The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan Board of Directors is pleased to announce the completion of the new Hunger Solution Center. More than 700 donors contributed to the project, including corporations, foundations, local businesses, hospitals, labor, faith organizations and individuals.
“Not only did we meet, we exceeded the goal of $5.25 million to bring the total to over $6 million, including in-kind gifts,” said Claude High, Board President. “The goal of the capital campaign will enable the Food Bank to support more, to educate more, to engage more, and most importantly to feed more.”
The entire community came together over 18 months to fight hunger with the new Hunger Solution Center, which opened this spring, according to Bill Kerr, President and CEO of the Food Bank.
“The building became a gift to engage the community in hunger relief,” said Kerr.
With new and growing relationships among farmers, the focus on fresh produce and nutritious product will be elevated. The newly renovated building creates a larger and safer work area for volunteers to repack produce into family size bags, providing more fresh food to the hungry through the Food Bank’s network of 415 partner agencies. There is excitement seeing the production kitchen up and running, already serving over 3,000 meals daily for many children.
The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan distributed over 25 million pounds of food in 2014 through partner agencies in its network. These partners include church pantries, soup kitchens, community centers and others who join to distribute food and host children’s programs for their neighborhoods.
Currently more than 6,000 children at 130 schools receive weekly take-home backpacks of meals in 21 counties and the Food Bank hosts Summer Food Service at 72 sites during summer when school is out. Additionally, Kids Cafe, an after-school feeding program serves over 2,400 meals a day. All of these agencies and programs will benefit from additional fresh produce for their clients.