The fight against hunger in Lansing is about to become more efficient, and hopefully more effective. The
Capital Region Community Foundation announced last week that Board of the American Red Cross, Mid-Michigan Chapter, which operates the Mid -Michigan Food Bank and the Board of the
Greater Lansing Food Bank will be combining operations.
CRCF, which has provided financial support to both area food banks, has been working with the two organization on joining forces for more than a year.
“Often the Community Foundation is called upon to serve as a neutral convening space to talk about how to better service the community,” says Brad Patterson Vice President of Program for CRCF. “Especially in this case, these organizations like services and were operating in near parallel.”
The two operations will combine under the name of the Greater Lansing Food Bank. While some details of the consolidation are still under consideration, the intended outcome is to increase the efficiency of feeding those in need and to eliminate confusion in the community about the roles of the two organizations. The consolidation is set to be complete by July of 2012.
“This will increase the ability the new organization to acquire food, both federal food and donated, corporate food items,” says Patterson, “and to increase the variety of food that is available for the region. The outcome will be an improved food security system and ensuring both organizations are able to achieve their missions a more effective way.”
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