Free Turkeys to Community in Need
On Wednesday, March 10, 2021, dozens of volunteers from Meijer, the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, Feeding America, the National Guard and the Whitecaps Community Foundation gathered at LMCU ballpark to distribute free turkeys to the West Michigan residents in need. The nearly 6,000 turkeys were part of Meijer’s commitment to donate $1 million in turkeys (50,000 turkeys) this winter to food banks across the Midwest.
“Meijer cares about the communities we serve and we are pleased to stand beside the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids and the West Michigan Whitecaps to donate nearly 6,000 turkeys to area families in need. We know the coronavirus pandemic has made an impact on the lives of those who live here, and we wanted to do our part to help.” – Cathy Cooper, Senior Director of Community Partnerships and Giving for Meijer
“The pandemic has provided an impactful reminder of the importance of connectivity and that our community can best recover with unified efforts. Our YMCA is honored to work alongside partners like Meijer and the Whitecaps to serve our neighbors by making nutritious food more accessible.” – Scott Lewis, President & CEO of the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids
“We’ve seen an incredible need for food support in the last year, and the need is still heightened today. Families who never before faced hunger are seeking help to fill their cupboards and families who were already in need are finding it even more difficult to keep food on the table. Our food donors and community partners play a critical role in keeping our neighbors’ plates full, and we know these turkeys from Meijer will be greatly appreciated!” – Ken Estelle, President and CEO of Feeding America West Michigan
“West Michigan has been hard pressed and shown impressive resilience this past year. The Whitecaps Community Foundation is thankful for the opportunity to work with great partners like Meijer, Feeding America, and the YMCA to help give area families something to smile about.” – Jenny Garone, Community Relations Manager for the Whitecaps Community Foundation