The Rotary Clubs of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor North, and Ypsilanti are one again partnering with Food Gatherers to fight hunger in our community! The Rotary Fights Summer Hunger Spring Food Drive, will begin March 1 and will run throughout the month. They invite local businesses and organizations to collect funds and non-perishable food items to help alleviate hunger in our community. The Club’s goal is to collect enough food and funds to provide 150,000 meals for children and families in Washtenaw County.
The ROtary Club encourages people to double their impact and take advantage of a matching opportunity by the Harold and Kay Peplau Family Fund. Any donation of $25 or more will be matched 1:1 up to $10,000. That means that a gift of $25 will be doubled and provide 150 meals for hungry children and families in Washtenaw County.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused food insecurities in our community to rise dramatically since March 2020. Feeding America estimates that overall food insecurity in Washtenaw County has risen by 37%, while child food insecurity has risen by 101%. With continued school closures and/or hybrid attendance, high unemployment, and uncertainty about our economic recovery, food insecurity levels will remain elevated into 2022. This makes efforts like ROtary FIghts Summer Hunger vital for our community.
Community members are invited to donate financial gifts and non-perishable food items during the campaign. Here is how:
- Donate online at foodgatherers.org/rotary
- Drop off or mail checks to this 1 Carrot Way, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. Please make checks payable to “Food Gatherers” and put “Rotary” in the memo line. Warehouse hours are Monday through Friday, 9am to 4:45pm.
- Bring food donations to the Food Gatherers Warehouse at 1 Carrot Way, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. Warehouse hours are Monday through Friday, 9am to 4:45pm.
Most needed items include low/no-sodium, high-protein products, low/no-sodium hearty soups, canned fruit, baby food and formula, Ensure, or other supplemental nutrition drinks. This also includes canned or dried beans, tuna, chicken, or peanut butter.
To learn more about the Food Gatherers, check out their website. To learn more about local Rotary clubs, check out their website.
