Food banks

The Food Bank of South Central Michigan reaches out to local groups through its Raisin Township dropoff.

RAISIN TWP. — They may only see each other once a month but, during the time they spend together, members of agencies that attend the Food Bank of South Central Michigan’s tailgates are neighbors.

During the second Thursday of each month, trucks loaded with food from the food bank — which has a distribution center located in Battle Creek — make the trek to Lenawee County. Their destination: the Raisin Township Fire Hall. These grocery products are destined for distribution at local food pantries, emergency shelters, assisted living homes and other outreach programs in Lenawee County. Because of these tailgates, individuals from these agencies can pick up their orders a little closer to home.

During these tailgates, individuals from the member agencies who make pick-ups at the location all work together to load groceries into each other’s trucks, vans and even cars. There are no idle hands. Each person helps the others load up until it is their turn.

According to organizers, the food bank’s Lenawee Tailgate is an example of what can be accomplished when a group of people come together with one goal — helping feed hungry people.

“It’s very important, especially with Michigan’s economy,” Jan Salsberry of the Addison United Church Emergency Food Pantry said. “We’ve seen a large increase in the number of families in need of assistance.”

Salsberry said they have a small but active church congregation that believes assisting those in need within their own communities is a mandate.

“Having a central location to pick up food is so important,” said Bobbi Silkworth, who works at the Tipton Highway Home, an assisted living program.

The tailgates are especially important for those who are living in group homes, according to Silkworth. Many of those living in the Tipton Highway Home are on disability and receive food assistance, but it never seems to be enough, she said. Silkworth went on to say that being able to pick up food in the county is an integral part of their operation because they could not take residents out of the homes to get food elsewhere.

“It would be impossible,” she said.

Giving these organizations a place to pick up food in Lenawee County is one of the ways the Food Bank of South Central Michigan is helping the common goal of alleviating hunger in local communities.

The increase in those who are seeking assistance is spread throughout Lenawee County, the state of Michigan and beyond, according to food bank members. While the food bank has seen an increase of five percent in need over last year, food donations have declined and the food bank is finding it hard to keep pace with the increased need. Food bank member agencies have reported an increase in need of 10 percent over last year.

“We are not affluent people,” said Dale Willson of the Manitou Road Baptist Church. “The expensive people live in Toledo.”

Willson said that although his church is small, it operates a food pantry to provide food to help those in their community and show God’s love to others. They too have seen an increase in the number of people seeking assistance.

“We’ve had a big increase, from month to month, especially this month” said Willson. “With the price of gas and the type of vehicles we need to hold all the food, it’s so important that we can make the pick up here.”

The Food Bank of South Central Michigan reported distributing 257,002 pounds of food in Lenawee County in 2007. This represents a savings of $385,503 to the member agencies the Food Bank serves.

Those who would like to help the Food Bank of South Central Michigan in their efforts to ease hunger in Lenawee County can do so by making a donation on their secure Web site, www.foodbankofscm.org.

During the months of March and April, donations made to the food bank are eligible for a partial match from the Feinstein Foundation. During the Feinstein Challenge, donations made to the Food Bank in the name of one of its member agencies are bolstered by money from philanthropist Allen Shaw Feinstein. Also, in the Easter weekend edition of The Daily Telegram, an envelope is to be distributed for readers to make donations to the food bank. For more information on the Food Bank of South Central Michigan or the Feinstein Challenge, call (269) 964-3663.

The Food Bank of South Central Michigan serves a 275-member hunger-relief network, helping area families in Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Hillsdale, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lenawee and St. Joseph counties. The food bank is a member of America’s Second Harvest, The Nation’s Food Bank Network and the Food Bank Council of Michigan. The food bank is also a United Way program delivery partner.