Throughout the month of March, the Brighton campus of Ross Medical Education Center hosted a food drive to benefit Gleaners Food Bank. The students, faculty, and staff worked together and collected non perishable food items that they then delivered to Gleaners. The staff at the campus set up a table in a prominent location where donated items could be dropped off. Everyone at the campus enjoyed watching the collection of items grow larger and larger. It was also a great chance to show prospective students and visitors how much the Brighton campus loves to be involved with the local community.
According to their website, only 6% of food donations to Gleaners come from food drives by the community. The Livingston County chapter of Gleaners is one of 5 locations and has been “feeding hungry people and nourishing our communities” for more than 38 years. Last year, Gleaners distributed 34 million pounds of emergency food to more than 510 partner soup kitchens, shelters, and pantries in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Monroe counties. Of every dollar donated, Gleaners uses 94 cents for food and food programs. For just one dollar, three meals can be provided for a community member in need.
When Ross in Brighton considered the statistics provided by Feeding America showing that one in six Michigan residents struggle with hunger, they knew that it was their responsibility as good citizens to be involved. That’s why they consistently partner with Gleaners Food Bank to help make a difference to the hungry in their community. “What many people do not realize is that this is the time of year where food donations slow down due to the temperature warming up,” said Cathy Dorosh, Campus Director in Brighton. “There is always a sense of urgency during the winter months but the need does not stop no matter what time of year it is.” This year, the Brighton campus definitely felt the spring urgency as well; through their drive, 170 pounds of food were collected and donated to Gleaners to help area families!
If you are interested in finding out more about Gleaners Food Bank, visit their website at http://www.gcfb.org/ or their Facebook page. To read more about the hunger crisis in America and how you can help, visit Feeding America at their website http://www.feedingamerica.org/ or their Facebook page.