Food Bank Council of Michigan

09/01/2026

Ending hunger takes all of us.

At the Food Bank Council of Michigan, our member network of seven food banks and more than 2,500 local agencies serving all 83 counties knows that firsthand.

When we connect our efforts, even small actions become part of something bigger: a movement building a system that feeds millions.

This Hunger Action Month, we’re asking everyone to find a way to take action and join our member network in its mission to end hunger.

Donate. Volunteer. Speak up.

Reach out to your regional food bank and take action: https://www.fbcmich.org/food-bank-network
Greater Lansing Food Bank Forgotten Harvest Food Bank of Eastern Michigan Food Gatherers South Michigan Food Bank Feeding America West Michigan Gleaners Community Food Bank

08/25/2026

We’re excited to welcome Cara Gabris to Greater Lansing Food Bank and Michigan’s food bank network! We look forward to the experience and perspective she will bring to this important work. We are also deeply grateful to Michelle Lantz for her leadership, partnership and service over the past seven years. 💙

08/03/2026

We’re excited to see this important expansion moving forward!

The new Ga***rd facility will strengthen the Food Bank Council of Michigan’s Member Network and expand its capacity to serve communities across northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

We’re grateful for the leadership of the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan and Feeding America West Michigan, and for the support of the many partners helping make this project possible.

The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan is moving forward with its Northern Expansion Project to strengthen food access across rural and underserved communities in northern Michigan, where food insecurity rates exceed 17 percent—well above state and national averages. Many families in these areas face significant challenges, including limited transportation, long distances to food resources, and insufficient storage for perishable items, making consistent access to nutritious food especially difficult.

To better serve these communities, the Food Bank is developing a new satellite warehouse in Ga***rd, Michigan, with groundbreaking scheduled for this summer. In partnership with Feeding America West Michigan, the facility will expand distribution capacity, extend service into the Upper Peninsula, improve delivery efficiency, reduce food waste, and strengthen collaboration with local farmers and partner agencies.

This important work is made possible through the generous support of community, corporate, and philanthropic partners, including Enbridge, Carls Foundation, Feeding America, the office of Elissa Slotkin, USDA Rural Development Community Project Funding, Community Foundation of Northeast Michigan, the Mackey Family, Consumers Energy Foundation, Towsley Foundation, Allen Foundation, Besser Foundation, Priority Health, Lions Club members, Leon Lowenstein Foundation, Charles J. Strosacker Foundation, and Lions Clubs International Foundation. Together, these partnerships are helping build a stronger, more resilient, and more equitable food distribution network for families across Michigan.

06/01/2026

June is National Dairy Month 🥛

We're proud to work with dairy farmers across the state to help provide nutritious food to Michiganders facing hunger while supporting Michigan agriculture.

05/14/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s Hunger Solutions Reception.

It was a special evening celebrating the people behind hunger solutions across our state, including this year’s MASS Impact Award recipients and Hunger-Free Michigan Award honorees.

Throughout the night, people were connecting, many for the first time, and seeing how their work intersects in ways that go beyond day-to-day transactions. The success of a program like the Michigan Agricultural Surplus System depends on strong partnerships working together, and last night was a clear reflection of that.

A surprise highlight of the evening was seeing Phil Knight recognized by State Representative Angela Witwer and State Senator Sarah Anthony for his leadership.

05/13/2026

Tonight, we’re honored to bring together partners from across Michigan for the Hunger Solutions Reception.

The evening celebrates the partnerships helping strengthen food access across Michigan communities and recognizes this year’s MASS Impact Award recipients and Hunger-Free Michigan Award honorees.

05/04/2026

We were glad to join Food Bank of Eastern Michigan for their annual meeting and 45th anniversary, recognizing the partners, donors, and volunteers who help advance this work every day.

The evening included a special recognition of Dr. Phil Knight for his 12 years of leadership in advancing food access across Michigan. It was a meaningful moment to acknowledge that leadership among so many outstanding partners across the network.

05/03/2026

Congratulations to Pattijean McCahill on her appointment as President and CEO of Feeding America West Michigan

We look forward to working together to support communities across West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula and to continue advancing efforts to ensure all Michiganders have access to the food they need.

Please join us in welcoming Pattijean McCahill as Feeding America West Michigan’s next President and CEO. She will officially step into this new role on June 29. Currently serving as the food bank’s Chief Philanthropy Officer, McCahill has spent the past decade shaping Feeding America West Michigan’s hunger-relief strategy, philanthropic growth, and public voice.

“At a time when national pressures are increasing food insecurity and decreasing resources, Pattijean is committed to centering community voice and local strengths, building needed partnerships, and advancing thoughtful innovation in immediate relief and long-term solutions,” said Board Chair Danielle Sheffield LaPorte. “Pattijean will help ensure neighbors have needed support today and a stronger, more equitable food system for the future.”

"I am deeply committed to the food bank's future and prepared to lead the organization into its next chapter,” McCahill said. “Advancing this work requires listening first, using data to guide decisions, and allocating resources that reflect the realities of a service area spanning both urban centers and deeply rural communities. This approach emphasizes partnership, accountability, and continuous learning. I am committed to ensuring Feeding America West Michigan remains a trusted, unifying presence across every community it serves.”

We are excited to begin this new chapter of working together to end hunger in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

04/10/2026

Last night, Greater Lansing Food Bank hosted their 18th Annual Empty Plate event, bringing the community together in support of their mission.

We’re proud to see the work of our member network in action and the strong support behind it.

It was great to see leaders and longtime champions of this work in the room, including Debbie Stabenow — someone we can always count on, and who has long stood with our food banks, families and farmers in support of this mission. Pictured here with Dr. Phil Knight and Dr. Dawn Shoultz Opel

04/08/2026

We’re proud to be part of this work alongside South Michigan Food Bank and Grace Health.

Programs like Fresh Food Pharmacy show what’s possible when food banks and healthcare providers come together. By connecting patients with nutritious foods, this approach supports better health while meeting people where they are.

This World Health Day, we'd like to highlight our Fresh Food Pharmacy program!

This program is in partnership with the Food Bank Council of Michigan and Grace Health. Using a "Food is Medicine" approach, the program provides patients with a prescription of healthy foods to help them manage chronic health conditions.

Our third round of the program is expected to start this spring, and we're honored to continue supporting our neighbors that are on a journey to better health!