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Food Initiative

 Improving food access and education in the Copper Country.
May 18, 2026

Middle schoolers invited to Heads UP, July 21 in Hancock

Copper Shores Community Health Foundation has partnered with UP Health System - Portage for Heads UP - a Youth Wellbeing Event, an exciting day of food, fun and fitness for students entering grades ...
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Food Initiative

Copper Shores is committed to improving access to locally grown and healthful foods within our community. Through a variety of efforts, we help provide affordable food, support the local agricultural economy and offer nutrition education.

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Farm to School Pilot Program

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Nutrition Education Events

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Mobile Food Pantries

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Specific Grant Opportunities

Farm to School Pilot Program

We’re testing curriculum and identifying the barriers that stop Farm to School from being implemented in local classrooms.

Classroom

Developing positive relationships with food in early education.

Cafeteria

Understanding what kids are actually eating at lunch time.

School Gardens

Helping schools develop plans and logistics for their gardens.

Nutrition Education Events

Community Health Educator, Meghan Jaszczak, R.D. works with fellow health professionals in our community to provide a variety of free educational health and nutrition opportunities through the year.

Meghan at the Market

Stop by the farmers market for Q&A with a registered dietitian.

Building Habits and Setting Goals

Hear from local health professionals and kick off the year with practical health tips and habits.

Navigating Nutrition

Reliable, practical nutrition information in small, actionable steps.

Building Blocks: Infant Feeding Fundamentals

Gain helpful tips, tricks and tools for feeding your infant.

Heads UP - A Youth Wellbeing Event

Fun, food and fitness for middle schoolers, guided by local health professionals.

Mobile Food Pantries

We’re partnering with multiple organizations to sponsor the Feeding America West Michigan mobile food pantry, which brings free produce, dairy products and more to community members in need.

Feeding America West Michigan is a food bank that serves 40 of Michigan’s 83 counties, including the entire Upper Peninsula. This is the seventh year Copper Shores has sponsored the mobile food pantries.

Specific Grant Opportunities

We offer a variety of grant opportunities to fellow community organizations throughout the year, including grants that are aimed at supporting food access in the Copper Country and ongoing community improvement projects.

Emergency Food Assistance Grant

Financially supporting local food pantries and food focussed organizations.

Small Grants Program

$2,500 grant opportunity to boost new and existing projects and programs.

Food Pantry Grant

$150,000 grant with Michigan Health Endowment Fund to support food pantry projects and programs.

What are we up to?

Check out the latest news about nutrition education and food access in the Copper Country.

May 18, 2026

Middle schoolers invited to Heads UP, July 21 in Hancock

Copper Shores Community Health Foundation has partnered with UP Health System - Portage for Heads UP - a Youth Wellbeing Event, an exciting day of ...
Read More
May 5, 2026

Next Navigating Nutrition session on May 14

Gut Feeling: Foods to Support Your Microbiome Community members are invited to the second Navigating Nutrition session to learn about gut health, try ...
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April 20, 2026

Jaszczak recognized for Farm-to-School collaboration with Adams Township School District

Adams Township School District has honored Copper Shores Community Health Educator Meghan Jaszczak with the Community Member School Service Award as ...
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Keep up with our work

Sign up for our Food Initiative newsletter

If you’re interested in keeping up with our efforts to make food and food education more accessible in the Copper Country - as well as community events, the farmers market schedule and more - consider signing up for our free quarterly Food Initiative email newsletter.

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How to Support

If you believe in this mission and are able to support it, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation.

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