50 years, 50 stories: Story #28 Food Gatherers

Fighting Hunger Where We Live

For 25 years Food Gatherers, Michigan’s first food rescue program, has been working to alleviate hunger in Washtenaw County. Just in the last year the agency distributed more than 5.45 million pounds of food to a network of 150 local community programs that provide hot meals and emergency groceries - feeding thousands in need. Its Community Kitchen at the Delonis Center served 105,286 healthy meals and provided hands-on job skills training to at-risk youth. And helping to make it all possible are more than 5,500 community volunteers that pitch in to support Food Gatherers’ efforts. 

Over the years, more than $355,000 in grants from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation have helped Food Gatherers expand their programs and facilities. Grants have supported a new strategic plan and funded efforts to measure food insecurity among low-income residents. A recent grant helped the agency launch its new Healthy School Pantry Program. President and CEO Eileen Spring notes, "From the beginning AAACF has been an important partner and catalyst in supporting our strategic planning and investing in innovative programming. AAACF has helped us evolve from a supplemental provider of food assistance to a major convener of hunger relief services in our community." 

One of the many ways the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation
supports all that is good in our community.

Read more "good" stories at: aaacf.org/stories