comerica Bank and Kalamazoo Growlers Food Drive, which culminated during a pre-game ceremony prior to the Growlers home game on Friday, August 12, generated over 61,000 meals for the South Michigan Food Bank and will aid in the efforts to reduce food insecurity in the community.
“The South Michigan Food Bank supplies the Kalamazoo community with so much more than just food, they give second chances and hope to those that need it most,” said Debra Van Hevele, Comerica Bank senior vice president and regional retail director. “That’s what makes this partnered food drive so special. Comerica believes in supporting and investing in programs like South Michigan Food Bank that protect our community’s most vulnerable members.”
During the summer, Comerica Bank collected approximately 1,400 non-perishable food items at local banking centers and during Growlers’ home games. Additionally, Comerica Bank executives presented a $10,000 check to South Michigan Food Bank in support of its aid to the community.
Over the past four years, Comerica Bank has contributed more than $20,000 in financial support to South Michigan Food Bank, generating over 120,000 meals.
Volunteer Opportunities In The Kalamazoo Area
Here at South Michigan Food Bank, we love our volunteers and know the incredible impact of the gift of time. We also know that you want to serve your community by doing something youre passionate about. Thats why weve put together this list of volunteer opportunities in Kalamazoo County through your unique gifts and your generosity, you can change lives in the greater Kalamazoo area!
Senior Services
Senior Services Southwest Michigan is a private, non-profit that encompasses over 20 services that support the independence and well-being of older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers throughout Southwest Michigan!
Highlighted Opportunities
- Meals on Wheels: Deliver meals to homebound seniors and folks in need of nutritional assistance! Routes go out 10:30am1pm, MondayFriday.
- Home Repair Program: Build wheelchair ramps and accomplish minor home repair projects.
- Telephone Reassurance Program: Formerly Friendly Visitor, but adapted to be COVID-friendly, chat with seniors over the phone to provide some friendly conversation and companionship!
These opportunities are available in both Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties!
Visit seniorservices1.org/give/volunteer/volunteer-services to view all of the volunteer projects and apply!
Catholic Charities: Diocese of Kalamazoo
Mission We are Gods hands, providing housing, health, and hope to His children.
Highlighted Opportunities
YWCA Kalamazoo
Highlighted Opportunities
Communities in Schools
Highlighted Opportunities
Also Check: Oregon Food Bank Portland Or
Food Banks In Kalamazoo Mi
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How We Help Cure Hunger
Food and Personal Items Pantry
The Salvation Army Emergency Food Pantry is a practical way to address the basic needs of families and individuals turning to us for help. We currently provide emergency food and personal items.
Households in need may acquire food once every 90 days. The amount of food each household receives is based on the number of individuals in the home. Walk-in are welcome.
We always accept all types of non-perishable food items and personal items. Please be sure to check the expiration dates on all food prior to delivery as we do not give out expired food. We also need paper grocery bags.
Below, you can find a complete list of personal and food items that are needed in the pantry everyday:
| NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS |
Recommended Reading: Feeding America Food Bank Locator
Local Food Bank Prepares For Holiday Demands
KALAMAZOO, Mich. The holiday season is the busiest time of the year for local food banks, and here in West Michigan, Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes is preparing for the demand.
“We’re serving about 12,000 food orders every month, which ends up being being about 3000 unduplicated households that we’re serving every month,” said Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes Associate Director, Greta Faworski.
She said they expect that number to increase ahead of Thanksgiving and December. So for people who want to donate, the items they need most are “pop top” goods, which are anything that families can easily prepare.
“We have a lot of individuals who are living in motels, or maybe they’re in transitional housing and may not have real access to a big kitchen, or any kind of kitchen facility,” she said. “We also are always looking for kind of specialty items for things like almond milk, or anything that might be gluten free, because we have a lot of families that are struggling. And those items are so expensive.”
According to Western Michigan University professor Devrim Yaman, despite the currently high cost of groceries, the increase in prices is slowing down.
“Last month, the year to year rate was about 8.2%. But in October, that rate dropped a little bit. So the increase in consumer price index, but was 7.7%, lower than what we had expected,” Dr. Yaman said.
For families that still need to grab a turkey, Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes will be hosting a giveaway Nov. 21.
How Does A Food Pantry Work
Food Banks acquire large donations of edible but unmarketable food from the food industry and distribute it to organizations that feed hungry people. Then they provide this food to family in a need.
Our vision is simplebring financial security, dignity, and savings to the millions experiencing financial stress.
Quick Links
Read Also: Central And Eastern North Carolina Food Bank
What Is The Difference Between A Food Bank And A Food Pantry
Independent community food pantries are self-governing and usually distribute food to their clients on a once-a-month basis. A food bank is the storehouse for millions of pounds of food and other products that go out to the community. A food pantry functions as the arms that reach out to that community directly.
What We Do
South Michigan Food Bank provides a stable food source to eight south Michigan counties Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Hillsdale, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lenawee, and St. Joseph Counties. We distributed over 14 million pounds of food in 2020, and host volunteer opportunities daily to fight hunger in our community!
Don’t Miss: Who Takes Canned Food Donations