HANCOCK -- Portage Health Foundation (PHF) is proud to announce 12 additional mobile food pantries coming to Michigan’s Copper Country, with visits to Houghton, L’Anse and Ontonagon scheduled for each month through the end of 2020.
"This has been a challenging year for all of us," said Kevin Store, executive director of PHF. "For some folks in our community, this has meant choosing between paying for food or paying for other necessities. We’ve seen a new group of people who have never had to navigate through things like unemployment or accessing some of the programs that are there to help people in financially challenging times."
The mobile food pantries are funded by Portage Health Foundation in partnership with Community Action Food Pantry, Ontonagon Area Schools and Feeding America West Michigan. At each of the mobile food pantries that took place in August, every family that waited in line received food.
"Everyone needs food! What is most satisfying is that these events are filled with hope and a sense of community," Store said. "I am grateful that we have been able to collaborate with others in our community to make this happen and thankful for the people coming out to each distribution -- all of this food is finding its way to our community."
Each mobile food pantry will provide a variety of foods, including fresh produce and dairy items, to approximately 300 families. For these distributions, attendees will not have to show identification or proof of income to receive food; however, they will be required to provide basic contact information and affirm that they are in need of food. Boxes of food will be provided in a drive-through format. Each event will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Upcoming Mobile Food Pantries
-- Thursday, September 10, 2 p.m. at Community Action Service Center in Houghton (310 E. Sharon Avenue)
-- Thursday, September 17, 2 p.m. at Meadowbrook Arena in L’Anse (204 Division Street)
-- Thursday, September 24, 12 p.m. at Ontonagon Area Schools in Ontonagon (701 Parker Avenue)
At the beginning of each month for the remainder of the year, details about the next month's mobile food pantries will be released. A schedule can also be found anytime at feedwm.org/mobile-pantry-schedule.
COVID-19 Community Recovery Fund
These events are being funded by Portage Health Foundation’s COVID-19 Community Recovery Fund. This is a restricted fund maintained for the purpose of mobilizing resources for the citizens of Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties. All monies contributed to this restricted fund will be used locally for the distribution of health/humanitarian relief.
To support this and other projects like it, visit phfgive.org/covid19 .
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