Another Perfect Storm
“Inflation, a weakened supply chain from our primary food supplier and an increased need has our food banks looking across the bow of our own boat that sees the storm that’s coming.” – Dr. Phil Knight.
This week on Food First Michigan, Dr. Phil Knight and Gerry Brisson, president and CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank discuss how we should be concerned but not fearful as we brace for the coming storm that impacts our ability to create a food secure state. Tune in for the engaging discussion Sunday at 9:00 p.m. on WJR Radio or NewsTalk 760 AM!
We are at a five year low in the amount of food banks receive from the USDA. There is a supply chain issue causing more than 200 loads cancelled by the USDA since January and a lot of uncertainty. But, in the end we have a system that works well.
There’s one organization and one network that can do this work at a stateside scale, to keep food safe, handle it properly and to use a network of more than 3,000 different partners to get the food out, and that’s the Food Bank Council of Michigan and our seven food banks. So let us do our work so people are blessed to get the food and the help they need in the way they need it.
It is said that hard times don’t last but tough people do. Food bankers are some of the most resilient leaders I have ever known. They do not quit. They inspire their teams; they pull their hats down and steer their boats to safety. We have done it in the great recession, government shutdowns and now during the pandemic. And we will do it again. We are a little nervous, but we aren’t scared, and we will need your help this time like we did last time. You can help by giving your time, talent and treasure to help us weather these days of difficulties. Find us as fbcmich.org and we will put you to work. Until then, we’ll keep food first.
Find this episode and all past Food First Michigan episodes at foodfirstmi.org, on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio.