Bringing help
to the table.

In Michigan, 1.5 million people, including 1 in 5 children struggle with food insecurity*. The Father Fred Foundation is here to help those in need with several programs to provide healthy, fresh food and non-perishable food items. We serve five northern Michigan counties – Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau.

*Source: USDA Data Report

FOOD SERVICES

Pantry

Our pantry resembles a small grocery store which includes fresh, healthy food including meat, eggs, produce, and milk as well as personal care items.

Blessings in a Backpack

Many children don’t have regular access to food or snacks outside of school hours. Our Blessings in a Backpack program ensures that children have something to eat through the weekend. We package and distribute over 16,000 bags to area schools each year.

Pantry to Preschool

In partnership with early childhood programs and MSU Extension, we distribute fresh food with health-conscious recipes to preschools in five counties.

SHINE Program

In partnership with TCAPS (Traverse City Area Public Schools) summer snack bags and light meals are distributed to students who lack a fixed, regular, or nighttime residence. Transportation for this program is funded by a grant from the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.

Boost Bags

During the summer in our food pantry, an extra “boost” bag of food is provided to families with school aged children. The bag contains fresh fruit and veggies, eggs, dairy, and a variety of non-perishable pantry items. The number of bags provided is based on how many kids in the household.

We are locally founded, locally funded, and locally focused. The Father Fred Foundation is 100% supported by our generous community, and does not receive any state or federal funding.