Food Gatherers Announces $50,000 Matching Gift Challenge

By The Ann Arbor Independent Editorial Team Last updated Mar 2, 2014 0

A LOCAL ANONYMOUS donor has offered to match, dollar for dollar, financial gifts made to Food Gatherers up to $50,000 through Monday, March 31. With the match in place, donations to Food Gatherers of one dollar will provide enough food for six meals.

To have your financial gift matched, simply make a donation to Food Gatherers between now and March 31. Individuals are encouraged to make their gift online by visiting www.foodgatherers.org/donate. Check donations should be postmarked by March 31 and mailed to: Food Gatherers, P.O. Box 7971, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-7971. For questions about the match, please call (734) 761-2796.

Food Gatherers is celebrating 25 years fighting hunger in Washtenaw County. The organization estimates that it has provided 60 million pounds of food to the people the organization serves.

According to Food Gatherers officials, more than 46,850 individuals are “food insecure” in Washtenaw County, including 10,060 children. Food Gatherers officials estimate that more than 40 percent of these individuals are not eligible for federal food programs and instead rely solely on the efforts of hunger relief charities (Map the Meal Gap 2013, Feeding America).

Food insecurity in Michigan has risen dramatically since 2009. According to data gathered by Kids Cuont Michigan, a state-wide agency that fights hunger, one in four Michigan children live in poverty and More than 48% of school-aged children are eligible for free or reduced-price school lunch. To be eligible for reduced-priced lunches, kids must live at 185 percent of poverty, or about $41,000 a year for a family of four.

In 2013, Food Gatherers spent $1.2 million on food purchasing, a 15 percent increase over the past three years.

Of the 5.45 million pounds of food distributed within the Food Gatherers network last year, 35 percent was produce and 20 percent was protein.

Food Gatherers is Washtenaw County’s food bank and food rescue program and distributes more than 5 million pounds of food to 150 non-profit programs serving low-income adults, seniors and children annually.

Recipient programs include hot meal programs, residential programs and programs targeting low-income children and seniors. For a list of food donors and recipient agencies or to learn how you can become involved in the fight against hunger locally, please visit www.foodgatherers.org or call (734) 761-2796.