Comstock Park, Michigan — November 10, 2016 — Feeding American West Michigan has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the Morgan Stanley Foundation to fund healthy food distributions at Grand Rapids-area schools.
The School Mobile Pantry program is a child hunger initiative that provides low-income families with a readily accessible source of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy and baked goods. (Download the Press Release)
The distributions will take place at schools including East Leonard Elementary, Harrison Park, Innovation Central High School, Kent Hills Elementary, North and West Godwin, Ottawa Hills High School, Sibley Elementary and Union High School.
The grant is part of the Morgan Stanley Foundation’s recently announced $8 million, four-year pledge to support Feeding America, a nationwide network of 200 food banks, and its children’s hunger and produce programs. Since the firm’s partnership with Feeding America began in 2009, the Foundation has given over $21 million, including this $75,000 grant to Feeding America West Michigan.
“We’re thrilled to receive this grant from the Morgan Stanley Foundation to deliver more nutritious meals to children and families in West Michigan,” said Feeding America West Michigan CEO Ken Estelle. “Morgan Stanley and its employees support our mission by making generous contributions like this and putting in a lot of volunteer hours.”
“We are honored to be able to help Feeding America West Michigan in its important fight against child hunger,” said Morgan Stanley Complex Manager Monique Mathieson. “Our employees volunteer regularly with Feeding America, so we are delighted to extend our support through this grant and provide even more children with the foods they need to learn, grow and thrive.”
“Grants like this from Morgan Stanley make a vital difference in our efforts to provide children with the nutritious meals they need every day,” said Nancy Curby, Interim Senior Vice President of Development at Feeding America. “More than 13 million children in the United States live at risk of hunger. Together, we can solve hunger and ensure that children have the fuel they need to grow healthy and strong.”
On Monday, Nov. 14, a group of local Morgan Stanley employees will volunteer at Harrison Park’s Mobile Pantry. Volunteers will arrive at 4 p.m. The distribution begins at 5 and is intended to serve families in need in the Harrison Park neighborhood.
A full list of upcoming Mobile Pantry dates in Kent County and throughout Feeding America West Michigan’s 40-county service area can be found at FeedWM.org/FindFood.
About Feeding America West Michigan. Serving local families in need since 1981, Feeding America West Michigan reclaims safe surplus food from farmers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers. That food is distributed through a network of nearly 1,100 food pantries, youth programs, and other hunger-relief agencies in 40 counties from the Indiana border through the Upper Peninsula. Each year, an estimated 492,100 people receive food from Feeding America West Michigan. For more information, visit FeedWM.org.