FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Eileen Spring​, ​Chief Executive Officer ​Helen Starman​, ​Chief Development Officer ​(734)
761-2796, ​eileen@foodgatherers.org ​(734) 761-2796, ​helen.starman@foodgatherers.org

Rotary Club Campaign Raises Over 80,000 Meals for the Hungry in Washtenaw County

Ann Arbor, MI (April 10, 2019)—The Rotary Clubs of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor North, and Ypsilanti
succeeded in raising 84,735 meals for Food Gatherers—Washtenaw County’s food bank and food
rescue program. ​Rotary Fights Summer Hunger​ is an annual campaign that involves more than 80 local
businesses and organizations collecting funds and non-perishable food items with the goal of fighting
summer food insecurity.

According to Eileen Spring, Chief Executive Officer at Food Gatherers, "While we all think about food
and giving during the holidays, food insecurity actually spikes during the summer months. Rotary's
efforts are vital to keeping our network prepared to fight increased summer hunger, and we are grateful
to have such strong partners in our community."

Many low-income families in our community rely on free and reduced-price school meals for their
children, but they lose access to those resources when school ends. With the $26,115.07 and 7668 lbs
of food collected, ​Rotary Fights Summer Hunger​ helps Food Gatherers to ensure that these children will
have the nourishment they need to stay healthy and strong over the summer!

Food Gatherers will use resources from the fund and food drive to supply its network of 170 partner
programs, including food pantries, meal programs, and other emergency grocery services that help food
insecure individuals and families throughout Washtenaw County. In coordination with its partners, Food
Gatherers supplies more than 30 Summer Food Service Program sites that provide meals to food
insecure children, as well as nutrition education classes throughout the summer break.

About Food Gatherers

Food Gatherers’ mission is to alleviate hunger and eliminate its root causes in Washtenaw County. As the
food bank and food rescue program for the county, we distribute 6.3 million pounds of food to 170 non-
profit programs serving approximately 44,500 low-income adults, seniors and children every year. For a
list of our partner programs or to learn how you can become involved in the fight against hunger locally,
please visit ​www.foodgatherers.org ​or call (734) 761-2796.

About Rotary

Rotary International is an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide, who
provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill
and peace in the world. To learn more about The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor, visit the web at
http://www.a2rotary.org/