School Meal Programs Overwhelmed by Non-student Food Pickups

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Nalee Xiong, Marketing & Communications Specialist
Greater Lansing Food Bank
nalee@glfoodbank.org
(517) 853-7818

March 25, 2020

SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS OVERWHELMED BY NON-STUDENT FOOD PICKUPS 

General public asked to use local food agencies, mobile distributions by using 211

LANSING, MI – With Michigan’s K-12 schools closed by Gov. Whitmer due to COVID-19, many school districts are providing sack breakfasts and lunches to students and their families for pick up. However, hundreds of community residents who do not have students within those districts are using that resource for their food needs, placing both financial and physical strain on districts. Greater Lansing Food Bank reminds the public of the existing network of food agencies and pantries, weekend mobile food distributions and senior food resources for the general public.

How to Find Emergency Food Resources

  • If you are a parent or guardian of school-aged children, check with your local school district to confirm the meal distribution hours and locations. You may also check the Michigan Department of Education’s food access database through its Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which is updated regularly, to see the nearest food distribution sites.
  • If you are not a parent or guardian of school-aged children, please do not use the school meal programs for your primary food needs. To locate the nearest emergency food resource near you, call the Central Michigan 2-1-1 hotline by dialing 2-1-1, or visit: centralmichigan211.org.
  • If you are a senior citizen, call the Tri-County Office on Aging at (517) 887-1460 for the Meals on Wheels home delivered meals program, and (517) 887-1393 for available pick-up sites for pre-packaged food.

How You Can Help

Greater Lansing Food Bank (GLFB) alleviates hunger in seven mid-Michigan counties as the central warehouse and distribution hub for 150+ agency and pantry partners and our own food distribution programs. Providing 9.3 million pounds (7.5 million meals) of donated, purchased, home-grown and rescued prepared food annually, this 501(c)(3) strives for a hunger-free community.

Serving Eaton, Clare, Clinton, Gratiot, Ingham, Isabella & Shiawassee Counties

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