Rockin’ Raises One Million Meals for the Hungry in Washtenaw County
Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor’s 107one, Kroger, and Food Gatherers successfully raised more than one million meals for hungry people in Washtenaw County during the Rockin’ for the Hungry food and fund drive. While 107one DJs were “freezin’ for a reason” during a six-day live broadcast at Washtenaw County Kroger stores, Food Gatherers received enough donations from community members to help provide 1,055,222 meals for the 1 in 7
Washtenaw County residents who don’t have enough to eat.
Every day, food-insecure people in Washtenaw County have to make tough choices. They decide whether to skip a meal in order to put gas in the car, heat their home, or buy medicine. Parents cut back on their own meals to feed their children. At the same time, they face increased health risks, such as diabetes and heart disease. During Rockin’, the Washtenaw community came together to show that they care about helping their neighbors and that they can fight hunger in a big way.
Thousands of donors, including individuals, students, businesses, and non-profits came out to express their support as 107one DJs issued a call to action to the community and reported Rockin’ progress via a live broadcast. Generous donations from the Harold and Kay Peplau Family Fund and Irene Fast, as well as other community sponsors, matched Rockin’ donations dollar for dollar. In an impressive show of determination, Community High School students raised more than $69,000 – their largest-ever gift to Rockin’, providing more than 207,000 meals to the community before being matched!
Donations came in the form of cash, checks, credit cards, more than 4,000 pounds of nonperishable groceries, and an online silent auction with music memorabilia provided by ann arbor’s 107one.
Paul Saginaw (Food Gatherers Founder), Eileen Spring (Food Gatherers CEO) and Kelly Brown (107.1 DJ).
Hundreds of volunteers helped to collect donations and raise awareness about the food drive
during the broadcast. Volunteers stood outside the Maple Village Kroger in Ann Arbor, braving
the cold while engaging the community and raising awareness about local food insecurity.
Many community leaders generously provided matching funds to sponsor Rockin’ Power Hours,
including Thomson Reuters; KLA Foundation; The Brummett, Edelman, and Giordano-
Woodcock Families; John and Cindy Nixon; Domino’s; Om of Medicine; Zingerman’s
Community of Businesses; Blue Cross Complete; Chemical Bank; Mast Shoes; Menlo
Innovations; Probility Physical Therapy; as well as an anonymous sponsor. Additional Rockin’
supporters included Nicola’s Books, Barry Bagels, and Corrigan Moving Systems.
Washtenaw County Kroger stores were invaluable partners during Rockin’, collecting donations
at registers and hosting the broadcast. Kroger’s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative seeks to
eliminate hunger from the communities which the store serves, and eliminate food waste from
its company by 2025. The million meals raised will be invaluable to Food Gatherers’ mission of
alleviating hunger and eliminating its causes in our community, and will allow Food Gatherers to
supply healthful food at no- or low-cost to 170 partner programs in 18 townships and all six
cities in Washtenaw County. These partner programs deliver food assistance in the form of food
pantries, emergency groceries, nutritious snacks, hot meals, cooking demonstrations, and more.
Food Gatherers provides food year-round, during the cold, winter months, and also during the summer, when food insecurity spikes because children do not have access to free and reducedprice meals in school. The meals raised during Rockin’ for the Hungry 2019 will help sustain Food Gatherers’ hunger-fighting efforts throughout the coming New Year.
Food Gatherers is truly grateful for every donor and volunteer who came out to fight hunger where they live. Food insecurity can only be solved by a community that cares and works together, and Washtenaw County proved that it does both.
About Food Gatherers
Food Gatherers’ mission is to alleviate hunger in Washtenaw County. As the food bank and
food rescue program for the county, we distribute more than 6.6 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 ann arbor’s 107one
ann arbor’s 107one is Ann Arbor’s leading adult radio station. Home to the Martin Bandyke
program in the morning, the station reaches 45,300 adults each week in the Washtenaw region
and can be heard at 107.1-FM or on the web with streaming audio at
www.annarbors107one.com.
About The Kroger Co. of Michigan
Incorporated in Michigan in 1909 and headquartered in Novi, The Kroger Co. of Michigan
operates 122 Kroger stores, 75 fuel centers, 104 pharmacies and the Michigan Dairy. Michigan
Kroger’s 19,000 associates are dedicated to the Kroger Purpose: to FEED the Human Spirit, by
serving the region through food, inspiration and uplift, and creating #ZeroHungerZeroWaste
communities by 2025.
