The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan serves as a common solicitor, storehouse and distributor of food to member non-profit and charitable organizations in 22 counties.
The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan serves a network of nearly 600 hunger relief partners throughout 22 counties. The Food Bank has been committed to fighting hunger and working to meet the rising need since it first began as a small grass-roots organization in Genesee County, in 1981.
Our History
Procurement
The Food Bank procures food from a variety of sources including partnerships with several retail grocers, farmers, food distributors and manufacturers.
Often food will be donated because of shifts in market forces, misprints, changes to packaging or damaged freight.
Food may come to the Food Bank as a result of surpluses in the grocery industry. For example, if Kellogg’s produces more Rice Krispies than it sells, then they have a warehouse full of cereal past its sell-by date – the food is still good to eat, but it cannot be sold.
Once food arrives at the Food Bank, it is inspected, sorted, packaged for distribution and made available to partner agencies such as churches, soup kitchens and food pantries for distribution to the public. All Food Bank partners distribute food without charges or fees to our neighbors in need.
Our History
Established in 1981, the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan has vigorously pursued the mission to eradicate hunger within the community.
Starting with a staff of three, working in a small, rented portion of a warehouse, the organization soon grew to a five person staff operating out of a 90’ x 100’ donated warehouse. In 1990, the Food Bank moved to its current location on Lapeer Road. Three more expansions, including the addition of the Hunger Solution Center in a semi-adjacent facility and the Food Bank now has over 110,000 square feet of warehouse space and offices.
The Food Bank became an affiliated member of the United Way in 1985 and joined Feeding America in 1987. These organizations further enabled the Food Bank to expand its service area and distribute food to those in need throughout 22 counties. In 2002, Feeding America recognized the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan as the number one food bank in the nation with the Excellence in Food Banking Award.
The excellent relationships established within the Food Bank’s 22-county service area and throughout the state has allowed for numerous programs and initiatives to help fight hunger. Through the Store Pick-Up Program, the Food Bank partners with ALDI, Costco, Dollar General, Kroger, Meijer, Sam’s Club, Target and Walmart to bring in donated foods including frozen meats, fresh produce and bakery items
With the addition of the Hunger Solution Center in 2015, the Food Bank tripled the amount of volunteer space available for sorting and boxing food products. A state-of-the-art production kitchen with the capacity to prepare more than 3,000 meals per day provides meals for HeadStart and other school feeding programs. In 2023, the kitchen produced an incredible 456,573 meals for kids feeding programs throughout our service area.
The Food Bank has also been honored with six Model Program Awards from Feeding America for innovative programs in technology, distribution, fundraising, public relations and programs.
Board of Directors
Officers
| Alex Murray | BOARD CHAIR | Retired, NALC, AFL-CIO |
| Peggy Haw Jury | CHAIR ELECT | CFO, Michigan Association of CPAs |
| Tony Burks | VICE CHAIR | Vice President of Business Development, Blue Hawk |
| Greg Viener | TREASURER | Regional President for Mid-Michigan, Huntington Bank |
| Leanne Panduren | SECRETARY | President & CEO, Rowe Professional Services Company |
| Julianne Princinsky | PAST CHAIR | Retired, President, Baker College of Flint |
Board Members
| Dr. Nasir Ali | Founder & President, Advanced Urgent Care |
| Hon. F. Kay Behm | U.S. Eastern District Court Judge |
| Steve Dawes | Director, UAW Region 1-D |
| Melany Gavulic | CEO, Hurley Medical Center |
| Elizabeth Latchana, Esq. | SVP, Director of Compliance, Lockton |
| Dr. Rajagopal Shantaram | Retired, Math Instructor, Mott Community College |
| Dick Skaff | President & Owner, Skaff Furniture Carpet One |
| Emilee Thornton | Corporate Reporting, The Dow Chemical Company |
| Jane Worthing | President & CEO, Genesee Packaging, Inc. |
Board Emeritus
| Edward A. Mitchell | Retired, The Flint Journal |