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FOOD INSECURITY IN MUSKEGON COUNTY

***EVENT HAS PASSED***
Community Roundtable Discussion
WHEN: Friday, April 14, 2023, 9:00 – 10:30 am
WHERE: The Stevenson Center (Room 2323)
Muskegon Community College

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The Muskegon CHIR invites you to join a community roundtable event.

  • Get more information and data about food insecurity in our community
  • Share your perspective on food access in the county
  • Learn about the Community Food Club model, an innovative approach to food security from Executive Director AJ Fossel
  • Explore opportunities and find out how you can be part of the solution
 

Through this event, we will gauge community interest in opening a Food Club in Muskegon County. Coffee and pastries will be provided

The Community Food Club Model

Community Food Club (CFC) is a non-profit, membership-based grocery store in Grand Rapids. Low-income members pay a monthly fee between $11 and $15 for approximately 9-11 days’ worth of food. The model is dignity-based, where members select their own foods in a traditional grocery store setting with day and evening hours; and healthy food is incentivized: fruits and vegetables are the lowest-priced items and processed foods and snacks cost more.

Some of the impacts of a CFC memberships are: 94% of members have more access to fresh produce, 38% have increased food security, 31% experience improvement in meeting basic needs, and 25% have increased healthy eating. Nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, and recipes for fresh produce are also available.


Learn more about the Community Food Club

Replication Efforts

The original Community Food Club has shown excellent outcomes and sustainability, and two others have already opened: one inside Community Action House in Holland and the Lakeshore Community Food Club in Ludington. In 2022, CFC received a Nutrition & Healthy Lifestyles grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund for a Replication Initiative to help two other communities walk through the steps necessary to create a local Food Club.

Based on proximity to Grand Rapids as well as food insecurity data, Muskegon and Jackson were targeted for this opportunity, which includes operational mentoring and support but does not fund a new location