The Oakland Press
For the fifth consecutive year, the nonprofit Higher Hopes will distribute more than 65,000 pounds (four tractor-trailers loads) of food to local families in need for Thanksgiving.
“Many people are not aware that 1,414,700 people in Michigan struggle with hunger and food insecurities – 356,930 of which are children,” said Bill Birndorf of West Bloomfield, founder of Higher Hopes.
“Many of these families have experienced homelessness or live in terrible situations, and most, if not all, are reliant on public assistance, church assistance, shelters, soup kitchens and charities to feed themselves and their children. We continue to raise funds and are amplifying our efforts to support the children and families who urgently need our help.”
The Thanksgiving kits contain a 12 to 14-pound turkey, stuffing, Michigan potatoes, yams, all of the ingredients for green bean casserole, chicken broth, muffin mix, cranberry sauce, apples, beverages, disposable plates, roasting pans and cutlery. Approximately 300 volunteers will assist in packing and distributing more than 1,000 kits to families who have children enrolled at The Order of the Fishermen Ministry Head Start, Focus Hope Head Start, Star Fish Head Start, United Children and Families Head Start, Development Centers Head Start, New St. Paul, and Matrix.
Higher Hopes also hosts a program that runs from April through October to feed children who are out of school for the summer. Since inception, the nonprofit has distributed nearly 800,000 pounds of food and the goal is to reach the million-pound mark in 2019.
“A million pounds of food, conservatively, is over 500,000 meals, which is equal to feeding every fan attending more than 23 sold out Red Wing games at the new Little Caesars Arena,” said Birndorf.