Supporting Our Neighbors During the Government Shutdown

Image description: A person wearing a blue jacket holding a bunch of freshly harvested carrots by their green tops. The carrots are vibrant orange and slightly covered in soil. The person is kneeling or bending over in a garden bed with dark, earthy soil and scattered green carrot tops growing around. The lighting suggests natural daylight, creating a warm, organic feel.

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Many individuals and families across our region—including children, veterans, and working families—are facing challenges amid the federal government shutdown.

During this difficult, uncertain time, it’s critical to come together for our neighbors and support each other, ensuring that help is provided swiftly and flexibly.

Here is how you can support your neighbors today and where you can get help if you need it.

How to Support Your Neighbors

• Make a financial gift, donate grocery gift cards, or give nonperishable food items to local food pantries and food service organizations. For a full list of basic needs organizations, visit the Northwest Food Coalitions’ website.
• Volunteer at your local food pantry—they are seeing high demand and could use additional helpful hands.
• Contact your congressional representative and urge the passage of a federal budget or a continuing resolution.
• Donate to local food pantry endowments to support the long-term needs and missions of these critical organizations. Food pantry endowments that we steward include 5Loaves2Fish of Northern Michigan Endowment, Gini’s Pantry Endowment, Kalkaska Area Interfaith Resources Endowment, Food Rescue of NWMI Endowment.
• If you're a Community Foundation donor or advise a donor advised fund and are interested in giving to local food resources, reach out to our team at info@gtrcf.org or 231-935-4066 ext. 110 to speak with our Donor Engagement Director, Mercedes Bowyer.

How to Receive Support

• For food and emergency assistance, call the United Way’s 2-1-1 hotline. They can help connect you to food pantries, emergency assistance, and other urgent need resources in your area.
• Visit your local food pantry to receive immediate supplies. For a full list of area organizations, visit the Northwest Food Coalitions’ website.