From Warehouse to Table

Food Gatherers Keeps Washtenaw County Fed as 1 in 7 Face Food Insecurity

If you’ve spent any time in the Washtenaw County area, you’ve seen the Food Gatherers trucks around town–they’re a ubiquitous presence all over, every day. Food Gatherers is the largest food bank and food rescue program in Washtenaw County, distributing over 10.3 million pounds of food–about 8.5 million meals–to over 140 partner agencies in just the last year. Established in 1988, they are also Michigan’s first food rescue program and among the first six in the entire nation.

The large fleet of Food Gatherers trucks goes out twice each day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. They leave the Food Gatherers warehouse filled with food to distribute to partner agencies, drop the food off, and then on their way back to the warehouse, they refill the trucks with donated or rescued food, which they get from “pretty much everywhere.” Rescued food is usually food from grocery stores that is past its “best buy” or “sell by” date, but which is still healthy to consume. These dates indicate peak quality, but there are different guidelines for evaluating when a food is still safe to consume. The USDA estimates that 30 percent of the food supply is lost or wasted at the retail and consumer levels, so by rescuing these foods, Food Gatherers can both feed the community and prevent massive amounts of food waste.

Food Gatherers focuses on rescuing food that is both high in demand and provides the biggest nutritional benefit, as well as foods that are shelf-stable and will last longer for their distribution partners. Over 60% of the foods they distribute are produce or high-protein items like meats, eggs, and dairy products. After the food has been rescued, a vast force of volunteers sorts through the food to make sure that it is all still safe to be distributed to the community: that nothing has broken its seal or been punctured, that the produce is in good shape, and that everything is still within the date extension guidelines (a certain amount of time after the “best by” date). They do this work immediately to make sure the perishable food gets distributed as quickly as possible, and sort the food into boxes to make it easier to deliver to partner agencies–including making tailored halal boxes for partner agencies serving the Muslim community.

Food Gatherers distributes through a vast network of over 140 partner agencies, 40-50 of which are “open sites” such as food pantries and the remainder of which are “closed sites” such as school pantries and housing complexes. Many of these partnerships go back many decades, and Food Gatherers provides the material support while allowing the agencies to make their own internal decisions about what and how to distribute. Food Gatherers is also intentional about making sure that through their network of partner agencies, they are reaching all portions of the county–both urban and rural–which are reported as experiencing food insecurity.

Because of this vast network of partnerships, any cuts to Food Gatherers' funding affect the entire county. Historically, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has played a major role in funding food assistance programs throughout the country. In March, however, the USDA canceled about $4.3 million in food orders to Michigan, equating to more than 2 million meals. Food Gatherers estimates that their organization alone lost 1.2 million meals from these cuts–meals which will cost them about $2.5 million to replace. The program, which was cut, the Emergency Food Assistance Program, focused on providing high-quality, nutritious food such as produce and dairy items. So, although Food Gatherers is still receiving some federal funding, they have been working hard to make up the gap caused by recent cuts. So far, they have been able to, thanks to generous support from donors and our local government.

The recent changes to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) in the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” don’t affect Food Gatherers directly, but they will cause increased need throughout the county as more Washtenaw County residents lose their benefits due to more time limits on benefits and greatly increased paperwork requirements, which many people find difficult to navigate. Food insecurity in Washtenaw County has already been rising, from 12.5% to 14%, meaning that one in seven residents lacks reliable access to nutritious food. Food Gatherers saw a sharp uptick in need when COVID-era SNAP benefits were withdrawn, and they anticipate a similarly sharp uptick in need with the upcoming changes to SNAP. According to Feeding America, for every meal that food banks supply, SNAP supplies nine; organizations like Food Gatherers and their partner agencies are meant to be supplemental to food assistance programs like SNAP–not a replacement.

Food Gatherers won’t be able to fill all the gaps in food access that will come from reduced SNAP benefits, but they expect to be able to continue providing the level of services they have historically been able to. They will continue to distribute record amounts of nutritious food through their agency partners, rescue and distribute food which would otherwise be wasted, conduct community outreach to connect with community members and help them access services, and raise general community awareness through food drives. Even as the terrain of food access becomes increasingly difficult to navigate, community members should have confidence that our local food pantries will continue to be well-provisioned by the incredible work that Food Gatherers is able to carry out.

