Michigan Harvest Gathering food drive to help those in need

U-M Health is participating again this year in the annual Michigan Harvest Gathering, a food and fund drive sponsored by the Michigan Hospitals and Health Association.

The drive is underway now and will run through Nov. 12.

Many Michiganders are suffering from hunger amid the pandemic, and many are seeking food assistance for the very first time.   

• 40% of food panty visitors in 2020 had never used a pantry before, according to Food Gatherers. 
• Since the pandemic began, Food Gatherers has distributed between 700,000 and one million pounds of food each month. 

Heading into the fall and winter months, food banks are expecting a heavy increase in families needing assistance. 

According to the Food Bank Council of Michigan, 16 percent of Michigan households struggle to put food on the table and 21% of Michigan’s children are starting their school day not knowing where their next meal is coming from. 

This food drive is one way U-M Health is helping to improve the health of the community. 

This year, the Michigan Harvest Gathering will be completely virtual. Here are other things to know:

What is a virtual food drive? 

A virtual food drive provides a shopping experience to purchase some of the most requested food items.  

To shop the Virtual Food Drive (make sure you are in Chrome): 

• Go to www.feedmichigan.org 
• Click ‘Shop Food’ and add some of the most requested food items to your cart.  
• Once you are finished shopping, click ‘Checkout’ at the bottom of the screen. 
• Please review your order upon checkout!  
• Select University of Michigan Health in the dropdown menu to have your donation count as a U-M Health donation and complete your billing and donor information.  
• Click ‘this is an honor or memorial gift’ and add Food Gatherers in the box.  
• Once completed, click ‘Complete Order’  

To make a monetary donation (make sure you are in Chrome): 

• Go to www.feedmichigan.org 
• Click the ‘Donate Now’ button and that will direct you to the ‘Provide a Monetary Donation’ page. You may click on the provided amounts or choose the amount you would like to donate.  
• Please select University of Michigan Health in the dropdown menu to have your donation count as a U-M Health donation.  
• Click ‘this is an honor or memorial gift’ add Food Gatherers in the box 
• If not, please fill in your information in the correct fields and click ‘Complete Order’.  

Your donation can make a difference.   

In 2020, the U-M Health virtual food drive coordinated by Patient Food and Nutrition Services (PFANS) raised a total of $7,220, which provided a total of 6,016 meals for neighbors in need. 

The Food Bank Council of Michigan is grateful for donation and your help in creating a food secure state.

Thank you!  

For further information, email ericaray@med.umich.edu.