RELEASE
Food Pantry Grant Program Cultivates Healthier Michigan Communities by Investing $273,000
Teddy Lemmer
| 4 min read
DETROIT, Aug. 25, 2025 – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (Blue Cross), United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM), Blue Cross Complete of Michigan and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation (BCBSM Foundation) are investing $273,000 to support local food pantries. Community members visiting these pantries will have improved access to nutrient-rich fresh food options that require refrigeration, such as dairy products, fruits and vegetables. Forty-one pantries will receive a refrigeration unit valued at up to $7,000, personalized technical assistance to enhance pantry operations, nutrition education support and $250 in funding to purchase dairy products for their pantries.
The food pantries receiving grants are located across 22 counties and serve more than 29,000 Michigan residents monthly. Since 2022, the Food Pantry Grant program has reached 220 organizations in 57 counties across the state and increases food access for more than 94,000 Michigan residents monthly. To date, the program has invested over $900,000 in local food pantries. This year’s grants reached pantries in three new counties: Allegan, Otsego and Saint Joseph.
Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap study reports Michigan’s food insecure population totaled at 1.5 million people, and the food insecurity rate rose to 15.4% in 2023. Nearly every food pantry awarded serves seniors, veterans and people with disabilities. Among seniors 60 and older in the state, over 206,000 were food insecure. A Military Support Programming Surveyshows one in five military and veteran families experience food insecurity across the U.S. – 88% of awarded pantries report serving the veteran population. These are just a few examples of several population groups facing higher rates of hunger and food insecurity.
“The food pantry grant program is an impactful way to support our communities that need it most and provide individuals and families with access to healthy food options,” said Tiffany Albert, senior vice president of Community Relations at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. “We’re proud to be entering our fourth year of this program and are grateful for the continued support of our partners, who help us equip food pantries for lasting success. By addressing food insecurity, we can improve health outcomes and make health care more affordable, ultimately building a healthier future for our state.”
“The Food Pantry grant program continues to play a pivotal role in addressing nutrition insecurity across Michigan by increasing access to healthy, nutrient-rich foods, including milk and other dairy products. Our strong partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan in this initiative allows us to expand our reach and deepen our impact in communities throughout the state,” said Amiee Vondrasek, Health and Wellness senior manager at the United Dairy Industry of Michigan.
“We’re proud to be part of this important grant program that provides nutritious food options, especially for those facing food insecurity. Congratulations to the food pantry grant recipients who help ensure communities have the food they need, including refrigerated food and dairy products, a key component of health and wellness,” said Todd Anderson, Blue Cross Complete of Michigan market president.
Michigan food pantries receiving an award from the Food Pantry Grant Program can be found here.
About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit mutual insurance company, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. BCBSM provides and administers health benefits to more than 4.7 million members residing in Michigan in addition to employees of Michigan-headquartered companies who reside outside the state. The company has been committed to delivering affordable health care products through a broad variety of plans for businesses, individuals and seniors for more than 80 years. Beyond health care coverage, BCBSM supports impactful community initiatives and provides leadership in improving health care. For more company information, visit bcbsm.com and MIBlueDaily.com. For more on the BCBSM Foundation, visit bcbsm.com/foundation.
About Blue Cross Complete of Michigan
The state of Michigan contracts Blue Cross Complete of Michigan to provide medical services to eligible Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan beneficiaries in 58 counties in the lower peninsula. Blue Cross Complete of Michigan is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, visit mibluecrosscomplete.com.
About the United Dairy Industry of Michigan
The United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) is dedicated to serving Michigan’s hard-working dairy farm families and promoting Michigan’s locally produced dairy products. UDIM is the umbrella organization for the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council of Michigan. These non-profit organizations provide dairy product promotion and nutrition education services on behalf of their funding members.
