The Pokagon Fund entered into a contract in March with Feeding America providing an $18,000 grant award for an innovative new program being brought to the area.
Feeding America manages the mobile food pantry program in southwest Michigan — bringing fresh vegetables, fruit, dairy and baked goods to those in need. The food is donated to Feeding America by corporations like Walmart and Meijer and local farmers.
“This was just the kind of project we look to fund,” shared Mary Dunbar, executive director of The Pokagon Fund, “one which directly affects the people in our service area by providing basic human needs and enhancing the lives of our families.”
Since the initial funding of the program in March, 18 mobile food pantries have taken place.
“In the last six months, we’ve distributed 100,000 pounds of food and fed more than 1,700 households, representing 4,500 individuals,” explained Dunbar. “We couldn’t have done it without the help of our wonderful community volunteers.”
While The Pokagon Fund covers the cost of the food and its transportation from Benton Harbor, it relies on a steadfast group of volunteers from service clubs, churches and schools.
“Each mobile food pantry requires 15 to 20 volunteers to unload the truck, package and distribute the food and keep records of attendees.  We’ve been blessed with a growing list of volunteer groups willing to help with this project. Over 800 volunteer hours have been logged by our volunteers since March,” Dunbar explained.
Eleven additional mobile food pantries are scheduled from the end of August through December. Recipients of food must live in The Pokagon Fund service area: the townships of New Buffalo, Chikaming and Three Oaks, and the cities and villages within those townships.
To host a mobile food pantry, contact The Pokagon Fund at (269) 469-9322.
The following are upcoming pantries:
• Tuesday, Oct. 4, 3 to 5 p.m. — River Valley High School
15480 Three Oaks Rd., Three Oaks
(Hosted by River Valley School District)
• Tuesday, Oct. 11, 3 to 5 p.m. — Mickey’s Restaurant
16409 Red Arrow Highway, Union Pier
(Hosted by Harbor Country Progress)
• Tuesday, Oct. 18, 3 to 5 p.m. — River Valley High School
15480 Three Oaks Rd., Three Oaks
(Hosted by Harbert Community Church)
• Tuesday, Nov. 8, 3 to 5 p.m. — Mickey’s Restaurant
16409 Red Arrow Highway, Union Pier
(Hosted by Harbor Country Progress)
• Tuesday, Nov. 15, 3 to 5 p.m. — River Valley High School
15480 Three Oaks Rd., Three Oaks
(Hosted by Harbert Community Church)
• Wednesday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — New Buffalo Township Hall
17425 Red Arrow Highway, New Buffalo
(Hosted by Knights of Columbus)
• Tuesday, Dec. 13, 3 to 5 p.m. — Mickey’s Restaurant
16409 Red Arrow Highway, Union Pier
(Hosted by Harbor Country Progress)