The essential services that Food Gatherers provides would not be possible without the incredible support they receive from the Washtenaw community in the form of volunteer hours, monetary donations, and food donations. In 2024, over 4,100 volunteers dedicated over 53,000 hours of their time to sort and pack food, go on food runs, cook and serve meals at the Food Gatherers Community Kitchen located in the Delonis Center in Ann Arbor, and help with the Summer Food Service Program, which ensures that families have access to food even when school is out. As more and more federal funding and support are cut for food access programs, it is more important than ever that our local communities show up to support programs like these at the local government level and in our actions as members of the community.

This post is part of a series by Emma Rose Hardy, a PhD Candidate at the University of Michigan and the Rackham Local Food Systems Intern at Growing Hope. The series aims to highlight the essential role that SNAP and other food assistance programs play in the Washtenaw County local food system.

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Nurturing a Season of Hope

By Julius Buzzard • November 18, 2025

November 2025 Food insecurity is a quiet crisis, until it’s at your doorstep. In Michigan, one in six adults and one in five children are struggling to afford food. Here in Washtenaw County, one in seven of our neighbors face the daily choice between groceries, childcare, and medicine. This year has brought more than hardship; it has brought disruption . Federal work requirements are forcing parents and elders to choose between groceries, healthcare, and childcare. Budget cuts and policy whiplash have shredded what remains of our fragile safety net. And yet, this is not the end of the story. We are reminded, once again: hunger isn’t just a matter of policy. It’s a matter of power. At Growing Hope, we are working toward a different future. A future rooted in justice, joy, and food sovereignty. Food is not a commodity. It is a human right. It is a relationship. It is a powerful tool for reclaiming what is ours: the ability to nourish ourselves, our families, and our community. “I want to learn how to do all kinds of stuff. We live in an unpredictable world.” She paused, laughed, and shrugged. “I need to grow my own food. That’s where my head is.” —Amorita, hands in the soil at our urban farm Your gift today will double to ensure families across our region can access, grow, and share fresh, culturally-relevant food. This year, your generosity has sown resilience: Over 6,000 pounds of produce and 10,000 food plants were shared with neighbors. A farmers market that reimagines food assistance with dignity and choice. An incubator kitchen that seeds new food businesses, stitching equity into our local economy. Teens empowered to lead, teach, and grow, becoming catalysts for generational health. “I know that I’ve been able to make an impact in my community while working with the teen program, probably more than I would have if I hadn’t worked here. Part of it is because it made me believe I could. The other is probably all of the connections and opportunities Growing Hope has in the community, that I’ve been privileged to take advantage of.” —Youth Leader, Growing Hope Teen Program Together, we are not just growing food. We are growing future. When a young person harvests food for their neighbors… When an elder shares recipes that carry memory and meaning… When families gather to eat from the soil they stewarded together… That is how chaos gives way to hope. Dr. C.R. Snyder reminds us that hope is not simply a feeling. It requires vision, possibility, sustained effort, and the belief that our actions shape the future. That’s the kind of hope we are cultivating at Growing Hope, and we can only do it together. This season, you can ensure our community is not defined by chaos and confusion, but remembered as a season of hope. Your year-end gift will be doubled to strengthen our shared work for food justice and sovereignty. Will you stand with us in planting the seeds of hope that will grow for generations? In solidarity and gratitude, Julius Buzzard Executive Director P.S. Your gift will be doubled thanks to a generous donor match. Together, let’s move from chaos to hope.

