'The holidays are tough for everyone': Food pantries see spike in need during winter

Annie Doyle, The Petoskey News-Review
·4 min read
Canned food fills the shelves at the Manna Food Project, located at 8791 McBride Park Ct. in Harbor Springs.
Canned food fills the shelves at the Manna Food Project, located at 8791 McBride Park Ct. in Harbor Springs.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN — Food is expensive, and inflation has made that cost apparent across the country.

The USDA reports the average American spends 11.3 percent of their income on food and that number is only increasing. From 2020 to 2022, the average annual household food expenditure in the United States increased by almost 28 percent, according to Statisa.com. The expenditure in 2020 was about $7,300 and has since grown to over $9,300, as was reported by the organization last month.

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Each month, thousands of families in Northern Michigan struggle to put food on the table. Local food pantries offer assistance to these households throughout the year, but they see a spike in need during the holiday season.

The Manna Food Project in Harbor Springs gives out 200 holiday meal kits every year. The contents include ingredients for mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, green bean casserole, corn and dessert.

Volunteer Nancy Stewart helps pack oatmeal packets at the Manna Food Project in Harbor Springs.
Volunteer Nancy Stewart helps pack oatmeal packets at the Manna Food Project in Harbor Springs.

The pantry started distributing the kits a few weeks ago for the 2023 season. Their morning food pantry is open every Tuesday throughout the year from 9 a.m. to noon.

"We definitely see a big increase especially during the holiday season and during the winter time in general. Our pantry lines definitely get longer," said Cherell Granger, who is responsible for development and communications for the Manna Food Project.

In October, the Manna Food Project had their biggest turnout of the year, serving 519 households. That is a significant increase from the 388 households they served in September.

"The holidays are tough for everyone. People feel that they have to put on a big meal. It's tough for people that maybe they don't necessarily need the food pantry every month of the year but when it comes to the holidays they think 'Oh my god,'" Granger said.

Fresh produce, like apples, are available at the Manna Food Project, located at 8791 McBride Park Ct. in Harbor Springs.
Fresh produce, like apples, are available at the Manna Food Project, located at 8791 McBride Park Ct. in Harbor Springs.

Granger estimated that they will serve at least another 500 households in November.

"There is no shame in coming to a food pantry," said Granger. "Everybody is welcome here. With inflation, it is a tough time for everybody. It's not just for people that quality for WIC or SNAP or a Bridge Card. You know, everybody struggles and that is what we are here for. We are here to help our community and give back."

Granger added that the seasonal nature of Northern Michigan employment also contributes to the greater need in the winter months.

"It's OK if your hours got cut and you might need a little of help," she said.

The Manna Food Project food pantry is located at 8791 McBride Park Ct. in Harbor Springs and their phone number is (231) 347-8852.

In Otsego County, having already distributed 40 turkeys to local families, the Otsego Food Pantry also works hard to combat hunger year-round but especially during the winter season.

They are open daily from 12-2 p.m. Monday through Friday except on holidays. They serve between 125-145 families each week.

Rebecca Brown, chairperson for the Otsego Food Pantry, said that in addition to support from several local businesses, the work they do is accomplished by the almost 250 volunteers who donate their time.

All of the food pantries in Northern Michigan offer some type of year-round assistance to those in need. For example, Charlevoix's Community Food Pantry is available to anyone who lives within the Charlevoix Public Schools district. The food boxes they provide include a frozen protein like ground beef, fresh vegetables when available, and other non-perishable items.

In addition to food pantries, many local churches and affiliates also offer help during the holiday season.

Charlevoix's Safe Haven Ministries offers free breakfast on Tuesdays and Fridays during the winter months, starting on Nov. 1 and running through April 1, according to organizational leader Jan Boss. Serving up to 110 people each day, the free breakfast club is available to everyone of all ages at The Shirley Roloff Center at 13513 Division St. in Charlevoix.

Boss gives credit to the "gazillion volunteers and people in the community" who make the breakfasts so successful.

Volunteers from Brother Dan’s Food Pantry helped cook and hand out turkeys donated by Fletch’s of Petoskey in November.
Volunteers from Brother Dan’s Food Pantry helped cook and hand out turkeys donated by Fletch’s of Petoskey in November.

There are many more food pantries spread across Northern Michigan, such as Brother Dan’s Food Pantry in Petoskey, the St. Thomas Food Pantry in Cheboygan and the Salvation Army in Sault Ste. Marie.

To get help locating a food pantry near you, contact the United Way of Northern Michigan at unitedwaynwmi.org or (231) 947-3200.

— Contact reporter Annie Doyle at (231) 675-0099 or adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: 'The holidays are tough for everyone': Northern Michigan food pantries see spike in need