Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Greater Lansing Food Bank:

Joe Wald

(517) 853.7803

Greater Lansing Food Bank kicks off 29th Annual Envelope Drive fund raising campaign, asking the community to “Come Together to Fight Hunger”

Lansing, Michigan – November 3, 2011 – In the Auditorium of MacDonald Middle School in East Lansing, surrounded by students, faculty, school administrators and guests including the Mayor of East Lansing, the Greater Lansing Food Bank, in partnership with the Lansing State Journal, kicked off its 29th Annual Envelope Drive fund raising campaign. This campaign will ask the community to “Come Together to Fight Hunger” by donating money and food to feed the hungry in Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties. Interim Executive Director Joe Wald emphasized the importance of this campaign. He shared that over the past year, more than 18,000 families, or more than 50,000 individuals accessed the food pantries coordinated through the Ingham County Food Bank, which organized the distribution of more than 1.3 million pounds of food provided through community support to the Greater Lansing Food Bank. An additional 30,000 individuals also received food assistance provided by the Greater Lansing Food Bank through related agencies and pantries beyond those in the Ingham County Food Bank network.

“This year, the Greater Lansing Food Bank has experienced a significant increase in requests for food assistance and the need continues to grow” stated Wald. In Ingham County, of the people served, 38% were children, 30% were the working poor and 25% were those living on fixed incomes. Most disturbing is the fact that just in Ingham County, there have been more than 100 new requests per month from families in need of emergency food support.

Board Chair Mike Busch made a point to thank the many people and businesses of the community who provide ongoing support, especially in these difficult economic times. “Our envelope drives of the past two years have resulted in record breaking fund raising totals. The Board made certain that all of these funds were translated into food for those in need in our community. We truly live in a compassionate and caring community. But unfortunately, the need continues. We again ask for the support necessary to feed those in need.”

Wald continued, “The Greater Lansing Food Bank could not do what we do without the support of our wonderful volunteers and many partners such as the administration and students at MacDonald Middle School, but our relationship with the Lansing State Journal and the commitment of its leadership is truly special. We cannot thank Publisher Brian Priester and his team enough for their tireless support to address hunger in our community. As an added benefit for the community, Board of Water & Light Executive Peter Lark got this year’s campaign started with the presentation of an oversized check to the Greater Lansing Food Bank envelope campaign for $2,000." Donation envelopes will be distributed in the Sunday, November 6 edition of the Lansing State Journal throughout the Lansing and outlying areas. The campaign is scheduled to run through the end of January, 2012.

The Boards of the Greater Lansing Food Bank and the American Red Cross, Mid-Michigan Chapter, which is the parent organization of the Mid-Michigan Food Bank, recently announced their intent to consolidate the two food banks so that effective July 1, 2012, there will be one regional food banking organization focused on feeding those in our community who might otherwise go hungry.

The Greater Lansing Food Bank is a not- for- profit organization that solicits donations of money and food to make certain that all those in need in Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties can put food on their tables. All donations stay local and are reinvested in this mission. For nearly 30 years, a dedicated group of volunteer Board of Directors has maintained an unwavering commitment and focus on serving those in need of food. For more information about the Greater Lansing Food Bank, visit www.greaterlansingfoodbank.org.

GLFB, MMFB to Combine Organizations to Form One Food Bank

Lansing, Michigan – October 27, 2011 – In what some are calling an early holiday season gift to the community, the Board of the American Red Cross, Mid-Michigan Chapter, which operates the Mid -Michigan Food Bank (MMFB) and the Board of the Greater Lansing Food Bank (GLFB) announced today that the two organizations will be combining operations effective July 1, 2012. Lee Hendrickson, Board Chair of the American Red Cross, parent organization of the MMFB, and Mike Busch, Board Chair of the GLFB, made the announcement this morning at a press conference held at the offices of the Capital Region Community Foundation, an organization which has provided financial support to both area food banks.