ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Help Food Gatherers and Rotary Club of Ann Arbor give 100,000 meals to Washtenaw County families in need.
The two organizations are partnering up March 4-15 to launch The Rotary Fights Child Hunger fund and food drive.
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The drive aims to raise 100,000 meals through funds and non-perishable food items. The Harold and Kay Peplau Family Fund will match donations of $25 or more dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000.
Food Gatherers can turn a $25 donation into 100 meals.
Funds raised by the March drive will help power more than 140 programs working with Food Gatherers to combat hunger and food insecurity in the county.
“Efforts like the Rotary Fights Child Hunger drive are vital right now,” said Food Gatherers President and CEO Eileen Spring in a release. “Inflation rose at a slower pace in 2023 but the price of basic needs like groceries and housing are still at historic levels and more of our neighbors count on our hunger-relief network.”
The nonprofit gave away 7.8 million pounds of food in 2023. In addition to taking in food donations, it also had to purchase 40% more pounds of food to meet local needs.
It provides around 18,000 meals per day, according to its website.
Here’s how to donate:
1. Donate online to support the Rotary fundraising team at foodgatherers.org/rotary.
2. Send checks payable to Food Gatherers, at 1 Carrot Way, with the memory “Rotary,” or drop monetary donations off at the warehouse.
3. Drop off food donations between 9 a.m. – 4:45 p.m Mondays through Fridays, and request the donation it counted towards the March goal.
Currently, Food Gatherers’ most-needed items include beans, canned meats, peanut butter, hearty soups, canned fruit, baby food and formula, Ensure, or other supplemental nutrition drinks.