|
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 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. |