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Help Fight Hunger in Michigan
While Michigan's farm families work hard year-round to help produce the world's most abundant supply of affordable, high-quality food, the fact remains that many of their fellow citizens continue to feel the pangs of hunger.
For that reason, Michigan Farm Bureau will be working with the Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM) and the Michigan Agricultural Surplus System (MASS) to encourage Farm Bureau members to help fight hunger in Michigan
Harvest for All is a unique way for Michigan's first harvesters to finish the job by assisting FBCM in providing food to Michigan families in need.
According to FBCM, hunger is a reality for nearly a million Michigan people, young and old, who never imagined they would be dependent on food banks, pantries, shelters and school lunch programs.
For more information on this program, contact Harvest for All coordinators Lori Chamberlain at (800) 292-2680, ext. 3234 or Deb Schmucker, ext. 3213
How Does It work?
- Farm Bureau Members harvest surplus product and contact Michigan Agricultural Surplus System (MASS) 1-800-552-4483 to arrange pick-up or delivery.
- MASS will arrange for processing of raw product or will deliver directly to Michigan food banks for sorting.
- Once the food bank network receives the donated food, it is inspected, sorted and distributed to area agencies.
- Food bank agencies, such as soup kitchens, will receive the donated products and give them to those in need.
Please remember that this program is a yearlong effort to stop hunger and doesn't end in the fall.
How Can You Help?
Ways that Farm Bureau members can fight hunger in Michigan
- Contact the Michigan Agricultural Surplus System (MASS) 1-800-552-4483 and donate surplus commodities to local food banks.
- Donate food and grocery products. Give needed items at community food drives or take the lead and organize your own. Contact your local food bank or food rescue organization to help you get started.
- Make a financial gift to get food to hungry people across our state by calling the Food Bank Council of Michigan at 1-800-552-4483 or by visiting the Food Bank Council of Michigan website. Just one dollar can buy four bags of groceries!
- Volunteer in your local community. There are many ways to get involved, from sorting groceries, to serving food, to lending professional skills. Your local food bank or food rescue organization can tell you how you can help. Visit the Food Bank Council of Michigan website to locate your local food bank or food rescue organization.
Who Are The Partners?
Food Bank Council of Michigan
The Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM) is a statewide organization that gathers food and funds to help stock Michigan's regional food banks. FBCM helps provide food banks with millions of pounds of surplus vegetables, fruits and other grocery items. For more information about FBCM and the food-banking network in Michigan visit the Food Bank Council of Michigan website. Every $1 helps provide 5 meals.
Michigan Agricultural Surplus System
The Michigan Agricultural Surplus System (MASS) is a program facilitated by the Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM). This innovative partnership between the Michigan Department of Agriculture, Michigan food banks, and the agricultural community has been funded by a grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture since 1990. In 1990, as a pilot program, MASS distributed 350,000 pounds of surplus product throughout Michigan. In 2010, the MASS program was able to distribute over 6.1 million pounds of surplus product that would have gone to the landfill. This product is distributed in all 83 counties of Michigan through the network of food banks in Michigan.
The MASS program is able to accept product that needs refrigeration, cooler space, or further processing to make it a shelf stable product.
