Food Bank Council of Michigan

Today is National Ag Day! ?? Farmers, farmworkers, and other food producers are essential partners in the movement to end hunger. We need to prevent cuts to nutrition programs like SNAP, so we can have a strong #FarmBill for farmers and people facing hunger! #AgDay25 #NationalAgDay

The Food Bank Council of Michigan is committed to moving the Food is Medicine movement forward, ensuring nutritious food improves health outcomes. Thank you to Fresh Connect Central for inviting our Chief Innovative Officer, Dawn Opel to share on Food is Medicine during their 2025 Innovation in Food Sourcing Conference! Check out Dawn Opel’s post below! ?? #FoodIsMedicine #FoodAsMedicine #SustainableSourcing #HealthcarePartnerships #FoodBanking Feeding America Health Management Associates

From fruits and vegetables to dairy and grains, our state’s farmers, ranchers, and food producers work tirelessly to feed families here in Michigan and beyond.? This Michigan Food and Agriculture Month, we’re celebrating an industry that fuels our people and our economy. Every year, Michigan produces:?? ?? 100 million bushels of soybeans ?? 75% of the country’s tart cherries ?? 100 million pounds of blueberries ?? 1.28 billion pounds of apples ?? 12 billion pounds of milk Yet, despite this incredible abundance, too many Michiganders struggle with food insecurity. Access to nutritious food shouldn’t be a privilege — it should be a basic right. That’s why the Food Bank Council of Michigan works to bridge the gap between our state’s agricultural strengths and the communities who need food the most.? We are deeply grateful for the hardworking individuals who dedicate their lives to growing, harvesting, and producing food. Their efforts sustain our economy, support local businesses, and nourish millions of people every year. Together, we can help ensure that every Michigander has reliable access to the food they need to thrive. This Michigan Food and Agriculture Month, let’s not only celebrate our state’s rich agricultural heritage but also commit to ensuring that no one in our communities goes hungry. Follow us for more on food access in Michigan, and learn more about how this industry impacts food banks at https://lnkd.in/gZsZtBep #MichiganFoodAndAgricultureMonth #MichiganFoodandAgMonth #ThankAFarmer #EndHunger #FoodSecurity #MichiganAgriculture #MichiganMade #MichiganGrown #MichiganFoodBanks #MichiganFarmers? Food Gatherers Forgotten Harvest South Michigan Food Bank Greater Lansing Food Bank Food Bank of Eastern Michigan Feeding America West Michigan Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan Blake's Orchard, Inc. Butch's Best Cedar Crest Dairy Inc D'Amore Produce Solutions, LLC. DUANE RASCH ORCHARDS Miedema Produce Farm Country Cheese House Farm Crest Foods Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. Riveridge Produce Marketing, Inc. United Dairy Industry of Michigan Michigan Milk Producers Association Jilbert Dairy

That’s a wrap on the #FoodBankFlyIn in Washington D.C.! This week, we acted on our mission by meeting with Members of Congress to advocate for critical nutrition programs that help keep food on the tables of families, seniors, and children facing hunger. With food insecurity at its highest rate in a decade, now is not the time to cut programs like TEFAP and SNAP — programs that provide real, tangible support to our communities: ? ? SNAP offers timely benefits that allow people with low incomes to buy groceries and feed their families. Reducing funding for SNAP would mean more hardship for people experiencing food insecurity, making it even harder for them to afford basic necessities.?? ? ? TEFAP helps keep Michigan’s food banks stocked with nutritious, American-grown food. Cuts to TEFAP would strain food banks, limiting their ability to serve the growing number of people who rely on them.?? ? We are incredibly grateful to the Members of Congress who took the time to meet with us and hear firsthand how these programs impact their constituents. Now, we urge Congress to take action and protect these vital programs in the upcoming budget legislation.?? ? Hunger is a reality in Michigan, but it doesn’t have to be. Strong federal nutrition programs are absolutely critical to creating a food secure Michigan. Learn more about how Michigan’s food banks are working to fight hunger and expand food access at fbcmich.org ? Feeding America Forgotten Harvest Food Gatherers Food Bank of Eastern Michigan Feeding America West Michigan South Michigan Food Bank Greater Lansing Food Bank #FoodBankCouncilOfMichigan #FBCM #TEFAP #SNAP #EndHunger

