Seven nonprofit and hunger relief organizations across the state were recently awarded $23,500 in grants to fight food insecurity in their communities. Feeding the Future Grants are administered by the Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan Agent Charitable Fund (ACF), who will award a total of $180,000 in Michigan this year.
Eligible recipients are nominated by their local Farm Bureau Insurance agent and selected by a committee of ACF donors based on the need of the organization, population being served and overall goal of the program. The next round of Feeding the Future Grants are open now and grants will be awarded up to $5,000 per organization.
For more information about a specific grant, contact ACF Manager Persis Sopariwala at [email protected].
Blessings in a Backpack — Oxford
Blessings in a Backpack provides free meals to approximately 120 students in the Oxford School District and anticipates needing to expand access to meet the growing need. The organization was nominated by Farm Bureau Insurance Agent Daniel Stebbins.
Boyne City Public School Pantry — Boyne City
The Boyne City Public School Pantry serves the students of Boyne City and Charlevoix County and invites students to pick up food for themselves or their families during the school day. The Feeding the Future grant will ensure that the Pantry’s shelves are stocked with healthy meals during the school year. The Boyne City Public School Pantry was nominated by Farm Bureau Insurance Agent Dan Polleys.
Dansville Schools — Dansville
Dansville Schools facilitates a Many Hands Weekend Food Bag program, where eligible students receive a bag of food every Friday that contains enough food for two days of meals. The Many Hands program is self-funded by the district, and food bags are assembled weekly by volunteers. Dansville Schools was nominated by Farm Bureau Insurance Agent Mark Voss.
Fremont F.F.A. — Fremont
The Feeding the Future grant will help raise broiler chickens through the local school program. Once the chicks are mature, Fremont F.F.A. will have the chicks processed and donated to families in need through TrueNorth Community Services. Fremont F.F.A. was nominated by Farm Bureau Insurance Agent David Landheer.
Grow Jackson — Jackson
Grow Jackson aims to end food insecurity and hunger in Jackson County through sustainable organic urban farming practices. Grow Jackson operates a Community Gardening Program that provides fresh, local produce to community members in need, as well as educational programming to local youth surrounding gardening and nutrition. The organization was nominated by Farm Bureau Insurance Agent Taryn Hatch.
Lowell Schools — Lowell
This grant will benefit the students at Cherry Creek Elementary and provide students with a mid-morning snack so they don’t go hungry until lunch. Lowell Schools was nominated by Farm Bureau Insurance Agent Mike Curtis.
Pellston Public Schools — Pellston
The Feeding the Future grant will provide free, nutritious food to students and their families at Pellston Public Schools athletic and after-school events. This food access program was developed last year, and feeds about 50 students each night at their athletic events. Pellston Public Schools was nominated by Farm Bureau Insurance Agent Dan Polleys.
Feeding the Future Grants are disbursed every two months, and organizations are eligible to be awarded up to $5,000. The last grant cycle of the year will close on Friday, December 2.
The ACF, whose mission is to end hunger in Michigan, is a donor-designated fund administered through the Michigan Foundation for Agriculture. The Michigan Foundation for Agriculture, a 501(c)(3) governed by Michigan Farm Bureau’s board of directors, positively contributes to the future of Michigan agriculture through leadership and educational programming. Through grant programs like Feeding the Future, Farm Bureau agents, clients and partners provide food and educational programs to Michigan residents struggling with hunger and aid the more than 3,000 hunger-relief agencies throughout the state.
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