Introducing the Ypsi SNAP Gap

By Julius Buzzard • October 31, 2025

Beloved community, There’s a phrase I keep returning to: We are the safety net. With the federal government shutdown now halting SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits across Michigan, that phrase feels less like a metaphor and more like a mandate. Beginning November 1st, thousands of Washtenaw County households, nearly 9% of local families, will lose access to the benefits that help them keep food on the table. These aren’t strangers. It’s our neighbors. It’s our friends. It’s the families who fill our markets, who grow alongside us, who deserve far more than the uncertainty this system has handed them. At Growing Hope, we’ve always believed that food sovereignty runs deeper than access. It means dignity, interdependence, and self-determination. When the systems built to care for people fail, our community steps forward to weave that net ourselves. To ensure that no one goes hungry during this crisis, we’re launching a new local initiative: the Ypsi Market SNAP Gap. This community-based program temporarily replaces or supplements SNAP for anyone who uses an EBT/Bridge Card. At the Ypsilanti Farmers Market, participants can receive $40 in market tokens to spend on any fresh or prepared foods. Simply bring your Bridge Card to the Market Info Booth and shop with dignity from local farmers and producers who nourish our community every week. We will not allow our neighbors to go hungry while food surrounds us. This program keeps local food moving through local hands, strengthening both Ypsi families and Ypsi farmers. With a mix of foundation, corporate, and individual support, this is mutual aid in motion. Folks are in need, and our community is stepping up in some incredible ways. Here are just a few, and some ways you can get involved: 1. Double Up Food Bucks has temporarily lifted its cap, allowing unlimited matches for Michigan-grown produce for anyone still receiving SNAP benefits, while also offering limited $40 vouchers. 2. Food Gatherers is expanding pantry hours and sites across the county. 3. Our Free Produce Stand at the Growing Hope Urban Farm remains open, stocked by community members and local growers who share what they can. No one will be turned away. If you have extra harvest from your garden, we invite you to share it directly with your neighbors. It’s not about waiting for systems to restart; it’s about creating systems rooted in care, justice, and belonging. Each Ypsi Market SNAP Gap token moves through our local food economy twice: once when it nourishes a family, and again when it supports the farmer who grew it. This is how we resist scarcity: by practicing abundance. We raised emergency funds earlier this year to prepare for moments like this, and they are already hard at work. But as need grows, so too must our response. Our community is what makes this pivotal movement work possible; thank you for being part of our community. “The land and the people are meant to take care of each other.” -Leah Penniman That’s what we’re doing now. Through shared harvests, through small acts of generosity, through the quiet conviction that no one should go hungry. In this moment of uncertainty, we’ll keep doing what we’ve always done: growing hope, together. In solidarity and care, Julius P.S. Shop the market, contribute to our Free Produce Stand, or share this with a neighbor who could use a helping hand; together, we keep our community fed and supported.

Food is A Human Right '25

By Julius Buzzard • October 7, 2025

Beloved community, There is something both ordinary and sacred about food. It is in the smell of bread fresh from the oven, the snap of beans pulled from the vine, the way a shared meal can turn strangers into neighbors. Food is how we survive, but it is also how we connect, how we celebrate, and how we remember who we are. That is why we hold this truth at the center of our work: food is a human right. It is not a privilege. It is not a bargaining chip. It is not to be withheld, leveraged, or weaponized. Food is life, and everyone deserves access to it. And yet, at this very moment, that truth is being denied. Just weeks ago, the USDA quietly canceled its long-running Household Food Security in the U.S. report. For nearly three decades, this report has been one of the few consistent tools we have to measure hunger in this country. It has named the millions of households, disproportionately Black, Brown, Indigenous, and rural, that struggle to put food on the table. Without it, the crisis of hunger becomes easier to hide, easier to dismiss, easier to erase from the public record. Why does that matter? Because when we lose the data, we lose the visibility. When hunger is invisible, so too are the families who face it. And without that accountability, policymakers can claim progress where there is none, and corporate food systems can continue to profit while communities go without. But here is what we know in our bones: hunger is not inevitable . It is not an accident. It is the result of choices. If there are communities around the world who recognize food as a human right in their laws and policies, then it is possible here, too. In a country of such abundance, how can we allow hunger to persist? Every market we host, every meal we share, every seedling we pass into the hands of a neighbor is a refusal to accept that contradiction. These everyday acts help repair our community. Together, we are investing in a food system that reflects our values : one where fresh, local produce is available to all, where education builds resilience, where policies affirm food as a right, and where resources are shared freely, from our produce stand to the gardens sparked by our seedlings. Food connects us. It grounds us. It carries the possibility of dignity, sovereignty, and joy. And in this moment, when the truth about hunger is being stripped from the record, our collective action matters more than ever. Through solidarity, we can build a system rooted in abundance and belonging. In solidarity, Julius P.S. We’ve just released new Food is a Human Right shirts! You can grab yours as part of our Fall Harvest Auction . Take a look and see some of the other items you could take home to help our community achieve the right to food.

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