With a 15 percent food insecurity rate in Michigan and 1 in 6 Michigan children struggling with hunger, many families rely on state and federal programs to feed students during the school year. The summer months can leave many children unsure where their next meal will come from, or when.

The State’s “Meet Up and Eat Up” summer food service program (SFSP) is one way that children are connected with the nutrition they need. The federally-funded Child Nutrition Program is operated locally by program sponsors.

FCA Foundation, a CMF member, announced a $500,000 grant to United Way for Southeastern Michigan to provide funds and technical assistance needed to run and expand the local Meet Up and Eat Up summer meal programs. Additionally, the grant is supporting efforts to build awareness of the Meet Up and Eat Up and the breakfast program available during the school year.

Public. reports that during the school year, nearly 300,000 children in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties qualify for either free or reduced-price meals. Yet, of those eligible children, only about 17 percent participate in the free summer meals program.

Many philanthropic initiatives are underway to supplement SFSP and other governmental efforts to ensure Michigan’s children will not go hungry in the months ahead.

The Manna Food Project, a partner distribution organization with Feeding America West Michigan, provides meals in northern Michigan. Feeding America implements a variety of federal food assistance programs that help feed Americans struggling with hunger. Several CMF members support Manna’s efforts, including Charlevoix County Community Foundation, Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation and Bay Harbor Foundation.

Healthy eating in particular is being encouraged over the summer through programs like Double Up Food Bucks. Developed by the Fair Food Network and supported by over 20 CMF members, the program doubles the value of federal nutrition (SNAP or food stamps) benefits spent at participating markets and grocery stores, helping people bring home more healthy fruits and vegetables while supporting local farmers. 

The Double Up program in Flint is run year-long.

“Double Up enrollment numbers in Flint soared to 40 percent of those who are eligible, allowing 11,300 residents to take home about $415,000 in extra fruits and vegetables over the last two years, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services,” reports Bridge Magazine.

One of the CMF members who sponsors the Double Up program - the W.K. Kellogg Foundation – was also instrumental in inspiring a current State initiative addressing hunger and healthy foods.

The foundation provided principal funding for development of the Michigan Good Food Charter in the late 2000s. The charter inspired “Ten Cents a Meal”  - a state-funded competitive grant reimbursement pilot program for schools to improve daily nutrition and eating habits for children, allowing schools to purchase local fruit, vegetables and beans, and invest in Michigan’s agriculture. An impact study conducted on the pilot showed that in 2017-18, participating school districts in three regions of the state served students 65 new kinds of locally-grown fruits, vegetables and dry beans. The number of districts that received grants, and the students they serve, roughly doubled from 2016-17 to reach 32 districts and 95,000 students this past year. Participants said they have expanded the program to include coordinating taste tests and nutrition education in the cafeteria and classroom. The program is being expanded in the state budget for FY19.

Want more?

Visit the official Meet Up and Eat Up site.

Learn more about Ten Cents a Meal.

Dive deeper into Michigan hunger facts.