At the Food Bank Council of Michigan, we know that elections MATTER!

According to recent data, food insecurity rates have gotten far worse these past few months due to the pandemic. The need is great. Winter is coming and the food supply is lessening from the USDA. If Congress and our legislature do not co-create an emergency declaration of additional support for emergency food, increase in SNAP allotments and P-EBT, this winter will be long and cold.

Tune in this evening at 9 p.m. as Carrie Calvert, Vice President of Government Relations with Feeding America, defines the new reality. The people we serve at or on the edge of making ends meet and have been for quite some time. The Michigan food bank network is now distributing almost 50% more food to hungry Michiganders each week. At this time of unprecedented need, United States Department of Agriculture programs that provide much needed food and support for our network are ending, resulting in a 50% reduction in USDA food for our network to distribute. It’s hard to imagine waiting until January for additional relief – millions of people aren’t back at work, the COVID-19 cases are rising as well as food insecurity.

We are asking USDA to proactively purchase any U.S. grown / produced commodity to provide market support during this stressful time for our nation’s growers and producers, and in turn, distribute it through the food banks.

Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, has a painting of a red barn in his office with, “Do right and feed EVERYBODY” written on it. We have high hopes that he continues to act in the spirit of that statement, and makes the right choices to support farmers, growers and the food bank network to distribute this food.

COVID-19 has dealt us a tough blow; more food insecure children, seniors and families than we have seen in a long time. We have been set back, but forward we march. WE FIGHT ON!

As always, help us keep #FOODFIRST!