Fresh Food Access All Pandemic Long
Its been almost a year since the pandemic hit the Michigan community. Reflecting on this past year, the COVID-19 pandemic surely put a halt on many supports we at Communities In Schools of Michigan planned to provide; many of the afterschool programs, community volunteers, and tutors are no longer allowed in the school to provide in-person programming. For an organization that is all about bringing people together, we had to get creative, and we did.
We have embraced the virtual by hosting a statewide student advocacy event focused on students telling the unfiltered truths of their racial experiences. Reading Buddies in Battle Creek continued to be the favorite time of the week for elementary students, and families came together through a partnership with the Cooking Matters program provided by MSU Extension in Mid-Michigan.
A place where Communities In Schools of Michigan has dramatically increased support is our local food distributions. In the last school year, we have organized 49 food distributions and provided 4,082 units of food to 4,361 students and 3,406 family members. Half of these are mobile food pantries and each unit given out contains 30 pounds of food! CIS of Michigan made sure families knew that students having access to healthy food is a priority, no matter what legislative bill may or may not get passed by Congress.
This emphasis on food access isn’t new. The Dearborn team has been organizing mobile food pantries in partnership with Gleaners Food Bank for years. What is new is how, thanks to the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, CIS of Michigan can pay for two out of the three new mobile food pantries we have brought to Pontiac and Dearborn.
Patrice, a Site Coordinator in Dearborn, shared: “The coronavirus pandemic has limited the social connection that we as humans all desire and deserve. Due to the pandemic, many of us have not been able to see students in person for close to six months. Recently, Gleaners' mobile food pantries have provided us with a safe, although brief, way to have interactions with our school families. The food pantries not only allow for families to receive a basic need of intangible goods but also the basic need of social interaction. Being able to see students even from their cars at a safe distance brings joy and reassurance. As a Site Coordinator, I value that the work we are doing is impactful in many ways. During the time of the food pantries, we are able to exchange greetings filled with enthusiasm that express to school families and the community that Communities In Schools have their back."
The CIS of Michigan team in Battle Creek has a menu of different food access initiatives they have organized, supported, or directly funded. Many philanthropic partners have stepped up to address low food access for the families in Battle Creek; including the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, the Ronald McDonald Foundation, PNC Financial Services, the Advia Foundation, and veteran partners like the Post Foundation. From teen boxes to family markets to fresh food distributions, all of these are part of the normal support calendar. Twice a month on Wednesdays, the Battle Creek team organizes all the ingredients for their teen boxes at Battle Creek Central High School. Due to limitations on having volunteers in the building, almost all of this effort comes from the CIS team themselves.
“Our Battle Creek team is dedicated to providing nutritional support to students through distributing groceries, fresh food boxes, and providing nutritional education that they can utilize throughout their lives,” stated Amanda Rodgers, the Program Development Manager in Battle Creek. Whether it was blizzard conditions, daunting lines of cars or the unknown of school closures, the CIS of Michigan team has been there for their families.
Ensuring access to healthy food will continue throughout the pandemic. When students return back to school, CIS of Michigan will still be there; packing up boxes, greeting families, and working towards the day all of our students are confident that having something to eat is nothing they need to worry about.