November 25, 2009
LANSING - In her weekly radio address, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today said while Thanksgiving is a time to feast and celebrate nature's bounty, for more than a million people in Michigan, it's a struggle just to put food on the table every day.
"Working families often have to choose between paying their bills or going to the doctor or buying food," Granholm said. "And seniors sometimes are forced to choose between food and prescription drugs. These are choices that shouldn't have to be made. One way we can help is getting people the food they need."
The governor cited some state initiatives to improve access to fresh and healthy food, such as urban gardens and the Michigan Neighborhood Food Movers project in which vendors sell low-cost produce out of trucks in urban neighborhoods where it's hard to find fresh produce.
"But the most familiar and visible way to get food to people is through food banks," Granholm said. "The Food Bank Council of Michigan has nine regional food banks across the state that serve 2,300 community agencies."
The governor said people can help food banks in three ways: by donating money, organizing a food drive or volunteering.
"For more information on how to volunteer, donate food or contribute money, visit the Food Bank Council of Michigan's Web site at www.fbcmich.org," Granholm said.
"In 2008, Michigan food banks distributed 77 million pounds of food," Granholm said. "Over a third of those in need of food were children. During this Thanksgiving holiday, please take a moment to remember the hungry in our state, and consider helping in any way you can."
The governor's weekly radio address is released each Friday morning and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state. The address is available for download on the governor's Web site at www.michigan.gov/govtogether with a clip of the quote above. The radio address also is available as a podcast on the Web site as well as on iTunes and via RSS feed for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers. Links to the audio files and text of today's address follow.
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
Radio Address - Food Banks
Full: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov225Full_302299_7.mp3
Edited: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov225Edit_302300_7.mp3
Quote: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov225Quote_302301_7.mp3
Hello, this is Governor Jennifer Granholm.
For most of us, Thanksgiving is a time to feast and celebrate nature's bounty. However, for more than a million people in Michigan, it's a struggle just to put food on the table every day.
Working families often have to choose between paying their bills or going to the doctor or buying food. And seniors sometimes are forced to choose between food and prescription drugs.
These are choices that shouldn't have to be made. One way we can help is getting people the food they need.
A priority of our Michigan Food Policy Council is improving access to fresh and healthy food. So one of our initiatives is promoting urban gardens where people can grow their own fruits and vegetables. Another is the Michigan Neighborhood Food Movers project in which vendors sell low-cost produce out of trucks in urban neighborhoods where it's hard to find fresh produce.
Some people may qualify for federal food assistance, and can apply online through the state's Helping Hand Web site. But the most familiar and visible way to get food to people is through food banks. The Food Bank Council of Michigan has nine regional food banks across the state that serve 2,300 community agencies.
The Food Bank Council has an annual campaign called the Michigan Harvest Gathering to help supply the food banks. For 19 years, state employees have donated food and money to help Michigan food banks. And this year, I'm proud to say that state employees have donated almost $59,000 and more than 21,000 pounds of food.
The need for food, though, is overwhelming. On average, one in 10 Michigan citizens turns to a food bank for assistance. But this year the need is even higher. So food banks have to be steadily replenished year-round.
There are three ways you can help. First, you can donate money. Because of the large purchasing power of food banks, every $1 donated helps provide five meals.
Second, you can organize a food drive. High-protein food items are especially desirable.
And third, you can volunteer. Food banks need people to sort, pack and distribute food items.
For more information on how to volunteer, donate food or contribute money, visit the Food Bank Council of Michigan's Web site at www.fbcmich.org.
In 2008, Michigan food banks distributed 77 million pounds of food. Over a third of those in need of food were children. During this Thanksgiving holiday, please take a moment to remember the hungry in our state, and consider helping in any way you can.
Thank you for listening, and Happy Thanksgiving.
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