News Channel 3 unites as food banks face shortages after USDA cancels truckloads of food

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Once a year, News Channel 3 gets together for “Sinclair Day of Service.”

All of the people you see on television, and some you don’t because they work behind the scenes, come together to give back.

It’s all to help tackle hunger in the community, and that starts by teaming up with two local food banks. One being Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes and the other being South Michigan Food Bank in Battle Creek.

Although Wednesday is a day of giving, it also serves as a day of awareness.

Both food banks are preparing for the possibility of cutting back on the amount of food they give away.

“Michigan lost several truck loads due to the USDA removing and canceling those loads. Our part in that was 16 semi truckloads, about 400,000 pounds of protein, eggs and dairy that we will lose April through October,” Lori Sunie, director of development at South Michigan Food Bank, said.

According to Sunie, that’s around $450,000 worth of lost food, and it’s a similar situation for Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes.

They’re taking a loss of trucks filled with food that’s worth $300,000. That is a quarter of a million dollars’ worth of food now gone from some dinner tables in West Michigan.

“It’s been an unusual year. We’ve had some cuts, high service numbers, we’re trying to make sure we do what we need to do to support the community. Partnering with News Channel 3 not only helps us get projects done but it also helps us bring awareness,” Greta Faworski , associate director for Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes, said.

Both Faworski and Sunie tell community members not to worry, they will never turn anyone away who needs food.

Though they may have to limit how much they can give away, both are making plans to try and ensure that does not happen.

A part of that planning involves help from the community’s help, which can include word of mouth, volunteering or donating. All those options could drastically help a food bank in your area.

“Right now, that would go to not having to pay for extra food. We wouldn’t have to buy protein, we wouldn’t have to buy eggs, we wouldn’t have to buy dairy,” Sunie said

Thankfully both food banks have hundreds of agency partners and several farmers to keep them afloat at the time being.