Kid Rock, a Michigan native, is on a mission to make 2018 the best year yet for those living with hunger in our community.
The 46-year-old singer-songwriter announced a gift of $25,000 to Feeding America West Michigan by way of a series of tweets posted on Thursday. Alongside a photo of two checks, he wrote, “I also wanted to start 2018 off on a positive note, hoping to influence others who have been as blessed as me, by donating 50k to The Second Harvest Food Banks of West Michigan and Middle Tennessee (25k each – the checks will go out today).” In a follow-up tweet, he continued “I think it is important to help others out, especially this time of year when it is cold and the holidays can be such a strain on some who are really struggling to try to make ends meet. Please do what you can to help. They have other locations all across America.”
Feeding America West Michigan is proud to serve the people of West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, and the generosity of Kid Rock’s gift will have ripple effects through the course of 2018. The Food Bank serves upwards of 490,000 people annually, providing nutritious food by way of mobile and stationary pantries. Kid Rock’s $25,000 gift will provide 100,000 meals to those living with hunger in the state – a staggering 1 in 8 people, and 1 in 5 children.
Ken Estelle, President & CEO of Feeding America West Michigan, noted his gratitude over the generous gift and the importance of year-round charitable giving. “Kid Rock’s gift comes at a critical time for our community. As the holiday season winds down and we begin a new year, it is important to remember that hunger is a year-round struggle. This donation will have an enormous impact on the number of people we are able to serve in 2018.”
This isn’t the first time Kid Rock has given to those in need. The Detroit-based artist also operates the Kid Rock Foundation which, according to its website, “is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit raising funds for and awareness of local and regional charities helping disadvantaged children, victims of war and natural disasters, and those suffering from illness.” While this gift marks the first contribution from the Kid Rock Foundation to Feeding America West Michigan, the foundation has a long history of supporting Michigan non-profits.
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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 more than 900 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters 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.