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Food pantries provide food when families can’t make ends meet, but one big issue many food banks struggle with is providing their clients with healthy, nutritious food.
In Grand Rapids, MI, where Latinos make up almost 20% of the population, food pantries in the area are trying to encourage donors to donate less chips and more healthy and fresh foods.
South End Community Outreach Ministries (SECOM) runs a food pantry in the Grand Rapids area, and is among the few pantries that have walk-in coolers and refrigeration space. The pantry is able to store things like eggs, juice, milk and cheese. Those are the type of fresh foods and dairy pantry operators would like to see donated more often.
SECOM is also addressing the nutrition issue by growing things like herbs and fresh fruits and veggies in the pantry garden. Eleanor Moreno, Director of Client Service for SECOM, encourages community partners and donors to grow extra and bring it in.
Moreno said that in the next couple of months the pantry will be partnering with Parks and Rec. who will donate 10 fruit trees.
The upcoming changes at this particular food pantry should serve as inspiration to groups across the country who help folks in need get access to healthy, fresh food.
Read more about the food pantry’s work.
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