Food is perhaps one of life’s most basic necessities. Without it, children have difficulty learning and adults struggle to concentrate, limiting their productivity and ability to keep employment. Ensuring individuals have the food they need to survive is a critical first step in helping them get a proper education or become financially stable.

In the past year, unemployment rates in Southeast Michigan have doubled. With that, the need for food is increasing at an alarming rate.

What we’re doing

United Way recognizes the urgent need to provide immediate relief, as well as the long-term changes that must be made to improve the food delivery system as a whole so that it can best meet this growing crisis.

We have convened partners in the government, corporate and nonprofit arenas to pursue a long-term redesign through a roadmap for relief today but also sustained change in years ahead.

We’re focusing our work on three key areas that will help our region better respond to the food needs of individuals and families.

Increasing utilization of current programs. Each year, millions of dollars in unclaimed meals are left on the table in our region. These meals come to the region through school-based and summer nutrition programs, ensuring school age children are fed year-round.

We are working to increase awareness about these programs and streamline the application process so that more kids can get nutritious meals.

Supporting the food distribution system. We’re working with organizations like Gleaners and Forgotten Harvest to increase their capacity to get food into the hands of Southeast Michigan residents. In addition, we’re working to bring client-choice and mobile pantries to communities throughout the region, providing better food options for families in need.

Expanding programs to serve more people. Food assistance programs, like food stamps or school-based nutrition, are dependent on income levels. As unemployment continues to rise, more and more families are struggling to put food on the table. Federal programs must be adjusted to meet the growing need and we are working with state and federal legislators to make these policies a priority.

Our Results

• We helped feed 6,000 additional children through the free summer lunch program run by the USDA.
• Ford Motor Company has donated 5 transit connect vans that are helping us expand food distribution in our region.

Our Partners
We’ve received support from the following organizations:

• Bank of America
• Ford Motor Company
• Kresge Foundation
• W.K. Kellogg Foundation