The Rotary Fights Child Hunger fund drive is our annual spring food and fund drive to support meals for children who do not have access to free and reduced price meals when school is out for the summer. This year, the drive will primarily be collecting funds to support Food Gatherers. All gifts, $25 and over, will be matched up to $10,000 through the generosity of the Harold and Kay Peplau Family Fund.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused food insecurity in our community to rise dramatically since March 2020. Feeding America estimates that overall food insecurity in Washtenaw County has risen by 36%, while child food insecurity has risen by 100%. With continued school closures and/or hybrid attendance, high unemployment, and uncertainty about our economic recovery it is anticipated that food insecurity levels will remain high well into 2022. Food Gatherers, the food bank and food rescue program serving our community has seen a dramatic rise in need and has distributed record-breaking amounts of food to feed our neighbors over the last 12 months. When children don't go to school, they lose access to an important source of food - free and reduced price meals.
Since last March, Food Gatherers has worked closely with local school districts to supplement their modified meal programs with groceries and fresh produce, and to make food available to families that cannot access the meal programs now in place.
Your gift today will support Food Gatherers work feeding children throughout our community. Thank you!
