30 Years of Partnership in Action: How Gleaners Responds When Communities Need It Most
In fall 2025, more than 1.4 million Michigan residents were affected when SNAP benefits were paused during a federal government shutdown.
For Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan, the pressure didn’t arrive gradually. It hit all at once.
“We were already seeing demand increase,” said Maria Williams, Director of Food Sourcing. “But once SNAP paused, it became clear very quickly—this was going to be a major issue.”
Featured Product: Mother’s Maid Unsweetened Applesauce — Simple, Shelf-Stable, and Always in Demand
Applesauce has long been a dependable staple in food distribution. This is not just because it’s familiar, but because it consistently meets the needs of a wide range of households. It’s ready-to-eat, easy to store, and versatile enough to serve as a snack, side, or ingredient, making it a practical choice for programs focused on reducing waste, convenience, and nutrition.
Featured Product: Premier Pantry Macaroni & Cheese — A Comfort Classic That Satisfies
Macaroni and cheese is a staple item that shows up on client requests again and again. It’s familiar, filling, and easy to prepare — all reasons why it continues to earn a place in pantry boxes and distribution programs across the country.
Featured Product: Crider Deluxe White Chicken in Water – A Protein-Packed Pantry Essential
When your programs need high-protein options that don’t require refrigeration, shelf-stable chicken is one of the hardest categories to get right. The product needs to taste good, store easily, and work across multiple meal formats without requiring a kitchen.
From Pilot to 250 Boxes a Week: How Feeding Westchester Built a Medicaid-Funded Food As Medicine Program
Every Wednesday morning at Feeding Westchester’s distribution center in Elmsford, New York, DoorDash drivers line up to collect boxes of shelf-stable, medically tailored food. Each driver takes ten boxes. Each box goes to a different household. Every box contains enough nutritious food for one person for an entire week covering three meals a day for seven days.
Partners In the Mission Spotlight: Smith Transport Warehouse
When food banks order from a VAFS mixing center, they aren’t just purchasing smaller quantities of a wider variety of goods. They’re purchasing the logistics infrastructure that makes those smaller unit sizes possible: warehousing, quality inspection, inventory rotation, and order verification. Every pallet. Every expiration date. Every order.