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. Collections from this campaign directly support Food Gatherers - Washtenaw County’s only food rescue and food bank program - to fight child hunger in our community. All gifts of $25 or more will be matched up to $10,000 by the Harold and Kay Peplau Family Fund! More than 80 local businesses, organizations, and Rotary Clubs will collect funds and non-perishable food items for Food Gatherers to distribute to over 140 non-profit partners and programs working to alleviate hunger in our community. Examples of these partners include the Salvation Army, Dawn Farm, Ozone House, Peace Neighborhood Center, Perry Nursery School, Dexter Senior Center, SOS Community Services, the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County, Hope Clinic, and many others.
Right now in Washtenaw County, more of our neighbors are facing food insecurity than at the height of the pandemic. This means that more individuals and families in our community are turning to their local food pantries and meal programs. The increased need means that food banks are challenged to make even more food available, despite increased costs.
Before the pandemic, 1 in 7 individuals living in Washtenaw County faced food insecurity, meaning they didn't have reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious food. Since March 2020, Food Gatherers has distributed a record-breaking amount of food to address the significant rise in food insecurity. Skyrocketing prices have stretched budgets even thinner for many in our community. This means that more of our neighbors, friends, and co-workers are turning to their local food pantries and meal programs, relying on Food Gatherers to fill the gaps. This, combined with the conclusion of many federal programs that offered pandemic relief, creates a double squeeze not only on those facing hunger but also on organizations dedicated to alleviating that hunger.
Last year, Food Gatherers distributed food to more than 56,000 individuals in Washtenaw County. This totaled more than 7.8 million pounds of food, or more than 18,000 meals every day. Food donations are wonderful and appreciated. However, raising funds allows Food Gatherers to use its bulk buying power to distribute more food in our community, and this will remain our primary focus. For every $5 donated, Food Gatherers can provide 10 meals!
To make a donation please click on DONATE or if you prefer, you may also give by calling 734-761-2796 or mailing a check (made out to Food Gatherers with "Rotary" on the memo line) to PO Box 131037, Ann Arbor, MI 48113. We also accept cash donations in person and donations via PayPal (@foodgatherers).
Businesses
Feel free to collect gifts of cash, and checks (made payable to Food Gatherers), or direct donors here to give online. Cash and checks can be delivered to the Food Gatherers warehouse at the end of the food drive. Food Gatherers will issue receipts for all gifts made by check or online. To make a bigger impact…you can create your own Rotary Fights Child Hunger fundraising page! Just click on "Register Your Own Team" or "Participate as an Individual", create your page, and share it via email, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media.
Use this page to challenge co-workers, friends, and family to join the fight against child hunger! Donations made to an individual or team page also qualify for the matching funds! Spread the word! Whether you host a food drive, a fund drive, or both, please publicize the event in your company newsletter, employee paychecks, and or organization-wide e-mails.
Though the focus is on fundraising if you have food items to donate, bring them to the Food Gatherers warehouse anytime during the drive. The drop-off is contactless, simply pull up to the large orange loading door and call the phone number posted. Please include your completed Rotary Donor Form with your donation so that your collected food can be reflected in the Rotary total!
Drop-Off
Location: 1 Carrot Way Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
The goal of the Rotary Fights Child Hunger food drive is to gather food and funds to provide 100,000 meals!
Your gift today will support Food Gatherers' work feeding children throughout our community. Thank you!
