By Barb Duvall

Families from six northwestern lower Michigan counties who have trouble making ends meet are benefitting from a 4-H collaboration with an organization called the Fresh Food Partnership. The partnership includes five area nonprofit organizations that help gather fresh food from local producers and distribute it to people in need through local food pantries.

For the past two years, 4-H’ers have raised money to buy market animals at the 4-H livestock auction at the three-county Northwestern Michigan Fair in August.

About 300 market animals are sold at the auction each year. This year, the 4-H food pantry fund had enough money ($1650) to buy and donate one steer and one pig to the partnership. Generous buyers (including the Leather-N-Laces 4-H Club from Grand Traverse County) also donated seven and a half pigs and three lambs to the program.

Shelves in food pantries are typically lined with canned goods and boxed food. The FFP works to add fresh local fruit and vegetables to the shelves. Bronwyn Jones of the partnership said, “This donation from 4-H has been one of the primary sources of quality meat for families needing help.”

After the animals were processed, the partnership distributed the packaged meat to local food pantries. As one pantry worker said, “It is a huge treat to get fresh frozen meat. Animal protein is the most highly prized food because it is the most expensive.”

“Being able to give healthy meat to my children gives them energy and makes them feel full and content,” said one parent whose family receives food from the program.
Donors to the 4-H food pantry fund benefit from participating in the program with a tax deduction and the knowledge that they’re helping 4-H’ers learn about agriculture and providing healthy food to families in need.

The Fresh Food Partnership member organizations are the Land Information Access Association, Northwest Michigan Human Services Agency, Michigan State University Extension, the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Northwest Michigan.

For more information about the 4-H food pantry fund, contact the 4-H staff at the Leelanau County MSU Extension Office by phone at 231-256-9888.

Barb Duvall is a 4-H Youth Extension educator in Leelanau County.