OAK PARK, Mich. – Forgotten Harvest, in partnership with the Kroger Co. of Michigan and the Lineage Foundation for Good, will supply nearly 12,000 metro Detroit households with free food boxes containing the fixings for holiday meals.
From Nov. 9 to Dec. 13, all Forgotten Harvest mobile pantries will give away Hope for the Holidays food boxes to community members in need. For a list of Forgotten Harvest mobile pantries, visit https://www.forgottenharvest.org/find-food/
There are an estimated 612,000 people in metro Detroit facing food insecurity, not knowing where their next meal will come from, and 180,000 of them are children. Forgotten Harvest exists to increase its neighbors’ access to fresh, nutritious food all year round, but there are some staples to holiday meals that may be missed in regular food distributions.
To assist its neighbors in need in their own holiday planning, Hope for the Holidays food boxes will be packed with holiday food staples like chicken, potatoes, onions, apples, milk, eggs, canned beans, canned soups, canned fruit, rice, walnuts, stuffing packets, gravy packets, flour, candies, and more. Each box of both fresh and shelf stable food items comes with a recipe card, courtesy of United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM), to make holiday-themed dishes with the included food items.
“The holiday season embodies the spirit of inclusion and togetherness, and food lies at the heart of countless cherished holiday traditions,” said Cam Barrett, Corporate Affairs Manager for the Kroger Co. of Michigan. “Through this impactful partnership with Forgotten Harvest, together we are helping to ensure that 12,000 families across Southeast Michigan have their rightful seat at the table, allowing them the opportunity to craft their very own holiday memories that will last a lifetime.”
Marsha Hazen, Program Officer for the Lineage Foundation for Good, noted, “Rising food prices and inflation has made 2023 a stressful year for many families in metro Detroit. With family budgets feeling increasingly stretched, the Lineage Foundation for Good is proud to support Forgotten Harvest’s Hope for the Holidays because it not only provides families facing food insecurity a holiday meal box but also offers a sense of peace to what can be a stressful time of year.”
Forgotten Harvest is exceedingly grateful to the donors and sponsors who help provide Hope for the Holidays. Thank you to A.L. Johnson & Sons, Fresh Connect Central, Hatch for Hunger, Michigan Dairy, Riveridge Produce Marketing, Second Nature Brands, Sunrise Acres Egg Farm, United Dairy Industry of Michigan, USDA, and Valley Farms for their generous participation.
