Community Corner
Macomb County Educators Buy 52,000 Meals for Macomb Food Program
Donations from the staff of 15 Macomb County school districts will allow the Macomb Food Program to purchase more than 52,000 meals for households in need this season.
A $7,327 donation to the Macomb Food Program from Macomb County educators will translate to more than 52,000 meals this holiday season.
The donation, made by staff from 15 Macomb County school districts, will allow the program to purchase some 52,355 pounds of food.
“As teachers, we see the effects of hunger in our classrooms every day; it’s truly heartbreaking," said Marcy Gerlach, president of the New Haven Education Association, in a release. "How can we expect children who are worried about getting their most basic needs met every day to concentrate on reading and math?”
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The Macomb Food Program, which operates 55 food pantries around the county, has served 57,124 households – more than 150,000 children – so far in 2011.
"Children are disproportionally victims of this economic downturn with one out of four children facing hunger," said Commissioner Dave Flynn, a facilitator of the donation drive, along with Commissioners Fred Miller, Toni Moceri and Kathy Tocco and Representative Jon Switalski. "Thanks to the generosity of educators, our students will be more likely to have a meal during the holiday season.”
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In the past three years, requests for food assistance from the program have increased more than 50 percent. Requests in November and December 2011 have already increased 22 percent over the same period last year.
“School employees often bring mittens, hats, boots and coats from home for their students who are in need," said Utica Education Association President Liza Parkinson, in a release. "Many children are food insecure, and the only meals they can count on come from school. We can’t pretend child hunger isn’t happening in our community."
Monetary donations to the Macomb Food Program, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and a division of Macomb County Community Services Agency, can be mailed to 21885 Dunham Rd., Suite 10, Clinton Township, MI 48036, or given via credit card at 586-469-6004.
For more information, visit www.MacombCountyMi.gov/MCCSA/food.htm.
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