Inside the Food Bank

I picked up the Mid-Michigan Food Bank banner this morning from the Financial Development Officer, Betsy Ruekert, and I got the chance to tour their warehouse on Mint Road. The Food Bank warehouse is stocked from top to bottom with bulk categories of canned foods, pastas, peanut butter, large quantities of produce, sauces, and more. There are literally thousands of donations (mainly from grocery stores and chain food suppliers) piled high to the ceiling. It's an organized and clean space, and Betsy and I walked through the aisles while she enthusiastically briefed me about the organization ins and outs. The team worked earnestly behind us, loading large crates of cereals and celery into trucks destined for a 7 county region.

I knew from their website that the food bank feeds more than 58,000 people in the region. I asked Betsy if this number has increased recently because of the recession. "That statistic hasn't been upgraded in a few years," she told me. The food bank now feeds more than 140,000 people in Mid-Michigan! This is astounding to me.

So, the way it works in a nutshell: The food bank receives food and cash donations form the community (this comes from private individuals, farmers, families, and chain groceries), and then the bank supplies local pantries. The bank gets great deals on food purchases, but they need to cover the costs of all shipping and storing. This is why cash donations are extremely important to the operation.

"Some people have the wrong idea about the pantries," she told me. Someone had recently suggested to her that food pantries were mostly visited by homeless people, drug addicts, and the mentally ill. This idea is completely false, explained Betsy. The same people who need the food from the food bank on a regular basis are the ones who used to donate to the Mid-Michigan Food Bank. They may still own homes and cars, but right now people everywhere around us are struggling to scrape by. Many of the dependents are children. During holiday vacations, weekends, and summer break, the food bank is most critical for these kids. School is often the sole opportunity for thousands of Mid-Michigan kids to have nutritional meals.

As the number of hungry families in Michigan continues to increase, so does the cost of the Mid-Michigan Food Bank operations. Art Night at Hotwater Works hopes to raise at least $1000.00 for the food bank. This is a small amount of money in general, but an enormous help to the cause.

1 day until the event, and we're ready to share delicious food, wine, and visionary art with our guests. $1 dollar is worth $10 to the food bank, and whether you're donating or not donating, either way it will be a great time!