Jeffrey Mosher welcomes back Michelle Lantz CEO, Greater Lansing Food Bank, Lansing, MI.

to Ensure Food Isn’t an Impossible Choice for People in mid-Michigan

Greater Lansing Food Bank Joins Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month Campaign.

To hear Michelle share about Feeding America's Hunger Action Month, click play on the SoundCloud podcast shared below:

In the interview Jeffrey looked to find out from Michelle:

Welcome back Michelle, remind the Michigan business community about your Food Bank and the footprint your organization covers.

So, Feeding America, what is their story?

I understand this month marks the 15th year Feeding America has had a special campaign happening.

Hunger Action Month, how can businesses and the community get involved?

Anything else we should know at this time?

People Living with Food Crisis Due to Economy

• Food pantries across the U.S. say they're struggling to meet demand as the rising cost of groceries is forcing more Americans to need help keeping food on the table.
• A recent survey from Feeding America, a nonprofit network of 200 food banks, found that 155 food pantries reported a jump in families coming to their door.
• Although inflation has eased, Americans aren't seeing any relief in the grocery aisle. Food prices jumped 14.1% in August, the biggest one-year increase since March of 1979.

Recap of Lansing Chamber Event 9/13/22

• Lansing Economic Club featured a panel discussion with Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America and Dr. Phil Knight, executive director of Food Bank Council of Michigan. The program focused on how food insecurity impacts every business, from employees and their families, clients and potential clients, and the communities in which they operate. The program was moderated by Michelle Lantz, CEO of Greater Lansing Food Bank.

Get Involved. Upcoming Events

• September is Hunger Action Month. Hunger Action day is Sept. 23. September marks the 15^th year Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a nationwide network of 200 food banks, including Greater Lansing Food Bank, has organized the annual call to action. This year’s campaign presents the impossible choices that millions of people in America are often forces to make between food and other basic needs More details here: https://greaterlansingfoodbank.org/events/hunger-action-month-2022
• Empty Bowls is October 21. For over 30 years, Greater Lansing Food Bank (GLFB) has hosted an annual Empty Bowls event. The simple offering of a bowl of soup and slice of bread is served to show supporters the humble meal that is often the only food someone can eat when struggling with food insecurity. More details here: https://greaterlansingfoodbank.org/give/empty-bowls

The Greater Lansing Food Bank also shared a press release with MBN on this occasion:

Hunger Action Month Campaign Aims to Inspire the Public to Get Involved and Raise Awareness of Hunger in America

LANSING, MI – Sept. 2022– For Hunger Action Month® this September, Greater Lansing Food Bank (GLFB) will join Feeding America and other network member food banks to inspire people to join the fight to end hunger and raise awareness of people experiencing food insecurity across the United States.

Food banks around the country are working to make a real and lasting impact on hunger in their communities, and they are asking for the public’s support.

September marks the 15th year Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a nationwide network of 200 food banks, including Greater Lansing Food Bank, has organized the annual call to action. This year’s campaign presents the impossible choices that millions of people in America are often forces to make between food and other basic needs.

“Many people may not give a daily meal much thought. For people facing hunger, a daily meal is not as simple,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “Instead, it becomes a different type of choice - an impossible decision between food or other crucial needs, such as electricity, childcare, or medicine. Nobody should be forced to make a choice to go hungry. With the public’s support, we can come together to help increase food access for all people, so they no longer have to make such tough decisions.”

Hunger Action Month is a time to mobilize to end hunger. You can choose to donate or advocate. You can choose to volunteer or raise awareness. You can choose to help end hunger. For more details visit: https://bit.ly/3kLmtQG

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About Greater Lansing Food Bank Greater Lansing Food Bank, a member of Feeding America, has worked to compassionately feed Michiganders experiencing hunger since 1981. GLFB distributes more than 11 million pounds of nutritious food across a seven-county service area through specialized programs and a network of 140 community partners.

About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Press Contact Michael Steibel, Marketing & Communications Manager p: (517) 853-7818 e: michael@glfoodbank.org