Rockin' for the Hungry collects 200 tons of food, meets fundraising goal
Cyndy Pollard, a volunteer from Ann Arbor, puts a bag full of donated food into a shopping cart outside Kroger during the Rockin' for the Hungry food drive.
Food and cash donations were accepted at checkouts at Kroger stores throughout Washtenaw County during the five-day-long food drive last week. And volunteers braved the cold at Kroger, 400 S. Maple Road, Ann Arbor, taking shifts staffing the drive's central donation drop-off station.
Ann Arbor's 107one, which sponsored the drive, broadcast live from a few Kroger locations during the drive.
"We're always excited to provide our time and resources to Food Gatherers at Rockin' for the Hungry. They're an outstanding non-profit and we're extremely fortunate to have them in our community," Chris Ammel, program director for Ann Arbor's 107one, said in a Food Gatherers news release. "This year's Rockin' couldn't have been a success without unwavering support from our listeners and sponsors. On behalf of the entire Ann Arbor's 107one team, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You truly are the best."
Food Gatherers is the area's largest food rescue and collection organization and distributes more than 4.6 million pounds of food annually.
More than 43,900 people receive emergency food annually through Food Gatherers' network of food pantries and meal sites, according to Food Gatherers.
Eileen Spring, Food Gatherers President and CEO, said Rockin' for the Hungry has been a tradition for more than 20 years and has been held at Meijer, Busch's Fresh Food Market and Kroger.