This spring, the Caterpillar Foundation granted $15,000 to Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank to bring more food to people struggling with hunger.
The grant, part of a $1.5 million investment the Caterpillar Foundation is making in food banks across the country, will be used to source more food for pantries, shelters and soup kitchens in the Food Bank’s 40-county service area, where food insecurity affects 1 in every 5 children.
“We believe that Michigan has more than enough food to meet the need. The true barrier isn’t food. It’s funding. This grant will do much to ease the pain of hunger in our region,” said Ken Estelle, CEO of Feeding America West Michigan.
The donation is especially timely, according to Feeding America’s newly released study Map the Meal Gap 2014, which shows that 317,000 people face food insecurity in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.
But as great as the challenges are, the region has also seen more private support for hunger relief than ever before. Last year, Feeding America West Michigan distributed 25.6 million pounds of food — the equivalent of 20 million meals — setting a new record for the 33-year-old organization.
To learn more about the Caterpillar Foundation, its goals and initiatives, visit caterpillar.com.