Food Gatherers exists to alleviate hunger and eliminate its causes in our community by: reducing food waste through the rescue and distribution of perishable and non perishable food; coordinating with other hunger relief providers; educating the public about hunger; and developing new food resources. The USDA released sobering news that more than 49 million Americans, including 17 million children, are at risk of hunger. According to their annual study of food insecurity in the United States, the new statistic represents a 36% increase over the 36.2 million people who were found to be at risk one year ago.
Food Gatherers is not only Michigan's first food rescue program, but the first program of its kind to be founded by a for-profit business, our own Zingerman's Delicatessen. In 1997, Food Gatherers also assumed responsibility for the county food bank. Today, it is an independent 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization governed by a board of directors and operated by 15 staff people and 4,500 different dedicated volunteers. Food Gatherers is now the primary distributor of food in Washtenaw County.
Food Gatherers glean surplus food from more than 300 sources such as restaurants like Tio's Southwestern Cafe, food retailers like Busch's Family Markets, food wholesalers like Gordon's Food Service and dormitories like Eastern Michigan University's Dining Services. Through the food bank system, locally we are networked to extensive state food donation and nationally, through America's Second Harvest, we are connected to large corporate donors such as Kraft, ConAgra and Kellogg. Then there are people like you who donate canned items, food from gardens, dry goods and money. Food Gatherers exists because of the generosity and caring of many individuals in the community!
Food Gatherers provides enough food for more than 7,500 meals a day. Food Gatherers brings the food to more than 150 community programs serving our neighbors - mostly families and children, in need of food. The agencies receiving our food include St. Andrews Breakfast Program, Dawn Farm, Salvation Army, SOS Community Services and Hope Clinic.
Visit www.foodgatherers.org