Thank you to all of the Members of Congress and their staff who took the time to meet with us yesterday to discuss the importance of the federal nutrition programs. People across Michigan and the country rely on programs like TEFAP and SNAP to help keep food on the table, and your support is essential to ensuring families have access to the food needed to thrive. Michigan’s food banks continue to work tirelessly to expand access to nutritious food for those who need it most. Federal nutrition programs play a critical role in that effort, helping us provide American-grown food to families, seniors, and children facing hunger. Continued investment in these programs is key to building stronger, healthier communities across our state. #FoodBankFlyIn #FBCM #FoodBankCouncilOfMichigan #EndHunger #TEFAP #SNAP Feeding America Senator Gary Peters of Michigan Hillary Scholten Congressman John Moolenaar Haley Stevens Congressman Tim Walberg Kristen McDonald Lisa McClain Shri Thanedar, Ph.D. Elissa Slotkin Tom Barrett Michelle Lantz Greater Lansing Food Bank Eric Candela Adrian Lewis Forgotten Harvest South Michigan Food Bank Ken Estelle Feeding America West Michigan Markell Miller Food Gatherers Food Bank of Eastern Michigan

1 in 7 people face hunger in Michigan — that’s 1.42 million people. The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) helps fill that nutrition gap by providing essential, American-grown food to families in need, and SNAP helps people working in jobs with inconsistent hours and low wages put food on the table. But cuts to federal programs would make it even harder for Michigan food banks to meet rising demand for assistance. This week, the Food Bank Council of Michigan is in Washington D.C. to join hundreds of food bankers and anti-hunger advocates for the Food Bank Fly-In with Feeding America. We’re meeting directly with legislators, sharing the reality of food insecurity in Michigan, and urging Congress to protect critical nutrition programs like TEFAP and SNAP in the upcoming budget. We stand in solidarity with Feeding America’s efforts and add our voice to the call: Investing in nutrition programs means investing in healthier families, stronger communities, and a more food-secure Michigan. Now is the time to take action. Let’s ensure that no Michigander goes hungry. #FoodBankFlyIn #FBCM #FoodBankCouncilOfMichigan #TEFAP #SNAP #EndHunger??Food Gatherers Forgotten Harvest Food Bank of Eastern Michigan

It was great to hear Senator Amy Klobuchar — ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry — speak to food banks from across the country this morning at the Feeding America breakfast on Capitol Hill. Today, we’re meeting with members of Congress to amplify the importance of federal nutrition programs in our state and beyond. Follow along for updates! #FoodBankFlyIn #FBCM #FoodBankCouncilOfMichigan #EndHunger? #TEFAP #SNAP Food Gatherers Forgotten Harvest Food Bank of Eastern Michigan Food Bank of Eastern Michigan

A successful first day of #FoodBankFlyIn is in the books! Today, we settled in with Michigan food banks and our national partner @FeedingAmerica to hear their perspectives on issues impacting food insecurity and how we can collaborate to spread the word. Next, we rest up and get our walking shoes ready for a big day tomorrow on Capitol Hill. Follow along for updates on our time meeting with members of Congress to amplify the importance of federal nutrition programs in our state and beyond. ?#FBCM #FoodBankCouncilOfMichigan

We're in D.C. at the #FoodBankFlyIn to urge Michigan legislators to protect federal nutrition programs in upcoming budget legislation. Cuts to programs like TEFAP, SNAP, and other critical investments would devastate our neighbors already facing difficult times.?Together, we can protect nutrition programs in the upcoming budget legislation. Feeding America #FBCM #FoodBankCouncilOfMichigan

In collaboration with HealthBegins and Benefits Data Trust, we are thrilled to announce the launch of the Medicaid Food Security Network (MFSN), a national forum of healthcare and food security stakeholders dedicated to mobilizing Medicaid systems to address food and nutrition insecurity in children and families. With an emphasis on closing the enrollment gap in #SNAP and #WIC, the Network aims to build upon the momentum of the Food is Medicine movement by elevating opportunities to center children and families in healthcare-based nutrition interventions. As one of the Network’s first initiatives, Share Our Strength is funding four state-based organizations to play a critical role in supporting the implementation of food-security policy initiatives within their state Medicaid programs.?The four grantees are: 1. FEDERATION OF VIRGINIA FOOD BANKS 2. Food Bank Council of Michigan 3. Oklahoma Policy Institute 4. Voices for Georgia's Children Learn more at: bit.ly/449W6u1