<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1018706268302959&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
((o
Knowledge • News • Insights
 o))
In Partnership With

Michigan Business Beat | Dr. Phil Knight Food Bank Council of Michigan Honored in Multiple Ways

Michigan Business Beat
May 9, 2022 4:00 PM

fbcMI

Jeffrey Mosher welcomes back Dr. Phil Knight, executive director of the Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM), Lansing, MI.

Dr. Knight recently earned recognition as Governor’s Service Award winner MI Food Bank Council leader credited for efforts during the pandemic.


Listen to Dr. Phil and Jeffrey cover that recognition and recent Farm Bill testimony he has been doing on behalf of the Food Bank Council of Michigan in this SoundCloud podcast below:
 
In the interview Jeffrey looked to find out:

Dr. Phil, remind the Michigan business community about the Food Bank Council of Michigan.

You recently earned recognition from Governor Whitmer, tell us about that.

How did COVID impact the Food Bank Council?

Have things evolved again in the past year, are we into a new normal?

In recent days before this recording, you got to testify before Senator Stabenow regarding the next Farm Bill, can you speak briefly to that message.

How can businesses across Michigan find out more about FBCM or get involved if they see fit to do so?

In further details, the Food Bank Council released the following information at the time of the recognition.

LANSING, Mich. – The heroics of many individuals during the pandemic helped feed the minds,

bodies and souls of a countless number of Michiganders. Among them is Dr. Phil Knight, executive director of the Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM).

For his leadership in providing access to food during these challenging times, Knight received a COVID-19 Governor’s Service Award. His tireless efforts, along with those in the seven regional food banks that make up the Council, delivered a record-breaking number of meals to families, children and seniors.

                   “The Food Bank network has been working incredibly hard to solve the food insecurity issues, and we are grateful,” said Ginna Holmes, executive director, Michigan Community Service Commission. “Thank you for your selfless service and willingness to provide hope and inspiration to many people in your community.”

                   In the pandemic’s first year, FBCM’s network increased food distribution by 47% to try and meet the over 50% increase in need. The network distributed almost 250 million pounds of food during this same period.   

                   “I am humbled by this honor as so much more work awaits us as a state, nation and world,” said Knight. “I share this award with the hundreds of unsung heroes and volunteers who showed up when Michiganders needed us the most.”

                   Honorees are invited to attend a celebration event on the lawn of the Capitol Building during the first weeks of June. They also are honored at the 2022 Governor’s Service Awards slated to take place in the fall.

For more information on the Food Bank Council of Michigan, visit www.fbcmich.org. 

Also at the time of the Farm bill testimony:

Chairwoman Stabenow on Growing Jobs and Economic Opportunity: 2023 Farm Bill Perspectives from Michigan 

WASHINGTON – April 28th, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, held the first field hearing of the 117th Congress on the 2023 Farm Bill at Michigan State.  Stabenow was joined by U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), the committee’s Ranking Member, to hear input from a diverse range of agricultural producers and stakeholders about the next Farm Bill. 

“Our most recent Farm Bill passed with the strongest bipartisan support ever,” said Senator Stabenow. “Senator Boozman and I continued that strong bipartisan tradition today at this first field hearing. We heard from farmers and others impacted by the Farm Bill about how we can strengthen this important legislation, grow our economy, and meet serious new challenges facing our country. Michigan is second in the nation for our diversity of crops and home to our Great Lakes, forests and diverse communities of all sizes.  Today’s witnesses and those submitting testimony provided important and insightful input as we begin the process of writing a new bill.   I look forward to joining Senator Boozman for a field hearing in Arkansas to hear from stakeholders in his home state.” 

“The Senate agriculture committee has a long history of working across party lines to produce strong farm bills. The tradition of starting the process off with field hearings in the states of the chair and ranking member sets the tone for putting stakeholders first as we begin farm bill deliberations. I thank Chairwoman Stabenow for holding this very informative hearing, and welcome the valuable input we received from our witnesses. There is simply no substitute for getting out of Washington and hearing directly from those impacted by our decisions. I look forward to convening our field hearing in Arkansas, as the Natural State’s agricultural, forestry, conservation, rural development and nutrition communities have plenty of ideas to share with Chairwoman Stabenow and myself,” said Ranking Member Boozman.   

Selected excerpts from witness testimony:

“The Emergency Food Assistance Program not only supports food banks and the people we serve, but also has a strong impact on the farm economy as well. TEFAP bonus commodity purchases also provide support for agricultural markets when market support is needed and provides food banks with access to additional healthy food to distribute to communities and individuals in need.” – Dr. Phil Knight, Food Bank Council of Michigan, Lansing, Mich. 

### 

Founded in 1984, the Food Bank Council of Michigan was created to implement a unified strategy to address and alleviate hunger statewide. FBCM works with its regional food banks and over 2,800 hunger relief agencies, private companies, farmers, state and federal officials, and other allies to make sure no Michigander goes without food. For more information about the Food Bank Council of Michigan, visit www.fbcmich.org or call 517.485.1202.

» Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/
» Subscribe to MBN’s YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCqNX…
» Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/
  • fbcMI
  • Phil Knight

Michigan Business Beat, hosted by Chris Holman, discusses economic development, new or unusual entrepreneurial initiatives, and successful business practices from different regions and industries around Michigan with a wide range of entrepreneurs and business leaders.

8:00 AM every Monday through Friday
Replay: 8:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 8:00 PM, 2:00 AM The music for 'Michigan Business Beat' is graciously shared use of Phil Denny's "Traffic Jam" off his 2012 CD 'Crossover'

Connect on: