Food insecurity is an official term from the USDA. It's when people don't have enough to eat and don't know where their next meal will come from. It's a big problem in the United States, where over 44 million people, including 13 million children, experience food insecurity annually. However, many more people, including millions who do not meet the definition of food insecure—turn to the charitable food sector for support according to Feeding America West Michigan.
Where to FIND FOOD in Mason County
Pantries:
Caritas Food Pantry/St. Mary's Catholic Church
85 S Madison Ave, Custer, MI 49405 (231) 690-9642
Pantry providing essential food needs as well as fresh meat and produce. Hours: Monday 12PM-2PM, Wednesday 12PM-2PM
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Cornerstone Baptist Church Food Pantry
121 Nelson Road, Ludington, MI 49431 (231) 845-1285
Pantry offering pre-bagged food items. Hours: Friday 11AM-1PM Requirements: Mason county residency, households may receive food every 60 days.
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Lakeshore Food Club
920 E. Tinkham Avenue, Ludington, MI 49431 (231) 480-4334
Food Club Non-profit grocery store offering a variety of grocery and household items for a low monthly membership fee based on income. Hours: Monday 11AM-5PM, Tuesday 11AM-5PM, Wednesday 11AM-5PM, Thursday 11AM-5PM, Friday 11AM-5PM, Saturday 9AM-12PM
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Salvation Army - Ludington
1101 South Madison Street, Ludington, MI 49431 (231) 843-3711
Pantry, Hours: Monday through Friday: 1 PM - 2:30 PM Requirements: Photo ID, DHS Decision Notice if applicable, proof of residence, and Social Security Card.
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Pentwater Community Food Pantry
A community outreach hosted by First Baptist Church
101 S. Rush St, Pentwater
Serving the Pentwater and surrounding communities on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month from 9:00 - 10:15 AM.
Registration is from 9:00-9:30. The household/clothing area will also be open during registration time. Food is distributed after 9:30. Clients are be able to choose
food from the shelves and will also receive a bag of pre-packed cold and frozen
items which usually includes
meat.
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Bread of Life Food Pantry
Our Emergency Food Pantry services Lake County and is open::
Wednesday 11:00 AM until 3 PM
It is located at 740 Ninth Street in Baldwin
Between St. Ann's Church and St. Ann's Senior Center
231-287-4869
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Mobile Pantry:
Please consult the Feeding America Mobile Pantry calendar for changes or updates to the information below.
Feeding America Mobile Pantry Calendar
Crossroads Church.
1463 E. US 10, Scottville, MI 49454
(Drive thru) Second Tuesday of the month, March - December
(Mobile Pantry Continued)
Sherman Township Hall
3854 E Main St. Fountain, MI 49410
Third Saturday of the month
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Care Boxes:
Free food donated by individuals in each community for those in need.
Ludington Cares - Court Street, by Ludington Public Library
Scottville Cares - US10, In front of Scottville Library
Custer Cares - 2346 US10, by Custer Coin Laundry
Fountain Cares - 3916 Main St, Fountain
Freesoil Cares - on Democrat Street, across from Freesoil Schools
Walhalla Cares – US10 – Branch Township Fire Department
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Meals:
Community Church -109 North Harrison Street in Ludington Phone: 231.843.9275
Ludington’s Community Table
Where: 109 North Harrison Street in Ludington, Michigan
When: Every Tuesday
Time: 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Over 10 area Christian churches are participating in Ludington’s Community Table. Each church will prepare and serve a meal in the dining room of the Community Church of Ludington. A meal in the dining room is available, free, for anyone in the community.
The church’s dining room is located in the lower level of the building. Handicap access is available from the southeast entry, across from the Ludington Post Office. The most direct access to the dining room is from the doors by the James Street Legacy Plaza, just off of Court Street.
We also offer a Free Christmas Dinner. You can eat in or have a dinner delivered.
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First Methodist Church of Scottville
114 W. State Street, Scottville, MI 49454 (231) 757-3567
Community Dinner
Where: 114 W. State Street, Scottville, MI 49454
When: Third Tuesday of the month, September - May
Time: 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
A meal in the dining room is available, free, for anyone in the community.
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Hart Wesleyan Church
3757 W. Polk Rd.
Hart, MI 49420
231-873-083
1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month – FREE MEAL
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Wednesdays – FREE CLOTHING CLOSET
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
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Centenary United Methodist Church
82 S. Handcock St, Pentwater, MI
231-869-5900
Community Dinner Every Wednesday – September – May
4:30 – 5:00 pm , TAKE OUT Call 231-869-5900 to reserve take out meal
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Dine In , No Reservation Required
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Meet up and Eat up!
