Summer break should be a time for fun, not hunger. But for one in five children in Southeast Michigan, their next meal is uncertain, according to Stephanie McNees, the CEO of Fish & Loaves.
And the end of the school year also means the end of reliable meals for many of these kids.
That’s why WDIV is partnering with Gleaners in Taylor for our latest Go 4 It campaign: helping close the summer hunger gap by delivering meals to children who rely on school-based food programs during the academic year.
Each day, Gleaners and its network of nearly 350 partner agencies distribute more than 120,000 meals across five counties: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, and Monroe.
But when kids are out of school, the need spikes — and so does the demand for volunteers.
“Kids are home from school,” said McNees at the Fish & Loaves food distribution sight in Taylor. “They need extra breakfast and extra lunch.”
Fish & Loaves alone distributed 3.4 million pounds of food in 2024 in Western Wayne County — up from 2.3 million pounds just two years earlier.
Those numbers are only expected to grow further. Longtime Gleaners volunteer Tom Rose has seen the need firsthand.
“They put out so much food. I could not believe it. A whole warehouse, just full — and every week,” said Rose as he helped staple boxes at the warehouse in Taylor. “Truckloads and truckloads.”
During a volunteer event on Wednesday, teams packed nearly 1,300 boxes in just three and a half hours.
McNees said every part of the organization, from food sorting to shelf stocking, is supported by volunteers.
“They help people shop, they bag the groceries, they stock all the shelves,” she said. “Every facet of this organization is helped out by volunteers.”
How You Can Help
Gleaners is hosting a special Go 4 It volunteer event on Monday, June 30, at its Taylor distribution center. Volunteers are needed to assemble meal kits for families in need.
Two shifts are available:
- 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Click here to register.
Advance registration is required, and space is limited.
If you’re unable to volunteer in person, monetary donations are also welcome. Through Aug. 31, every dollar donated will be matched, allowing Gleaners to provide six meals per dollar.
“If you’re thinking about it,” said Tom Rose, “just go ahead and pull the trigger. Do it. Because once they come in, they’re going to enjoy it and have fun.”