Lions quarterback, Catholic nun, Muslim mother, and school kids team up during hunger crisis CARESfh.org, a non-profit Farmington Hills, Michigan Food Pantry and Human Services organization, has faced a doubling of demand for food to feed hungry children, seniors, and families in eight suburban Oakland and Wayne County communities over the last three years. The number of households served has grown from 500 per month two years ago to over 822 last month. There may be unpaid government workers and thousands of local SNAP recipients losing food support if politicians in Washington cannot forge a bipartisan compromise to open the government and fund SNAP food benefits. “Blaming either party does not put any food on the table for hungry children, seniors with serious illnesses, or families who cannot afford food inflation on meager salaries,” says Todd Lipa, Executive Director of CARES in Farmington Hills. “On a typical weekend, about five or six families will leave us a voicemail requesting food during a family crisis such as unemployment or major illness. This past weekend, with all the news about unfunded SNAP benefits and government layoffs, we had over 50 panicky phone calls seeking food today or tomorrow.” Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, in conjunction with the Lineage Foundation of Novi, MI, filmed a TV spot at CARES in Farmington Hills on behalf of food banks and food pantries they support every time Goff throws a touchdown pass. While at CARES, Ryan and Dylan Mitchell, resident social media experts, filmed Goff along with a Sister of Mercy, a local Muslim mother whose congregation provides food for the hungry via CARES, local school kids, and other residents concerned about crisis levels of food insecurity beyond the rapidly expanding need already apparent in our suburbs. Learn more by visiting: CARESfh.org/whynot. CARES in Farmington Hills is asking everyone to share this video with at least one person they know. If you have a platform where more people can see it, such as a website, podcast, publication, or show, please help us spread the message by sharing it with your audience and posting it on your social media. Contributions of food and cash are needed urgently. Area citizens can go to www.caresfh.org to make a contribution via the internet. Lipa thanked local area families, companies, and religious organizations that have stepped up their giving during this crisis, but said, “Reserves of operating funds are depleted by events like this, and food pantries like CARES cannot feed those in need if shelves are empty. We purchase 80% of the food we distribute to families, and we hope more donors will come forward soon, no matter what happens in Washington, DC. The hunger is here, right in Michigan.” (Todd Lipa, Executive Director of CARESFH.ORG, will make himself available to media interviews. He may be reached at 248-231-8493.)
End suburban hunger here. #WhyNot