Local schools summer food program, free
Officially known as the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), Meet Up and Eat Up provides free nutritious meals to children up to age 18 and living in low-income areas, where 50 percent or more of the students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.
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Mason County Senior Meals
Home delivered meals consist of a hot meal between 10:30am-2PM, which includes a protein, vegetable, fruit, grain, and milk. We also provide cold second meals, a bagged breakfast and frozen weekend meals to meet the various needs of the senior community. The suggested donation is $3.00 per meal.
Mason County Senior Meals provides meals for three community Senior Centers located in Ludington (T&Th), Scottville (M-F), and Tallman (M-F). This is a hot noon time meal, which includes one hot entrée, grain, milk and a full salad bar. This meal also is a suggested $3.00 donation per meal program. The last Thursday of every month is “Lunch for a Buck”; any qualifying senior can eat at the centers for $1.00.
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Radiant Church - Ludington
Free Thanksgiving dinner, eat in or delivered
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Federal and State Assistance:
FiveCAP- serving Mason, Manistee, Lake and Newyago counties.
Mason County & Administrative Office
302 N. Main Street
PO Box 37
Scottville, MI 49454
Phone: (231) 757-3785
Fax (231) 757-9669
Email: [email protected]
- The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) - provides federally purchased surplus food to low income families. Funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) - provides nutritionally balanced food supplements to senior citizens age 60 and over. Funded by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.
- Garden/Food Preservation - provides seeds and plants each year to families to encourage gardening. Offers canning, drying, and freezing food workshops and loans rototillers to participants.
- Food Pantry - funded by the Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP) to provide up to 30 days of food to families and individuals on an emergency needs basis.
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2-1-1 https://mi211.org
Need help with food, housing, or paying utility bills? Need help with a community disaster? Just call, text, or search online to find help.
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Double Up Food Bucks
https://doubleupfoodbucks.org/
When you use your Bridge Card, Double Up matches your fruit and vegetable purchases dollar for dollar, up to $20 a day. That means you and your family get twice the fresh fruits and veggies. If you are on SNAP and have a Bridge Card, you are automatically eligible for Double Up.
Locations:
ORCHARD MARKET FREESOIL
8400 N US 31, Free Soil, MI, 49411
Sunday: 8:00 AM-7:00 PM
FAMILY FARE - MANISTEE
1057 Manistee Highway, Manistee, MI, 49660
Sunday: 6:00 AM-MIDNIGHT
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Mi CAFE
https://www.elderlawofmi.org/micafe
Did you know? Nearly 50% of seniors who are eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are not enrolling and using the program.
Additional FOOD RESOURSES from Surrounding Counties
PANTRIES:
Hesperia United Methodist Church
187 E. South Ave., Hesperia (Red Brick Building Behind Church)
231-854-1385
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Rothbury Community Church
2500 W. Winston Road, Rothbury, MI
231-893-4965
2nd Monday Each Month
9:30 am – 11:30 am
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Christ Rock The World Harvest Church
6985 Indian Bay Road, Montague, MI
231-893-8900
No restrictions on locality. We are not a free food pantry but we don't turn anyone away that needs food. If you have a need for food and are low on funds we do help people with that.
Pantry Open Every Wednesday
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
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New Hope Community Church
244 79th Ave, Shelby, MI
231-861-0536
FOOD PANTRY 3RD WED OF MONTH (Closed January and July)
Turkey Givaway – November
Ham Giveaway – December
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The Bread of Life Food Pantry
Ministry of St Gregory/Our Lady Fatima
11 Washington St. Hart, MI
231-873-2660
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Food Pickup
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Trinity Lutheran Church
5631 W. Stoney Lake Road, New Era, MI
231-861-4059
January Thru October – 2nd and 4th Saturdays each Month
November and December – 1st and 3rd Saturdays each Month
8:00 am – 10:00 am
BABY PANTRY
2nd Saturday Each Month
8:30 am – 11:00 am
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Salvation Army – Manistee
415 River St, Manistee, MI
231-723-6243
FOOD PANTRY – PET FOOD
Monday – 10:00 am – 2:00 PM, Tuesday – Friday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Manistee and Benzie County Residents
Documents needed: Call 723-6243
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Manistee County Council on Aging
457 River Street, Manistee, MI
231-723-6477
12:30 pm – 2:00 pm Second Friday of every Month
Call for More Information
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YOU CAN HELP! - Have a place we can add to this list? Submit suggestions at [email protected] . Please put FIND FOOD in the subject line!
THANK YOU!