Gleaner’s Community Food Bank (Livingston County)
This year has been challenging and humbling, but we are often reminded there is always something for which we can be grateful. As we come up to an unusual holiday season, we celebrate Gleaners Community Food Bank in Livingston County for their unwavering dedication to feeding those in need and addressing the increased demand without hesitation.
As an essential service provider, Gleaners Community Food Bank is ready to aid in any type of emergency—from a personal crisis to a nationwide recession to a global pandemic. By providing families with young children, working adults, seniors and other low-income populations access to nutrient-rich foods, Gleaners helps nourish our community year round.
Before the pandemic, one in five people in southeast Michigan struggled to find consistent access to healthy meals. In Livingston County, the number of food insecure people is on the rise—and it is estimated that an additional 9,500 individuals are at risk as a result of the current crisis.
Gleaners has become a lifeline to thousands of households deeply affected by health and economic hardships. Since March, Gleaners has delivered 2.7 million pounds of food in Livingston County through their programs and services as well as continued support of 25 partner agencies.
Mission Nutrition Livingston is one such partnership. Together with the Livingston County Hunger Council, this effort helps reach food insecure students and their families. When schools first closed due to COVID-19, Mission Nutrition Livingston launched a county-wide response to ensure that the local school communities did not go hungry. Monthly mobile food pantries in Fowlerville, Hartland, Howell, and Pinckney continue to provide nutritious groceries to families in need, following Gleaners’ safety protocols, including masks and social distancing.
Gleaners’ Fresh Market program at its Shared Harvest Pantry has increased access and frequency to nutritious foods in Livingston County. Anyone in need can visit the Fresh Market every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. and 5:00–7:00 p.m., to receive fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs, and more. For more information on times and locations please visit https://www.gcfb.org/mobiles/.
Through this hard work and dedication, Gleaners has distributed nearly 2.25 million meals from October 2019 to September 2020 in Livingston County . And this work is not finished. Winter will bring even greater challenges, icy roads, increased heat costs, and more uncertainty for food insecure families. Gleaners will remain a reliable resource for the Livingston community and a beacon on the path to recovery ahead.
As we enter the holiday season, we express our deep gratitude to the Gleaners staff and volunteers for their commitment to feeding the community. These food heroes are critical support for our local community, no matter what it takes.