Reducing Food Insecurity in Mid Michigan

KELLY WILSON, Director of Community Partners

These organizations are creatively fighting hunger in their communities.

The Coronavirus pandemic ended a decade long downward trend in US household food insecurity. According to Feeding America, 45 million people were food insecure (lacking consistent access to enough culturally relevant food for an active, healthy life) in 2020. These numbers have improved slightly in 2021, but it is estimated that 43 million people will still be food insecure this year. In Michigan, 14.2% of our population is currently experiencing food insecurity.

HIDDEN HARVEST, Saginaw

Putting Good Food to Good Use

Hidden Harvest rescues perishable food and redistributes it to those in need in the Great Lakes Bay region. Early in the pandemic, school and restaurant closings put large volumes of food at risk of being wasted and Hidden Harvest worked quickly to redirect it to their 181 partner emergency food sites. Over the course of 2020, they redistributed 3.3 million pounds of food, a 32% increase from 2019.

In addition to rescuing food, Hidden Harvest also distributed fresh produce from local farms. “One of our favorite relationships is with a local farmer who grows sweet corn for us. This year he connected us to a few more farms so we’ll have even more to distribute next season,” says Samantha McKenzie, Hidden Harvest President and CEO.

To learn more, visit hiddenharvestshares.org

GREATER LANSING FOOD BANK GARDEN PROJECT, Lansing

Snail Mail Seeds

The Garden Project provides access to land, resources, and training to empower folks across seven mid-Michigan counties to grow healthy food and community.

Without their in person events this past year, the Garden Project turned to the USPS to reach the community. In April, they mailed 1,100 free seed orders that reached 5,139 individuals. They also distributed 4,000 “Garden to Go” bags to 48 partner pantries to provide easy to grow vegetable seeds and instructions to pantry users.

The Garden Project impacted many new gardeners in 2020 with their creative outreach. "This was my first time successfully growing my own food and I am so proud that I was able to do this. I know I will continue to build on this first experience and hope to continue to be able to share my excess produce with my neighbors and local free food stands," says one participant.

To learn more, visit greaterlansingfoodbank.org

EDIBLE FLINT, Flint

Control through Gardening

Edible Flint improves food access while fostering connection to the land and the community. They operate a demonstration farm and provide hundreds of garden kits to Flint residents each year.

Last year, they distributed 350 garden kits to area residents. Each kit plants a 1500 square foot garden to provide most of the vegetables for a family of four during the gardening season. Kits can be purchased with SNAP and come with garden coaching.

“Gardening is something that you can control,” says Ge'von Collins, Edible Flint’s 2020 Americorps Service member. “And, in a time where our lives were turned upside down, Edible Flint’s Garden Kits provided Flint residents with direct control over their own food security.”

To learn more, visit edibleflint.org

NEED FOOD OR KNOW SOMEONE THAT DOES?

Call 211 (or visit mi211.org) to find resources

Check your eligibility for SNAP food assistance by visiting newmibridges.michigan.gov