COVID has been in the news for months, reminding us of a changed world in which we reside. The pandemic has changed our social gatherings, schools, activities, jobs and so much more. As time continues, we may continue to discover how the pandemic has affected our lives, both positively and negatively.

Food insecurity is a reality for many, pandemic or not. Participants in programs provided by the Muskegon YMCA express their gratitude for helping them through these difficult times.

  • Food Distribution Friday has served 66,976 meals to students 18 and under to date since August, and we aren’t slowing down
  • The YMCA Veggie Van distributed 34,115 meals to seniors from March through June through a partnership with AgeWell Services
  • The YMCA Veggie Van makes close to 20 stops each month at area senior centers, providing a mobile farmers market to those who cannot get to the store

Straight from our participants:

-”I’m astounded every week by the meals you provide”

-One nurse, after having worked a 12 hour shift, couldn’t get the words out to say thank you, she just cried as she pulled away with the meal bundles in her car

-”You’ve saved us” 

-”This is the only place I have to shop”

-”I didn’t know what I was going to do” one woman after finding out the Veggie Van had been sponsored for another year through the Muskegon County Senior Millage dollars 

-”My grandkids will eat your vegetables”

Imagine your car breaks down, you can’t get to the grocery store, but you can hook up your horse and buggy and get to a senior meal distribution. ‘You saved us.’