Increasing food security — one backpack at a time and with the help of a new ACCF grant program

Rising food costs and market uncertainty mean food insecurity is on the rise everywhere. 

The newest Allegan County Community Foundation grant aims to address food insecurity by supporting food pantries, encouraging collaboration and cooperation, and increasing the availability of and access to food options.

“Recognizing there will always be people who need to be fed, how can we be the most efficient with our limited resources?” says Grants Program Officer Vicki Knuckles. “What can we do to help move the needle?”

Courtesy Children First Lakeshore CFL is dedicated to feeding children affected by hunger throughout Allegan County by providing a weekend meal backpack program in elementary, middle, and high schools.

First two grants

The ACCF Food Security Grant Program awarded its first grants this month.

Children First Lakeshore and Good Hands Plainwell received $1,500 for their backpack nutrition programs.

CFL is dedicated to feeding children affected by hunger throughout Allegan County by providing a weekend meal backpack program in elementary, middle, and high schools. CFL connects with schools where there is a need and partners with local institutions and food organizations to coordinate the purchase of food and supplies for the program. The nonprofit is 100% volunteer run and delivers food to schools each week. 
 
Good Hands Plainwell is a nutritional weekend backpack program for students in the Plainwell Community Schools. Each Friday plastic bags filled with two breakfasts, two lunches, snacks and drinks are discreetly placed in students’ backpacks in their lockers. In addition, once a month, vouchers for milk, bread and eggs are placed in the backpacks. The bread, milk, and egg voucher program allows a student’s family to receive a loaf of bread, a gallon of milk, and a dozen eggs for each child. Volunteers perform all the bagging, packing, and distribution of the food. 

Courtesy Children First Lakeshore Children First Lakeshore is 100% volunteer run and delivers food to schools each week.

Good Hands Plainwell currently serves 235 students, Treasurer Laurie Krahn says.

“This is the highest number we’ve ever had. This is our thirteenth year,” she says.

The ACCF will award Food Security Grants twice more this year. The next deadline is May with decisions announced in June. And the final deadline is Sept. with recipients announced in October.

Organizations serving residents of Allegan County may apply. Any recipients of the grant will be eligible for funding once during a rolling 12-month period.

Future Food Security Grant Program grants will go toward projects that move beyond buying food in bulk, Knuckles says. Projects should help a pantry expand their capacity or buy needed equipment.

For additional information on all ACCF Grant cycles and guidelines visit alleganfoundation.org/guidelines/.

Courtesy Allegan County Community FoundationThe Martin Lions was one of many organizations that helped to stock Allegan County pantries with peanut butter last year.

Peanut power

The foundation is collecting protein for Allegan County pantries through its annual peanut butter drive through the end of the week. 

The foundation is collecting peanut butter, other nut butters, canned tuna and chicken and other proteins through Feb. 28. The annual drive is not just about peanut butter. It's about community, connection, and spreading the spirit of giving. 

Donating anything is helpful, but monetary donations are able to be stretched further with community partnerships that allow the Foundation to buy in bulk at a cheaper rate.

The Community Foundation uses monetary donations to bulk buy protein such as nut butters, canned tuna and canned chicken. Last year, donations were used to buy 1,600 jars of peanut butter, canned tuna and chicken.

Visit alleganfoundation.org and click on the Peanut Butter Drive for a donation link or to find a pantry near you accepting donations.