Food Bank hopes to combat hunger, penny by penny

By Holly Klaft | The Flint Journal
April 28, 2008

GENESEE COUNTY, Michigan -- The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan is hoping people will pitch in, penny by penny, to raise money for hungry residents.

The Flint-based nonprofit is establishing a "community penny garden" with hopes to collect $75,000 in pennies through September. It will kick off the effort at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the food bank, 2312 Lapeer Road.

The penny garden will be open to the public from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Donations through the garden will go to the Kid's Backpack Program, Mobile Food Pantries, or Senior Boxes.

The penny garden will be showcased during the opening celebration of the food bank's new Thomas Landaal Food Recovery Center in September.

Last year, 21 business and nonprofits employed the teens, Hunyady said.

More than 500 students completed the TeenQuest Pre-Employement Leadership Training course, a six-week class sponsored by the chamber and a prerequisite for Summer Youth Initiative employment.

Students who participated in the program in 2006 or 2007 also are eligible to apply this summer.

Students also must volunteer to work on a community service project at least one day during the summer, Hunyady said.

"Everything they do helps them to become a better student, worker, son or daughter," Hunyady said.

The foundation has donated more than $7 million to the program in the 13 years since it was created.

Applications are being accepted until April 25 and are available at the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce, 519 S. Saginaw St. in Flint, or by calling (810) 600-1413.

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