Food Gatherers in Ann Arbor were recently awarded a Dresner Grant worth $100,000, which will go a long way toward being able to help ensure people have food on the table.
The Dresner Grant is going to be used for emergency food purchasing. With inflation increasing food prices, this grant comes at a time that is needed the most. Not only does rising prices have an impact on what individual consumers can purchase, but it also greatly impacts food pantries in the community.
The Dresner Foundation previously helped Food Gatherers in 2020 during the height of COVID-19 with emergency relief funds, including a healthy school pantry program and a Food Gatherers community kitchen. This foundation is more than food; it also gives grants to focus on health, youth, and animal welfare.
Food Gatherers relies the most on financial donations as that allows for flexibility to purchase specific food needs for Washtenaw County residents.
“Food Gatherers relies on food donations from individuals and businesses, but we also purchase food to fill the gaps in donations and meet our nutrition policy goal of distributing 60% fresh produce and protein,” said Lauren Grossman, communications coordinator at Food Gatherers.
Rising prices affect every aspect of food bank operations, including purchasing and transporting food.
“Grocery prices increased by 11.4% in 2022 and many of our neighbors turned to their local food pantry or meal program to help fill the gaps. Food Gatherers continues to provide essential support to children, adults, and seniors in need but we are also seeing increased prices for the food and operational resources needed to ensure food access for our neighbors facing hunger,” Grossman said.
This grant helps Food Gatherers source and distribute food through a network of 170 hunger-relief partners, including Swoop’s Food Pantry, located on the campus of Eastern Michigan University. The financial support the grant has provided helps ensure that every resident in Washtenaw County has access to healthy food.
Visit the Food Gatherers website if you need food assistance in Washtenaw County or wish to help other county residents who are in need.
