DETROIT – For the more than 300,000 children in southeast Michigan who rely on free or reduced-price school meals, the final bell of the school year evokes anxiety rather than excitement. Nationally, six out of seven hungry children do not get the summer meals they need.
To meet an increased need the during summer months, Gleaners Community Food Bank expanded its programming throughout the summer and invites the community to donate, funding additional meals through its Hunger Free Summer campaign to help kids get the nutrition they need when they don't have access to the meals they would normally get at school.
"Every child deserves a hunger-free summer," said Gerry Brisson, president and CEO of Gleaners. "Yet, we know that without access to breakfast and lunch at school, many kids in our community will spend the summer wondering where their next meal will come from. We cannot let that happen. That's why our summer programs and Hunger Free Summer campaign are so critical. We need to raise funds to provide an additional 2 million meals throughout the community."
To provide more than 4.5 million meals each summer to children in southeast Michigan, Gleaners focuses on three key programs.
Through the Summer Food Service Program, thousands of children will have access to nutritious meals provided through more than 90 summer meal sites five days per week. Some will also serve meals on Saturdays, and nearly 70% of the summer meal sites will serve breakfast in addition to lunch. Since the launch of Hunger Free Summer in 2011, Gleaners has expanded the reach of its summer meal program, almost doubling the number of summer meal sites. Children at 10 summer meal sites throughout Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties also will receive Weekend Backpacks, which are filled with fruit, vegetables, healthy proteins and grains to supplement well-rounded meals over the weekend.
In addition to the summer meal sites, Gleaners' School Food Mobile program will reach hungry children in high-need communities through nearly 90 monthly mobile pantries. Each distribution provides approximately 100 households with 30 pounds of nutritious food, protein and fresh produce.
Further, Gleaners' extensive network of 528 partner soup kitchens, pantries and shelters, meals raised through the Hunger Free Summer campaign will help children and families bridge the gap during the summer.
To ensure these programs and others supporting child nutrition and development can meet the increased volume of need in the summer, Citizens Bank and other generous donors – including the Toni Wisne Sabina Foundation, General Motors, Ford Motor Co. and Andiamo, among others – are matching donations made to Gleaners dollar-for-dollar until school is back in session in September. During the campaign, every dollar given will provide six meals for a hungry child.
Not only is Gleaners focused on enhancing its programming during the summer, Gleaners has been recognized for its innovative programs throughout the year, collaborative partnerships and ability to serve the community, earning national recognition by Feeding America as the 2019 Food Bank of the Year.
"Gleaners Community Food Bank is an incredible organization that is making a huge impact in the lives of people in need in the Detroit area," said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. "Gleaners is a shining example of the difference a food bank can make in their community."