Ford Motor Company Fund Donates $100,000 to Gleaners Community Food Bank

Ford Motor Company Fund donates $100,000 to Gleaners Community Food Bank to purchase baby formula, the largest donation of formula to Gleaners this year

Ford Mobile Food Pantries will pick up and distribute the formula that will feed thousands of babies in financially challenged families

To help meet two basic needs, the Ford Volunteer Corps organized a Diaper and Formula Drive, and Gleaners has set up a text-to-donate campaign to buy additional cases of formula

DEARBORN, MI -- March 10, 2015: As many Detroiters continue to face food insecurity issues, Ford Motor Company Fund is contributing $100,000 toward an infant formula program at Gleaners Community Food Bank – enough to feed more than 7,000 babies for two weeks.

Ford employees are supplementing the contribution with hundreds of pounds of formula and thousands of diapers, collected during the annual Diaper & Formula Drive organized by the Ford Volunteer Corps, as part of a Ford Accelerated Day focused on children and families. Diapers are not included in most assistance programs and that added cost can stretch a household budget to the breaking point for families struggling to feed their children.

In all, more than 7,000 cans of formula and thousands of diapers will be delivered to non-profit agencies throughout southeast Michigan today by the local fleet of Ford Mobile Food Pantries, which is coordinated by United Way of Southeastern Michigan.

“Healthy, nutritious foods are often difficult to find for families living in economically depressed neighborhoods,” said Janet Lawson, director, Ford Volunteer Corps. “Ford’s donation will provide essential nutrition and a healthy start to infants who are at the most critical stage in their development.”

With more than 200,000 children facing food insecurity in southeast Michigan, additional support is always welcome from the community. Gleaners has set up a text-to-give option for Ford employees and the public to donate dollars toward the purchase of additional formula for Gleaners and the Food Bank Network. To contribute to Ford Feeds Babies: text (FFB) to (41444) and follow the link to donate any amount by credit or debit card.

“Hungry kids struggle more in school, are more prone to behavioral problems and are less likely to live healthy, successful lives than children who regularly eat well,” said Gerry Brisson, president, Gleaners Community Food Bank. “More than 40 percent of the people we serve are children and this generous donation from Ford Fund, the largest formula donation we have received this year, will go a long way toward bridging the gap in infant nutrition in our community.”

Over the past five years, Ford Motor Company Fund has contributed more than $1.7 million to Gleaners Community Food Bank as part of its commitment to hunger relief in southeastern Michigan. Gleaners operates four Ford Mobile Food Pantries, and the Ford Resource and Engagement Center in southwest Detroit includes a Gleaners client-choice food service hub. The Ford Volunteer Corps also has enlisted thousands of Ford employees over the years to sort, pack and deliver meals at Gleaners locations.