Grantmaking
In August 2016, the Community Foundation made $2 million in grants to 20 programs designed to improve healthy food access for children and seniors, two groups most affected by food insecurity and the lack of healthy food.
The 20 programs funded reflect the collaborative efforts of 72 organizations across all seven counties of southeast Michigan.
Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corp: $135,000 to support the expansion and coordination of fresh food pop-up markets selling affordable healthy food in southeast Michigan. Partners: Fresh Corner Café, Detroit Food Academy, FoodLab Detroit, Eastern Market Corp, Healthy Detroit, Detroit Area Agency on Aging, YMCA of Metro Detroit, Groundwerx CI and United Way for Southeastern Michigan.
Elder Law of Michigan: $200,000 to support an integrated system to improve participation by eligible seniors in food assistance programs in the region. Partners: MiCAFE network partners, Michigan Farmers Market Association, Fair Food Network, Wayne State University and Area Agencies on Aging.
Fair Food Network: $180,000 to support the expansion of regional access to local fresh food, school garden programs and education about healthy food preparation, nutrition and physical exercise. Partners: FoodCorps, Detroit School Garden Collaborative, Wayne State University Center for School Health and the Michigan Fitness Foundation.
Food Gatherers: $200,000 to support the Fresh Produce Conversion Program, which makes surplus fresh produce more easy to obtain and use by low income youth and seniors in Washtenaw County. Partners: Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels, Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels, Community Action Network, SOS Community Services and Eastern Michigan University.
Forgotten Harvest: $136,000 to support Fresh Food Alliance, a regional program to connect food providers with local grocers who will donate food for distribution that would otherwise go to waste. Partners: Detroit Economic Growth Corporation’s Green Grocer Project, Associated Food & Petroleum Dealers, Tri-County Grocery Stores and other food retailers and emergency food providers.
Gleaners Community Food Bank Inc: $200,000 to support environmental and systems changes to food pantries in the region, including improved signage, refrigeration and shelving designed to prioritize fruits and vegetables in client shopping. Partners: Forgotten Harvest, the Michigan Fitness Foundation, the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan and nine food pantries: Capuchin Services Center, Community Christian Church, Food Hub at the Ford Resource and Engagement Center, Hospitality House, Liberty Family Outreach, Lord’s Harvest Pantry, Redford Interfaith Relief, Shared Harvest and Twelfth Street Food Pantry.
Livingston County United Way: $145,000 to expand and enhance the existing food system to meet the needs of the entire county. Partners: Salvation Army, Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency, LACASA and Gleaners Community Food Bank.