Michigan Association of United Ways and Kellogg’s partner for 2nd annual Summer Stock Up to raise funds and fill food pantry shelves for the summer months
The Barry County United Way is joining Michigan United Ways and the Kellogg Company for the second-annual Summer Stock Up – a two week statewide virtual and in person drive to stock the shelves of Michigan’s food banks and pantries.
An in person collection will be taking place at the Barry Community Enrichment Center (231 S. Broadway in Hastings) on Thursday, June 23 from 9am-Noon. Items collected will include: boxed mac and cheese, boxed cereal and canned vegetables or fruit. All donated food will go directly to food pantries serving Barry County residents.
There is also a virtual giving option available by visiting www.summerstockup.org.
Visit our Facebook event page for more about the in person event.
Having enough food is a basic challenge for many households in Barry County.
At least 1 in 8 Michiganders face hunger and with fewer resources during the summer months, Michigan food banks see an increase of 20% for families seeking food resources between June and August.
“As we continue to support the needs of our local families, Summer Stock Up is just one of the many initiatives that addresses the critical need to help ensure our community has access to fresh, healthy food all summer long,” said Morgan Johnson, Director of Outreach & Community Engagement at the Barry County United Way. “With the current rising costs of food today, more Barry County families will need the support of their local food banks and pantries – and based on the success of last year’s program, Summer Stock Up has proven to make an incredible impact.”
Families with children feel the impact of food insecurity even more profoundly. According to the recent ALICE in Focus: Children Research Brief, as recently as the fall of 2021, 41% of Michigan families below the ALICE Threshold with children reported that sometimes or often, “children were not eating enough because we just couldn’t afford enough food.” For many kids, when class lets out for the summer, they no longer have access to the nutritious breakfast and lunch they normally receive while in school. To learn more about our local ALICE, visit www.bcunitedway.org/alice.
“People cannot reach their full potential if they’re hungry. Kellogg’s Better Days is our promise to advance sustainable and equitable access to food, including feeding 375 million people in need by the end of 2030, “ says Stephanie Slingerland, Senior Director, Global Philanthropy and Social Impact. “We are proud to stand alongside United Way in a partnership that is focused on our aligned values and creating a positive impact in our communities.”
The inaugural Summer Stock Up in 2021 raised more than $63,000 and collected more than 46,000 pounds of food, benefitting 220 food pantries across the state.
To support the Summer Stock Up in your community or learn more, visit www.summerstockup.org.