Michigan Harvest Gathering Food Drive Benefits Local Residents

MidMichigan Health and its employees, medical staff and volunteers have completed a month-long effort to collect food and funds as part of the 2012 Michigan Harvest Gathering. Michigan’s Harvest Gathering is a statewide campaign facilitated by the Michigan Health & Hospital Association to collect groceries for the Food Bank Council of Michigan’s local member food banks. MidMichigan’s contribution included 4,025 pounds of food and $2,815 to fight hunger in the 14-county region it serves.

Since its creation in 1991, the Michigan Harvest Gathering has collected 8.5 million pounds of groceries and $8.2 million for distribution by local food banks. About 15 million emergency meals have been provided to Michigan families in need through member food banks and more than 3,000 community agencies including soup kitchens, shelters and food pantries.

The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, Greater Lansing Food Bank and Cedar River Chapel Food Bank will distribute the contributions of MidMichigan Health’s employees and volunteers to families and residents in need.

“As Michigan’s unemployment rate continues to be significantly higher than the nation as a whole, the number of families in the state who need emergency food assistance has grown,” said Leeza Bacon, food drive project leader for MidMichigan Health. “Contributions made this fall are important in helping tackle hunger year-round.”

MidMichigan Health is a non-profit health system headquartered in Midland, Michigan. It covers a 14-county region with medical centers in Alma, Clare, Gladwin and Midland, as well as urgent care centers, home care, nursing homes, physicians, medical offices and other specialty health services. MidMichigan has 6,500 employees, physicians and volunteers. Last year, MidMichigan Health provided $88 million in charity care and other benefits to improve the health of people in our communities