Gleaners and Kroger team up for January food collections

Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press
·2 min read
Cars line up on West Vernor and around the block near Southwest Solutions in Detroit on April 14, 2022, for their biweekly food drive. Food pantries like the one Southwest Solutions does in conjunction with Gleaners Community Food Bank at two locations in Detroit have seen an increase in the number of people in need of food due to inflation and the cost of rent going up.

If you're looking to help metro Detroiters in need, you can start the new year off by helping in the battle against hunger.

Throughout January, Kroger Co. of Michigan will host food drives to aid Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan. Gleaners, according to its website, supplies food to more than 600 partner soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters and other agencies across the region.

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Across southeastern Michigan, 93 Kroger stores will take turns hosting food drives on Saturdays and Sundays through Jan. 29.

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Collections will take place this Saturday and Sunday at Kroger stores in Wayne County; Jan.14-15 in Macomb County and Jan. 21-22 in Oakland County. On Jan. 28-29, Kroger stores throughout the tricounty area will participate in the final weekend.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on collection days, volunteers will be on hand at participating stores to distribute lists of needed items and accept donations. During the food collection events — part of Kroger's Zero Hunger Zero Waste initiative — the supermarket giant is asking its customers to donate nonperishable items.

“There are over 1.1 million residents facing hunger in our state, and these food drives are one of the many ways we can all lend a hand and give back,” said Cam Barrett, corporate affairs manager of The Kroger Co. of Michigan.

Here's a sample of nutritious items Gleaners is seeking:

  • Canned meats and fish

  • Canned fruits and vegetables

  • Hearty soups

  • Dried whole-grain pasta and rice

  • Baby foods and formula

  • Cereal, oatmeal and granola bars

  • Peanut butter and/or jelly (in plastic jars)

  • Pancake and baking mixes

  • Ensure and other nutritional supplement drinks

Gleaners will also accept personal care items.

“Every year, this food drive comes at a vital time when many of our partner agencies struggle to keep stock on their shelves to help households in need," Gerry Brisson, president & CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan, said in a statement. "It’s empowering that we can come together, help one another and take one worry off the table for families to start 2023 stronger.”

This is the 12th year Kroger and Gleaners are partnering for the January food collection event. Last year, according to Kroger, more than 246,500 pounds — or 123 tons — of food was collected.

Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Gleaners and Kroger team up for January food collection for hungry relief