Greater Lansing Food Bank

The 17th annual Empty Plate is just around the corner! Purchase your tickets today to join us on April 11 at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center — and get excited for the unique packages and items that will be available in this year's auction. A select group of auction items — including an autographed Magic Johnson Lakers jersey, a night out to the ballpark in the Lansing Lugnuts Owner's Suite and a beautiful, 5-piece dining set perfect for patio season — will be available to bid on online starting April 9. The majority of items will only be available for bidding in-person at the event, so make sure to purchase your tickets today! Each ticket purchase provides up to 400 meals to mid-Michigan neighbors in need. Learn more: glfoodbank.org/emptyplate

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

The shared vision of a hunger-free community helps even more neighbors receive the nutritious food they need. Stores like Walmart and Sam's Club are longtime partners of GLFB and the Feeding America network, donating food that helps us meet our community's needs. In 2024, food donated by Walmart and Sam's Club helped provide 545,544 meals to mid-Michigan neighbors! Now until March 31, you can help provide even more meals. Join Walmart and Sam's Club in the #FightHungerSparkChange campaign through the purchase of select products and donations at the register! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gx-pf6nn

In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, Elizabeth remembers that as the first year she needed help keeping food on the table for her family. One of the resources she found was what is now GLFB's Weekend Kits program. These kits, designed to discreetly slip into children’s backpacks, provide essential nutrition outside of school hours for students and their families. If she could speak to someone facing food insecurity for the first time, Elizabeth would want to tell them that it’s okay to get help. “We all have those bumps in the road, you are not alone in this,” she said. “There are far more of us [needing help] than people might realize.” Read Elizabeth's full story here: https://lnkd.in/gx6wNS8x

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

GLFB is proud to once again be a charity partner for the 6th annual Izzo Run/Walk/Roll! In addition to supporting the Izzo Legacy endowment fund, participants can donate to select local charities ― like GLFB! ― through the race registration process or on the site's donation page. The race also needs volunteers! Visit the event web page to register for the race, sign up to volunteer or make a donation to GLFB and other charity partners: https://lnkd.in/gbKGxzHp

Garden season is almost here! Yesterday, our Garden Project kicked off the growing season with Winter Seed Day, an even geared toward gardeners looking to get a head start on Michigan's short growing season by starting seeds indoors. In 2024, Garden Project distributed 16,200 packets of seeds to gardeners across mid-Michigan — a 30 percent increase compared to the previous year. Thanks to a "growing" project with Meijer, sourcing those seeds has gotten a lot easier! A long-time partner in GLFB's retail food rescue efforts, Meijer has extended their commitment to helping GLFB's work toward a hunger-free mid-Michigan by donating unsold seeds at the close of garden season. Garden Project is able to distribute these generously donated seeds to neighbors and families across our service area so they can grow their own fresh, nutritious produce. Read more about Meijer's seed donation program, and how it's benefitting neighbors across mid-Michigan and beyond: https://lnkd.in/gDa-hj_2

GLFB would like to give a huge thank you to Dr. Robert Posey for his generous donation in honor of his mother, Frieda Posey. To date, Dr. Posey has helped provide over 300,000 meals for neighbors in mid-Michigan. It's through meaningful partnerships like this that GLFB is able to make strides to reach our goal of a hunger-free community. Thank you, Dr. Posey!

Did you see yesterday's volunteer newsletter? This January, 1,316 GLFB volunteers started 2025 off strong by completing 2,101 volunteer hours! Your dedication helped us serve nearly 28,400 households each month in 2024 — thank you for coming alongside us in the fight to end hunger in mid-Michigan. March shifts are now available at GLFB's distribution center and mobile distributions! Register for a shift on our website and sign up for our monthly volunteer email to get first access to shift sign up, special volunteer opportunities and more: https://lnkd.in/gg7JTyUi

Tickets for the 17th annual Empty Plate are now on sale! Join us at Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center Friday, April 11 and enjoy a strolling dinner from top local chefs, bid on unique items in a silent auction and join a community committed to making a difference in the fight against hunger. Your ticket purchase plays a key role in helping us raise enough to provide 1 million meals to the nearly 100,000 mid-Michigan neighbors in need — in one night! To purchase your tickets at $150 per person, visit GLFoodBank.org/EmptyPlate