GRAND
RAPIDS, Mich., July 26,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Consumers Energy Foundation
unveiled the Community Food Club of Grand
Rapids as one of their 2024 People Award winners
today, distributing $250,000 to the
area nonprofit to alleviate food insecurity in the community.
"Access to basic, affordable food is critical not only to
sustaining individuals and families, but to ensuring whole
communities thrive," said Brandon
Hofmeister, president of the Consumers Energy Foundation.
"It is a privilege to be able to work with an organization striving
to address that need in one of our state's largest cities, and we
are grateful for the opportunity to partner with them to help
reduce the number of Michiganders struggling to put food on the
table."
The Community Food Club will use the grant to make facility
upgrades, purchase equipment, and make other enhancements to
increase its capacity to serve Kent
County residents. The project will add a produce cooler and
additional storage shelving, an additional checkout lane to reduce
wait times, upgrade software for better product delivery and other
improvements.
"Through the partnership with the Consumers Energy Foundation,
the Community Food Club will be able to implement crucial facility
upgrades," said AJ Fossel, Executive Director of the Community
Food Club. "This will allow our nonprofit grocery store to serve an
additional 3,500 people a month and provide the fresh produce,
dairy, meat, and dry goods they need to thrive. A big thank you to
the Consumers Energy Foundation for investing in our model which is
focused on dignity, choice, and our members who shop in our
store."
The People Awards are the second of three signature grant
allocations in 2024 totaling $1.5
million. The Foundation previously awarded the Planet
Awards in April, and will present the Prosperity Awards this
fall to support nonprofit efforts that support economic
development.
The Consumers Energy Foundation is the charitable arm
of Consumers Energy, Michigan's
largest energy provider. The Foundation contributes to the growth
and strengthening of Michigan
communities by investing in what's most important — our
people, our planet and Michigan's
prosperity. In 2023, the Consumers Energy Foundation, Consumers
Energy, its employees and retirees contributed more than
$11 million to Michigan nonprofits. For more
information, visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/foundation.
For more information about Consumers Energy, go to
ConsumersEnergy.com.
Check out Consumers Energy on Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/consumersenergy
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/consumersenergy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consumersenergy
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/consumers-energy-foundation-gives-250-000-to-grand-rapids-nonprofit-for-2024-people-awards-302207744.html
SOURCE Consumers Energy