GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A growing partnership between the Meijer Simply Give program and the Macomb Food Program is making a tangible difference in the lives of families facing food insecurity in Macomb County. With hunger needs soaring, up 70% since 2021, this collaboration has become a critical lifeline for thousands of residents in the region just north of Detroit.
Since its founding in 1975, the Macomb Food Program has worked tirelessly to stock more than 55 food pantries across the county. It also supports over 1,000 homeless students annually, offering both emergency food supplies and targeted aid to ensure no child or family goes hungry.
Bob Combs, a longtime board member with the Macomb Food Program, calls the partnership with Meijer Simply Give crucial. “The Simply Give donations and Double Match Days allow us to increase the impact of every dollar we raise,” Combs said. “That means more food on pantry shelves and more meals for families.”
“The Community Food Bank had a recent shortage of canned chicken, and thanks to Meijer, they were able to get enough to stock their shelves,” he added.
The Simply Give program empowers the Community Food Bank of Macomb County, one of the program's key partners, to purchase food based on real-time needs. This targeted approach recently helped replenish a shortage of canned chicken, an essential protein item.
The partnership blossomed after Bob Combs introduced himself to Bruce VanMaele, Store Director at the Shelby Township Meijer. What began as a conversation quickly grew into a sustained collaboration.
“We developed a great partnership/friendship, and our store asked what we could do to help them,” VanMaele said. “I brought our market Store Directors over to their building, where we were given a tour of their facility and discussed the services they provide to the community. Since then, we have teamed up a few times, helping to pack food bags as a group, and we’ve also put together coupons and other items that would be sent out to families in Macomb County.”
Beyond emergency pantry support, the partnership extends to children facing food insecurity. Each year, more than 1,000 homeless students in Macomb County receive $15 Meijer gift cards during school breaks, ensuring families can buy groceries when free or reduced-price meals aren’t available.
“We let the districts identify the students who need help, and we provide the cards to them directly,” Combs explained. “It’s a simple, effective way to make sure kids have access to food.”
As the Macomb Food Program approaches its 50th anniversary, it’s launching a new grant program to boost the capacity of local food pantries. With no paid staff and a volunteer board of 11, the organization operates efficiently, ensuring every donation goes directly toward fighting hunger.
“We let the districts identify the students who need help, and we provide the cards to them directly,” Combs said. “It’s a simple way to make sure kids have access to food, and we appreciate the assistance of Meijer in helping make the project work.”
“We appreciate all food donations, but financial support gives us the flexibility to buy what’s most needed,” Combs added. “Somebody might donate a lot of canned beans, but if we don’t have any protein to go with it, we’re still missing an essential piece.”
To learn more about how to support the Macomb Food Program, visit macombfoodprogram.org.
