Food Gatherers

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48113-1037 United States

Mission Statement

As the food rescuefood bank program serving Washtenaw County, Food Gatherers exists to alleviate hunger and eliminate its causes

About This Cause

We are committed to providing the best possible service to the community. Service guides all that we do. All Food Gatherers' actions are based on our commitment to serve people experiencing hunger. We are committed to distributing safe, usable, nutritious and appealing food. We believe that food is a basic human right. We are committed to the ideal of a world in which all people have food, shelter, meaningful work, dignity and freedom. To us, growth is two-fold: a commitment to long-term strategic planning as well as responsiveness to the needs of the community and to new opportunities for meeting those needs. We recognize and honor the different roles and responsibilities of the staff and the board of directors, but view this core group as members of one team working toward a common goal. The same values that guide our service to the community also guide our relations to one another. We believe that everyone can play a role in the fight against hunger. We fight hunger efficiently. We regard the gifts of food, money and time that we receive as a sacred trust to be administered for the most effective hunger relief possible. We are a fiscally responsible organization. Who we serve 150 non-profit agencies and programs providing direct food assistance in the form of hot meals, nutritious snacks or emergency groceries to low-income adults, seniors and children in Washtenaw County Food Gatherers provides our agency partners with: Mostly free (70%) and low cost food Capacity building grants Training to register eligible clients for federal and state benefit programs Customized food safety training by licensed food safety professionals on our staff Food Gatherers provides direct service through our Community Kitchen and Job Training Program located in the Robert J. Delonis Center in downtown Ann Arbor: 1,500 volunteers prepare and serve more than 100,000 meals to people in need each year Students of the Job Training and Internship programs are chosen from at-risk youth (ages 17-24). They gain basic training in the culinary arts, and work to develop work ethics and life skills Food sources Food Gatherers rescues food that would otherwise go to waste from more than 300 local sources including food retailers, restaurants, and food wholesalers. As members of both the Food Bank Council of Michigan and Feeding America, we are connected to statewide and national corporate and government food donations. Our Growing Initiatives are dramatically increasing the amount of local vegetables available to our partners: Food Gatherers Gathering Farm – located at our warehouse, yields vegetables most requested by our partners Faith and Food – a coordinated campaign to encourage congregations to start a garden and donate a portion of their harvest Plant a Row for the Hungry – encourages local gardeners to grow a little extra to donate to food banks. Huron Valley Women's Correctional Facility – their horticulture program provides tons of fresh produce Michigan Farm to Food Bank – we pay local farmers to grow tons of fruits and vegetables We also purchase bulk food items! Then, there are people who donate to food drives or support our food program financially. Connecting the dots between hunger and public health Our neighbors living in poverty face a much higher likelihood of having high cholesterol, diabetes and other diet related ailments. Food Gatherers is focused on distributing not just more pounds of food but more nutritionally valuable food. In our last fiscal year, 55% of all food distributed was fresh fruits, vegetables or meat, eggs and other protein items! We even have a registered dietitian on staff empowering partner agencies and food assistance recipients to make healthier choices.

Food Gatherers
Po Box 131037
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48113-1037
United States
Phone (734) 761-2796
Unique Identifier 382853858