The partnership started final September when Medical Weight Loss Clinic places grew to become handy drop-off websites for employees, sufferers and the neighborhood to donate non-perishable food objects. Since then, more than 2,248 kilos of food has been collected.

For each 4 kilos of food Gleaners receives, the non-profit group is ready to present three meals to a hungry neighbor. According to those estimates, the Medical Weight Loss Clinic donations equate to about 1,686 meals and counting.

At a time when  one in seven people – together with one in 5 kids – are going through food insecurity in Southeast Michigan, applications like this one are making a distinction.

“Combined with (the Medical Weight Loss Clinic) holiday cookbook download donations supporting our summer Meet Up and Eat Up program, this food has been a lifeline for our mobile food distributions and local food pantry partners as we all work to meet the ongoing demand in the face of high food and housing costs,” Bob provides. “We are incredibly grateful for the awareness the Medical Weight Loss Clinic team spreads about food insecurity and the simple process they’ve created for patients to get involved. 

Fran Yee, marketing director for Medical Weight Loss Clinic, considers the partnership beneficial to all parties.

“When patients start a program with any of our 27 Medical Weight Loss Clinic locations, they will often do a pantry reset where they will remove any non-perishable goods not on plan to avoid temptation so it makes perfect sense to collect these items to be distributed to those in need,” she says. “With the help of Gleaners, we can help ensure unopened, non-perishable items are not wasted.”

Gleaners offers food to more than 400 companion soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, colleges and different companies throughout the area. In 2023, Gleaners distributed more than 50 million kilos of food to neighbors in need.

But the work is way from over. In the previous yr, more people than ever visited Gleaners for help. The group skilled a 30% increase in demand for its providers over the earlier yr, mirroring elevated ranges of need seen at food banks throughout Michigan.

“We look forward to an ongoing relationship with Gleaners, especially since it impacts so many people in our community in a positive way,” Yee provides.

The time to buy your own pantry is now. Donation containers are nonetheless out there.

Bring unopened, non-perishable, labeled and shelf-stable food objects in the present day at any Medical Weight Loss Clinic location. Learn more at mwlc.com.