Best Gift Ever? Thanks to you, yes.

Best Gift EverBest Gift Ever. I can’t think of a better theme for the 2016 Greater Lansing Food Bank Holiday campaign.

By many measures, this past year has been a year of accomplishments for the team at the GLFB. But in my mind, these are the only measures that matter: how many people we served this past year, and how many people in need we identified that we had not previously known about, so that we could help feed them, too.

How were we able to do this? Only through an amazing network and partnership which included every single member of the food bank staff, our caring pantry network, our dedicated volunteers and board members, and countless members of our community who never forgot about the importance of helping those in need.

As I speak to individuals and families, businesses, farmers and retailers, religious and service groups across our region, I hear one constant message: that everyone, without question, is entitled to food. That no one in our community should ever go hungry. And that is the single most important aim of the team at the GLFB.

So what does our theme, Best Gift Ever, have to do with this message? It is really very simple. As we approach the holiday season, when families and businesses get together to celebrate, and as each of us takes note of our accomplishments and challenges of the past year, I hope that—if only for a moment – each of us will think about those who are less fortunate, who need our support. There is no better time for giving than over the holiday season. And in my mind, there is no better gift than the gift of hope for those in our community who never planned on being at risk of going hungry. Want to have a “teaching moment” for your kids or co-workers? Give the Best Gift Ever to help one of your friends or neighbors.

We truly live in a community that cares. At the Greater Lansing Food Bank, we are only able to feed those in need when the community comes together to support this mission. Thank you for caring. And thank you for considering giving the Best Gift Ever to help even one person or one family have nutritious food on their table.

Best wishes for a safe, healthy, peaceful and joyous holiday season from our team at the Greater Lansing Food Bank.

Joe Wald,
Executive Director