IN THE NEWS |
November 3, 2023
#bestdayever - Caritas and G2S and Lakeshore Food Club Receive Donations
Groups Tackling Food Insecurity at #BestDayEver Event
BY KRIS RILEY
LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Four community organizations and businesses are collaborating to combat food insecurity late Friday afternoon, dubbing it the #Best-DayEver.
Lakeshore Food Club, Gateway to Success Academy, Safe Harbor Credit Union and Family Fare are all working together on the issue from 3-6 p.m. Friday, and they’re taking aim at making a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families facing food-related challenges.
The #BestDayEver event originates from a nationwide initiative launched by Kasasa CEO Gabe Krajicek and Charlie Rocket, encouraging financial organizations across the country to undertake 100,000 random acts of kindness.
O’Nealya Gronstal, executive director of the Lakeshore Food Club, expressed her gratitude for Safe Harbor Credit Union’s commitment to community improvement. She underlined the event as a tangible demonstration of their dedication to the cause, particularly in the battle against food insecurity for the students of Gateway to Success Academy.
“I am so thankful for Safe Harbor’s commitment to making their community better. This event is a perfect example of that commitment,” Gronstal said. “It also is another way our extremely generous community can get involved in fighting for food security for everyone in our community. This event focuses on the students at Gateway to Success Academy.”
Kerry Newberg, principal at Gateway to Success Academy, elaborated on the positive impact of these partnerships with organizations such as Safe Harbor, Family Fare, and the Lakeshore Food Club. Newberg emphasized the marked improvements since the introduction of the food club, highlighting how students with consistent access to nutritious meals perform better academically and behaviorally. She also stressed the significance of removing food insecurity as a barrier for students and their families.
“As educators, we try to remove as many barriers as we can so kids can be successful in their school day,” Newberg said. “Kids are able to take home nutritious food for not just themselves, but for their entire family. They are all free members of the food club and have weekly points to spend. Students shop two times per week for their families.
“We service 125 students so we go through a lot of food for the club each week. The donations we hope to receive will greatly impact these kids and their families, and we appreciate all the support we receive.”
During the #BestDayEver event, G2S Academy students will be present at both Family Fare and Safe Harbor Credit Union, actively seeking donations in the form of non-perishable food items, monetary contributions, or assistance in purchasing groceries from a specific list of essential items required to stock the G2S Academy’s food bank.
Copyright (c) 2023 Ludington Daily News, Edition 11/3/2023
If you missed us talking about #bestdayever this morning on 102.7 WMOM, please take a look! Here are advanced copies of the "shopping lists" we'll be handing out on Friday, November 3rd from 9am to 3pm, and you can drop your items off at our location or Family Fare! All donated items will be delivered to Caritas Food Pantry and Gateway to Success Academy!
https://www.facebook.com/1027wmom/videos/713981663975231/?mibextid=zDhOQc
#bestdayever - Caritas and G2S and Lakeshore Food Club Receive Donations
Groups Tackling Food Insecurity at #BestDayEver Event
BY KRIS RILEY
LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Four community organizations and businesses are collaborating to combat food insecurity late Friday afternoon, dubbing it the #Best-DayEver.
Lakeshore Food Club, Gateway to Success Academy, Safe Harbor Credit Union and Family Fare are all working together on the issue from 3-6 p.m. Friday, and they’re taking aim at making a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families facing food-related challenges.
The #BestDayEver event originates from a nationwide initiative launched by Kasasa CEO Gabe Krajicek and Charlie Rocket, encouraging financial organizations across the country to undertake 100,000 random acts of kindness.
O’Nealya Gronstal, executive director of the Lakeshore Food Club, expressed her gratitude for Safe Harbor Credit Union’s commitment to community improvement. She underlined the event as a tangible demonstration of their dedication to the cause, particularly in the battle against food insecurity for the students of Gateway to Success Academy.
“I am so thankful for Safe Harbor’s commitment to making their community better. This event is a perfect example of that commitment,” Gronstal said. “It also is another way our extremely generous community can get involved in fighting for food security for everyone in our community. This event focuses on the students at Gateway to Success Academy.”
Kerry Newberg, principal at Gateway to Success Academy, elaborated on the positive impact of these partnerships with organizations such as Safe Harbor, Family Fare, and the Lakeshore Food Club. Newberg emphasized the marked improvements since the introduction of the food club, highlighting how students with consistent access to nutritious meals perform better academically and behaviorally. She also stressed the significance of removing food insecurity as a barrier for students and their families.
“As educators, we try to remove as many barriers as we can so kids can be successful in their school day,” Newberg said. “Kids are able to take home nutritious food for not just themselves, but for their entire family. They are all free members of the food club and have weekly points to spend. Students shop two times per week for their families.
“We service 125 students so we go through a lot of food for the club each week. The donations we hope to receive will greatly impact these kids and their families, and we appreciate all the support we receive.”
During the #BestDayEver event, G2S Academy students will be present at both Family Fare and Safe Harbor Credit Union, actively seeking donations in the form of non-perishable food items, monetary contributions, or assistance in purchasing groceries from a specific list of essential items required to stock the G2S Academy’s food bank.
Copyright (c) 2023 Ludington Daily News, Edition 11/3/2023
If you missed us talking about #bestdayever this morning on 102.7 WMOM, please take a look! Here are advanced copies of the "shopping lists" we'll be handing out on Friday, November 3rd from 9am to 3pm, and you can drop your items off at our location or Family Fare! All donated items will be delivered to Caritas Food Pantry and Gateway to Success Academy!
https://www.facebook.com/1027wmom/videos/713981663975231/?mibextid=zDhOQc
Safe Harbor Credit Union Employees Blake Bailey and Hailey LeFavre show early results from the food drive!
G2S students and staff at the Family Fare entrance collecting donations from generous donors!
Caritas Pantry volunteer Jim Glover working to give the pantry a fresh new look! Thank you Jim, it looks great!!
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March 4, 2023
SANDERS MEATS AND FIN & FEATHER DONATE
SANDERS MEATS AND FIN & FEATHER DONATE

Pictured from left are Diane Zack, Derek Sanders, Frank Koehler and David Sanders. Zack and Koehler of the Fin & Feather Club and Derek and David of Sanders Meats donated 130 pounds of meat to Caritas Food Pantry in Custer, open noon to 2pm Mondays and Wednesdays and another 130 pounds of meat to Lakeshore Food Club Ludington.

November 26. 2022
Great Lakes Energy Approves Grant
Thank You Great Lakes Energy for the grant funding for the purchase of bags, from Meijer, to be used to distribute our food
to our clients.
Great Lakes Energy Approves Grant
Thank You Great Lakes Energy for the grant funding for the purchase of bags, from Meijer, to be used to distribute our food
to our clients.
Caritas Food Pantry Donates Christmas Meals

From left: Kathy Bietau, John Gallagher, Marv Hanna, Kelly Glover, Deb Hanna, and Jim Glover
CUSTER — Volunteers at Caritas Food Pantry recently assembled 150 Christmas means to donate to clients. Meals were made possible through donations from local businesses such as West Shore Bank’s Spirit of Giving campaign, Meijer Simply Giving Program, and funds from Caritas Food Pantry’s private donors. A donation oof 150 5-gallon buckets were also received from John Ordus of Tractor Supply.
Clients who have pre-registered for the meals can pick up at the food pantry on Friday, Dec. 16 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Meals consist of whole chicken, rolls, yams, cranberries, vegetables, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy.
Caritas Food Pantry is located at 85 S. Madison St.
This story was posted by Mason County Press 12/15/22