The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor is once again partnering with Food Gatherers, Washtenaw County’s food bank and food rescue program, to alleviate child hunger. Our 21st annual food and funds drive, dubbed Rotary Fights Child Hunger, kicks off on March 3 and runs until March 14. This year, Rotary Club of Ann Arbor is trying to raise the equivalent of 100,000 meals for children and families in Washtenaw County who are facing hunger.

From March 3rd to March 14th, local businesses and organizations are invited to collect funds and non-perishable food items. Monetary donations of $25 or greater will be matched 1:1 up to $15,000 thanks to Todd and Margaret Kephart. With the match, a gift of $25 will provide the equivalent of 100 meals.

Food Gatherers will use resources from the fund and food drive to distribute food through their network of 140 partner programs, including food pantries, meal programs, and other emergency grocery services that help people facing food insecurity in Washtenaw County.

“Efforts like the Rotary Fights Child Hunger drive are crucial right now,” says Food Gatherers President and CEO Eileen Spring. “We are serving significantly more households than ever before and in order to bridge that gap, Food Gatherers is purchasing more food at much higher costs”.

Last year, Food Gatherers distributed 9.9 million pounds of food to fight hunger, a new record. To meet that need Food Gatherers is having to purchase more than twice as much food than it did in prior years.

A committee member will be at the Shares table before the March 5 and March 12 to accept checks payable to Food Gatherers. You can also donate online by going to https://give.foodgatherers.org/checkout/37182.