MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – A grant opportunity is now open for Michigan food pantries, and organizations in the Upper Peninsula are encouraged to apply.
The United Dairy Industry of Michigan, in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield and Superior Health Foundation, is offering refrigeration units worth up to 7-thousand-dollars to help pantries store fresh, nutritious food.
Superior Health Foundation says food insecurity is a growing problem across the U.P. – last fall alone the foundation gave sixty-thousand dollars to pantries all over the region just to purchase food.
Program Officer Nicky Bates says for many pantries, a refrigeration unit would be a game changer. “Some pantries have refrigeration already but many of them don’t,” says Bates. “So for a lot of them, this will look like being able to give people access to things like milk, cheese, and meat. It will also look like being able to accept safe food donations that are pre-prepared.”
The application deadline for the grants is June 22nd. Pantries interested in applying can contact the Superior Health Foundation office at 906-225-6914.
