Flint, MI—The Michigan Department of Health and Human services has extended its partnership with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan to provide mobile food pantries full of lead-mitigating food to Flint residents throughout February. 

The program has been ongoing since 2016. Last year, the food bank performed 217 food distributions and fed over 61,000 Flint families. 

“It’s an annual program to provide extra nutrition in response to the Flint water crisis…It’s meant to provide food that is rich in vitamin C, iron and calcium to mitigate the effects of lead,” Kara Ross, President and CEO of the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, said.

Due to COVID-19, volunteers are taking extra precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. Volunteers must wear gloves, mask, wash their hands often and take steps to sanitize distribution buildings throughout the day, MDHHS officials said in a press release.

Customers will not need to leave their vehicles to receive food. They simply need to open their trunks and the volunteers will load it up. 

“Now, during the pandemic, we’re doing double the amount of food that we did compared to the same time period last year. And there’s a lot of people that are needing help for the very first time [who] have not experienced unemployment before,” Ross said.

To find local pantries by zip code or to donate to the program, visit the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan’s website.

Flint Mobile Pantry Distribution Schedule

Bethel United Methodist Church, 1309 Ballenger Hwy.

  • Monday, Feb. 8, at 10 a.m.
  • Monday, Feb. 15, at 10 a.m.
  • Monday, Feb. 22, at 10 a.m.

Asbury United Methodist Church, 1653 Davison Road.

  • Tuesday, Feb. 9, at 10 a.m.
  • Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 10 a.m.
  • Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 10 a.m.

Greater Holy Temple, 6702 N. Dort Hwy.

  • Thursday, Feb. 4, at 10 a.m.
  • Thursday, Feb. 11, at 10 a.m.
  • Thursday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m.
  • Thursday, Feb. 25, at 10 a.m.

Luke’s NEW Life Center, 3115 Lawndale Ave.

  • Friday, Feb. 5, at 10 a.m.
  • Friday, Feb. 12, at 10 a.m.
  • Friday, Feb. 19, at 10 a.m.
  • Friday, Feb. 26, at 10 a.m.

Flint residents can also pick up free nutritional food at the three Flint Help Center locations:

  • Bethel United Methodist Church, 1309 N. Ballenger Highway, open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays
  • Asbury United Methodist Church, 1653 Davison Road, open Tuesdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
  • Greater Holy Temple, 6702 N. Dort Highway, open Thursdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

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Carmen Nesbitt

Carmen Nesbitt is a journalist with diverse experience in news reporting and feature writing. She wrote for Hour Detroit and SEEN Magazine before joining the Flint Beat news team as an education and public...

3 replies on “Food pantries with lead mitigating-foods still available to Flint residents this February”

  1. I live in the 48503 area and wondering where I can get filters/or water. I believe we are supposed to still use filters. I would also like to test my water. Thank you.

  2. I also need a new filter in that I had to change my faucet..and my water bill is extremely high…and I am an elderly senior citizen & I use very little water! I don’t use my dishwasher or my washing machine so why is my bill close to $80 dollars a month!

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