February 24, 2023 | By Michael H. Babcock
On Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 12 p.m. a mobile food pantry will be hosted at Ontonagon Village Fire Hall. The event will provide a variety of foods, including fresh produce and dairy items, to approximately 300 families on a first-come, first-served basis.
The mobile food pantry is funded by Portage Health Foundation (PHF) in partnership with Ontonagon Area Schools. Feeding America West Michigan is delivering the food with a semi-truck coming to Ontonagon from downstate Michigan. The fire hall is located at 315 River Street.
Attendees will not have to show identification or proof of income to receive food; however, they will be required to provide basic contact information and affirm that they are in need of food. Boxes of food will be provided in a drive-through format.
Feeding America West Michigan is a food bank that serves 40 of Michigan’s 83 counties. Its service area spans from the Indiana border north through the western half of the state and extends throughout the entire Upper Peninsula. Portage Health Foundation also funded several mobile food pantries in partnership with Feeding America West Michigan in 2020 and in 2022.
PHF has also committed to bringing mobile food pantries to Ontonagon County at least once more in 2023. Details on that events will be released as it gets closer. Find more food resources from Feeding America West Michigan on their find food page and see a full schedule of regional mobile food pantries on their mobile food pantry schedule page, which is updated regularly.
Portage Health Foundation is passionate about making a difference when it comes to food in Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties through its Food Initiative. PHF’s Food Initiative is two-fold. First, the initiative aims to improve access to locally grown and healthful foods within our community. Second, it provides educational resources and tools to promote sustainable changes to eating and lifestyle habits for all. Learn more about the PHF Food Initiative and make a donation at phfgive.org/food.
