A Brief History of the

Food Bank of Eastern Michigan

 

1981 The Food Bank was founded. At that time, it was called The Genesee County Food Bank, located in a small portion of Sullivan & O'Sullivan Distribution Warehouse. It had a staff of three plus volunteers and served only the Genesee County area. Word of mouth advertising as well as an overwhelming need for it's services are accountable for the Food Bank's rapid expansion.
1985 The expansion forced the Food Bank to move to a larger facility, a donated 90 x 100 warehouse on Hill 23 Drive. The staff had grown to five plus volunteers. The Food Bank becomes an affiliated member of the United Way.
1986 The Food Bank joined Second Harvest, a nationwide network of food banks. the Food Bank continues expansion outside of Genesee County.
1989 Purchased a large freezer, allowing them to store perishable products and increase the variety of food available to it's agencies. The Food Bank gains agency status with the United Way of Genesee & Lapeer Counties and becomes an affiliated member of the United Way of Saginaw County.
1990 Has outgrown the Hill 23 Drive warehouse and purchases a 21,000 sq. ft. facility at their current Lapeer Rd. location. CARS 108 begins their "Cruise for Cans" campaign.
1991 The Food Bank initiates the Purchase Program, allowing them to purchase items which were infrequently donated but greatly needed by the community. This program helped ensure a balanced diet for their clients.
1992 The Food Bank is selected to serve as the state damage consolidation center for Procter & Gamble products, which brought access to a greater variety of foods not previously available to the organization. The warehouse area is increased by 20,000 sq. ft.
1993 The Food Bank computerizes operations, providing a significant increase in productivity.  An increase in warehouse and distribution lead to an increase in staff, from four to seven full time employees.
1994 The Food Bank distributes 4.4 million pounds of food and brings in a new President, William E. Kerr to help expand Food Bank operations to help more people in need.
1995 Distributed 5.2 million pounds and changed names.  The Genesee Regional Food Bank officially became the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan and began serving 22 counties of Michigan.  The Holiday League Challenge is initiated with The Greater Flint Bowling Proprietors Association and the Holiday Box program begins in partnership with the Salvation Army.
1996 Distributes 6.2 million pounds of food, an all time high! Initiated new programs such as, "Meating the Challenge" and "Kids Cafe". Through the help of a grant from the City of Flint, the Food Bank installed a warehouse racking system, providing for a significant increase in productivity. General Motors donates a cargo van intended for produce delivery.
1997 Over 7.2 million pounds of food were distributed. Donations and funds raised met an all time high. Total funds raised during the holiday campaign alone, were 63% higher than the total for 1996.  A scanning center was created allowing us to inventory damaged products received by Midwest Wholesale Foods. The first national Hunger Study is completed during 1997 as well.
1998 Kids Cafe expands to two new sites and Kraft Foods awards the Food Bank a Fresh Produce Initiative Grant to purchase a 26 foot refrigerated truck to transport produce and dairy to northern counties.  Distribution in 1998 hit 7.8 million pounds of food.
1999 The Food Bank distributed over 8.7 million pounds of food.  National recognition was achieved when the Food Bank won an unprecedented 2-Second Harvest National Model Program Awards, one for the community support generated through the Holiday Campaign and another of the innovative approach to utilizing technology demonstrated at www.fbem.org
2000 The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan gets a new look with a face lift to the front of the building and distributes more than 9.2 million pounds of food.  Expansion continues in programs with the start of distribution using the Mobile Pantry through a grant from USDA and UPS Foundation for a tractor and pop trailer.  The fleet also expands with Con Agra's Feeding Children Better award of a cargo van and Landaal Packaging donating a 54 foot semi trailer.  The Food Bank wins another Model Program Award for technology in online ordering- the first food bank in the nation to offer the option to its agencies.
2001 America's Second Harvest again conducts national study with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan interviewing over 300 individuals as well as 350 agencies completing surveys.  Kraft Foods awards the Food Bank a grant to cover a 3,600 cubic foot cooler for reclamation and in conjunction with the FIA, the Food Bank begins building and distributing Family Food Boxes.  America's Second Harvest recognizes the Food Bank with a Model Program Award for Agency Relations and the Advisory Committees.  Poundage distribution hits 10.4 million pounds.
2002 Recognized nationally as Food Bank of the Year by America's Second Harvest the nation's network of food banks.  Also receive Model Program Award for Food Resource Development with the Produce Initiative.  The Food Bank partners with Jim Kramer and 98FM KCQ for the first "Drive to End Hunger" Golf Outing.  The Food Bank also celebrates the first annual, National Hunger Awareness Day with an Open House.  Ford Motors donated two tractors and distribution tops 13.4 million pounds. 
2003 Partnered with the USDA in its Summer Food Service Program by serving meals 41,506 in a six week period.  Overall distribution again reached 13.4 million pounds and two new Kids Cafes opened for business.  A tremendous new partnership emerged with National Hunger Awareness Day as UAW Region 1C and General Motors teamed up to raise over $51,000 in contributions.
2004 Distribution increased to 15.2 million pounds of food.  Summer Food Service expanded to more locations and served more than 72,000 meals in six weeks.  Thanks to the Ruth Mott Foundation, the Food Bank begins a family food box program with the Flint Community Schools and the new food procurement department generates nearly 3.6 million pounds of food with 127 truck loads of product.  Three new Kids Cafes come on board and "One Big Table" unites even more of the community around National Hunger Awareness Day.
2005 Program growth continued to grow in Summer Food, Kids Cafe, Mobile Pantries and the newest, Backpack program for children over the weekends.  Meeting the continued growth in need with innovative programs and pounds distributed continues to be the mission of the Food Bank.  National Hunger Awareness Day, the Holiday Campaign and events like the "Drive to End Hunger" golf outing continue to grow awareness and support.
2006 Distribution topped 16 million pounds of food for the first time in the Food Bank's history.  With innovative programs like Mobile Food Pantry growing to over 2.7 million pounds of food, the overall program to rural areas grew 700,000 pounds in 2006.  The Annual Holiday Campaign reached new heights, topping the $600,000 goal and generating tremendous community interest in the Food Bank's mission.
2007 Set to expand the current warehouse to include new cooler and freezer storage, thanks to a $800,000 grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Food Bank is poised to continue its growth in distribution to 22 counties.