For many people, a food truck is simply a convenience. But one Michigan nonprofit realized that a food truck could also be a valuable tool for addressing food insecurity.
That inspired thought earned the nonprofit a $250,000 People Award grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation, the charitable arm of Consumers Energy.
It was the first time the Roscommon County United Way had ever applied for a People Award grant. The grant recognizes organizations actively engaged in ending poverty and reducing the number of people in Michigan that the foundation refers to as ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. According to Tracy Wimmer, media relations specialist at Consumers Energy, the Roscommon County United Way’s proposal for the Dish of the Day mobile food kitchen was so compelling because of its innovative approach to addressing the unique needs of the community.
Roscommon County’s large geographic footprint makes food insecurity difficult to address through traditional models, and the mobile soup kitchen removes an otherwise difficult barrier by eliminating the need for people to travel a great distance for a hot meal.
In addition to the Dish of the Day mobile food kitchen, the award also funded specific facility upgrades and improvements for two other local organizations.
“Consumers Energy and the Consumers Energy Foundation are dedicated to helping our communities grow and thrive by investing in three key areas—our people, the planet and Michigan’s prosperity,” Wimmer told American Gas. “We do this through grant programs like the People Award and by mobilizing volunteers to make a positive impact throughout the state.”
The Consumers Energy Foundation expects to open applications for the 2023 People Awards later this year. —Eric Johnson