AUGUST 22, 2025 COMMUNITY RESOURCES Food Gatherers is a food bank and food rescue program serving Washtenaw County; it exists to alleviate hunger and its causes in our community. Established in 1988 as Michigan’s first food rescue program, Food Gatherers was among the first six food rescue programs in the United States of America. Food Gatherers rescues local food and leverages state and national food resources for hunger relief. This fiscal year of 2025, Food Gatherers has distributed a record breaking 10.3 million pounds of food — enough to provide 8.5 million meals for neighbors experiencing hunger. However there is a difficult truth to realize which is that hunger is rising. Recent data from Feeding America and local partners show food insecurity in Washtenaw County has increased from 12.5% to 14% this year. Food Gatherers relies on charitable gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations to fund more than 87% of their annual budget. Each year 95% of donations they receive directly support Food Gatherers’ hunger relief efforts in places like Washtenaw County. Proudly contributing to the locations that work best for them. Some options include Eat and Play and Grab and Go, which you can learn more about by joining the Food Gatherers newsletter. With the recent rise in hunger, Zion EMERI JADE BEY Groundcover vendor No. 660 providing hunger relief to pantries and organizations such as S.O.S. Community Center, Robert J. Delonis Center and more, Food Gatherers is sustained mostly through the efforts of its volunteers, engaging the public in the fight against hunger. Food Gatherers also creates and sustains innovative new food programs in response to emerging needs. Food Gatherers recognizes that hunger will not be solved through the provision of food alone, so they advocate for policies and system changes to create an equitable food system. This summer, Food Gatherers has two additional program types and families can visit community EVENTS JOE DULIN DAY / PARKRIDGE SUMMERFEST Saturday, August 23, 12-6 p.m. Parkridge Park, 591 Armstrong Drive, Ypsilanti Resources, music, food, fun! PURSLANE COMMONS + AGRICOLE SEASONAL COOKING WORKSHOP: MID-SUMMER GRILL MADDNESS! Sunday, August 24, 1-4 p.m. Agricole Farm Stop, 118 N Main Street, Chelsea Delicious, wholesome, creative menus. Cook in small teams, fun for ages 9 and up. An authentic social experience. Grilled vegetable pasta sauces, corn on the cob, grilled peach. A2 LOCAL FOOD FESTIVAL Thursday, August 28, 2025, 5-8 p.m. Ann Arbor Farmers Market, 315 Detroit Street This free public festival showcases farms, food makers and local organizations focused on growing a strong and sustainable local food system. Festival-goers will learn about the benefits of local and sustainably grown food, eat delicious local food, participate in fun and educational activities, and enjoy music. GERMAN PARK PICNIC Saturday, August 30, 4-11 p.m. German Park, 5549 Pontiac Trail German Park Recreation Club hosts three picnics the last Saturday in June, July and August. Admission gate open 4-9 p.m.; Park closes at 11 p.m. Live music, authentic German food and live dance performances. 2025 LABOR DAY MARCH with AFL-CIO Monday, September 1, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Starts at intersection of Michigan Ave and Trumbull Ave, ends at Michigan Center Station in Roosevelt Park GROUNDCOVER NEWS 15th ANNIVERSARY PARTY Thursday, September 4, 6-8 p.m. First Congregational Church of A2 For the first time, Groundcover is celebrating a major milestone. Join us for an evening of reunion, music, food and drink, and a gallery walk of Groundcover’s history. Be a part of celebrating where we started, where we are, and where we are going! Purchase tickets online at givebutter.com/gcn15. Submit an event to be featured in the next edition: submissions@groundcovernews.com Word search created by Emeri Jade Bey Groundcover writer and vendor No. 660 Well yoga studio has put together a fundraiser this summer to help continue to keep Food Gatherers’ programs up and running. This summer you can fight hunger by joining Zion Well yoga studio for yoga in County Farm Park on Fridays at 5:30 p.m.! Each session is donation-based and will directly benefit Food Gatherers to help feed neighbors facing hunger. This specific fundraiser ends on August 29 and is the perfect way to try yoga at a price you can afford before choosing to commit full time. Please register ahead of time and bring your own yoga mat/towel. Also if you would like to see all of Food Gatherers’ distribution locations please visit www.foodgatherers.org. Click the "find help" button at the top of the page, type in your address and the food map will show you all of the nearest pantry locations. If you would like, you may also contact Food Gatherers directly by calling 734-761-2796. Thank you Food Gatherers for all that you do for the community. You remind us that together we can! GROUNDCOVER NEWS FUNdraiser for Food Gatherers: Yoga in the park 15
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