3/17/2026
In January 2026, the Community Foundation received $150,000 from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund (MHEF) through its Food Access Rapid Response Fund.
Food banks, safety net organizations, and food pantries throughout the state, including Northeast Michigan, are experiencing an increase in demand for emergency food access. The MHEF partnered with community foundations to distribute the funds to community-based organizations that currently serve as critical food access points.
Funding has been distributed to nonprofits with food pantries and emergency food access programs in the nine counties of the CFNEM service area, as well as those served by its geographic affiliate foundations. Grants are being used to support these nonprofits in strengthening infrastructure, addressing communications strategies, improving food delivery systems, increasing staff capacity, expanding food rescue efforts, and upgrading systems and technology - all with the intention of assisting these organizations in addressing the increased need for services. Grants were determined based on population distribution and need.
- $8,000 to Harrisville United Methodist Church
- $4,000 to Hubbard Lake Baptist Bible Church Food Pantry
- $4,700 to Lincoln Pop Up Pantry
- $6,500 to Salvation Army - Alpena
- $12,000 to Alpena Senior Citizens Center
- $10,000 to Montmorency County Commission on Aging
- $10,000 to Rogers City Area Seniors
- $15,000 to Salvation Army - Cheboygan
- $6,500 to Church of the Straits Food Pantry
- $12,000 to Iosco County Commission on Aging
- $13,000 to Crawford County Commission on Aging
- $5,000 to Oscoda County Council on Aging
- $2,500 to Together We Can Food Pantry
The final grants to food pantries in the service area will be announced in April 2026.