COMMUNITY CENTS AND SENSIBILITY!
Regional Chamber helps the Food Bank’s Penny Garden grow

(FLINT, MICHIGAN, APRIL 30, 2008) From now through September the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce will collect pennies for the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan’s Penny Garden. Numerous schools, churches and organizations are involved, including FOX 66, MTA, Kettering University and Superior Travel Agency. Anyone can participate and the Regional Chamber is asking our members to collect two 1-gallon milk jugs of pennies for donation to program. To get involved recycle a gallon milk jug and start collecting. Labels for your containers are available through the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. Read the article from The Flint Journal or ABC12's coverage.

The Penny Garden program kicked off with a press conference at the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan on April 30, 2008. The penny goal collection community-wide is $75,000, and proceeds go to the Food Bank to help feed those in need in Genesee County. “Businesses, organizations and individuals across Genesee County are working together as Partners for Progress to build a stronger community,” noted Regional Chamber CEO Tim Herman. “This is another step toward that progress, and we encourage everyone in the community to participate and recognize those who are less fortunate.”

One pound of pennies is equivalent to approximately $1.60; a milk carton weighs an estimated 33 lbs. Every $1.00 collected purchases $14.00 worth of food; the $75,000 goal will allow the Food Bank to obtain $1.05 million in food.

The pennies are being stored in the Penny Garden 7’ tall cylinder designed by students at Kettering University, and housed at the Food Bank. Pennies can be dropped off and personally poured into the Penny Garden at the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan at 2312 Lapeer Rd in Flint—an experience the Food Bank encourages because it allows the contributor to see the effects of their generosity. However, pickups can be arranged by calling the Food Bank.

The pennies will be weighed and charted to give credit to donators. Participants or businesses may choose the program(s) they want their pennies used for. Those programs include:

• Kid’s Backpack Program–$1000 provides 12 children with weekend nutrition for the entire school year
• Mobile Food Pantry–$500 provides a semi full of food to hundreds of residents in a needy community
• Senior Box Program–$200 provides a monthly box of food to a struggling senior for one year
• General Operations–The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan will put the money in the program or programs where it is needed most.

The Penny Garden grows through September (Hunger Action Month) and culminates with the celebration and the opening of the Thomas Landaal Food Recovery Center.

Landaal championed the cause of hunger for over two decades and was instrumental in helping the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan evolve to truly meet the needs of the hungry. He passed away in 2007. “Tom Landaal was a great man who was focused on and worked diligently for the less fortunate citizens of Genesee County,” said Regional Chamber CEO Tim Herman. “He was friend of mine, and more importantly a friend to the community. It is a pleasure to participate in an outreach program that honors his name.”

The Penny Garden is open to the public for donations or viewing Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information contact Tracy Fowler-Johnston at the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan at 810-239-4441 or email her at tfjohnston@secondharvest.org. You can also log on to www.fbem.org to see the Penny Garden.

From the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce's May 2008 Inside Business publication.