To help fight hunger in southeastern Michigan, Bank of America donated $ 100 for each bank employee who recorded a vaccination against COVID-19 in addition to the company’s contribution. Mike Spicer, Chief Operating Officer, left to right, Forgotten Harvest; Juliana Smoot, Chief Development Officer, Detroit, Office of Development and Grants; Kirk Mace, CEO of Forgotten Harvest; Matt Elliott, president of the Bank of America Michigan; Denise Fair Razo, Chief Health Officer, Detroit City, Detroit Department of Health.
Today, Bank of America announced that it has donated $ 50,000 to the Forgotten Harvest and Gleaners Community Food Bank for a total of $ 100,000 and costs about 400,000 meals to combat food security in the region. Evaluation 1.3 million people in Michigan did not feel food security in 2020. As the pandemic continues, anti-hunger organizations in southeastern Michigan and across the state are facing ongoing challenges such as increased demand for their services and rising food prices.
Bank of America maintains the health and safety of its employees while meeting one of the most important needs of local communities. Earlier this year, the company announced it would make a $ 100 donation to local hunger and food banks for every Detroit employee who received a COVID-19 vaccine or vaccine, and informed the bank by the end of January. The campaign has made an additional contribution to meeting the growing need experienced by anti-hunger organizations across the country.
For every $ 100 donated to Forgotten Harvest and Gleaners, local neighbors in need receive 300 to 400 meals. This means that the “reinforcement donation” made to the two nonprofits will provide up to 400,000 meals to individuals and families in southeastern Michigan.
Last year, Forgotten Harvest saved more than £ 45 million in food by collecting surplus cooked and perishable food from more than 800 locations, including grocery stores, fruit and vegetable markets, restaurants, catering, dairies, farmers, wholesale distributors food and other health departments. approved sources. Throughout the pandemic, Forgotten Harvest’s primary task was to fully respond to the increased need for emergency food supplies by constantly adapting to changing power sources and fluctuations in partner agency status.
“Forgotten Harvest is proud of its partnership with Bank of America and supporting our work to reduce hunger and food security by preventing food waste,” said Kirk Mace, CEO of Forgotten Harvest. “Bank of America and its employees have provided important financial and volunteer support to our organization over the years, and we look forward to working with them again on this important initiative to maintain the health and safety of their employees.”
Since 1977, the Gleaners Community Food Bank has been a vital link between affordable food and those who need it most, providing food to hundreds of food stores, shelters and other establishments in southeastern Michigan. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it the biggest food crisis in Gleaners history. The policy of charity and community support has allowed Gleaners to quickly expand food distribution partnerships and set up emergency distribution centers. At the height of the crisis, Gleaners provided more than 6 million meals a month to the food insecure, numbering more than 650,000 in southeastern Michigan.
“We are grateful to Bank of America, a longtime Gleaners supporter, for involving our organization in this important initiative,” said Jerry Brisson, president and CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeast Michigan. “Like them, we are committed to the health and well-being of our neighbors in this community. These efforts will help Gleaners continue to provide nutritious food to hungry families and individuals who are struggling to make ends meet this winter. ”
At the national level, the bank has allocated $ 10.6 million to food banks and anti-hunger organizations. Since 2015, Bank of America has donated nearly $ 150 million to fight hunger. Since 2008, the bank has allocated more than $ 1.1 million to support local hunger efforts Forgotten Harvest and Gleaners.
“Forgotten Harvest and Gleaners Community Food Bank is addressing poverty by working to ensure food security for individuals and families in southeastern Michigan, and we share that common goal,” said Matt Elliott, president of the Bank of America Michigan. “This program is a double investment in our community and staff, contributing to the health and well-being of our region.”
Bank of America has pledged to donate at least $ 25,000 in each of the company’s 93 markets to local nonprofit partners as part of a vaccine promotion effort. Because vaccination incentives and reporting are voluntary, and additional company contributions are reflected in the final amount, the actual donation amounts differ from the number of vaccinations reported by bank employees.
The company encourages employees to vaccinate against COVID-19 from the summer of 2021 and offers incentives such as paid leave and loans of $ 500 to receive medical premiums. In partnership with local nonprofits, the Bank of America has also distributed more than 38 million masks, 41,000 cases of hand sanitizer and 11 million gloves to local communities as part of its ongoing efforts to address health-related disparities accelerated by the pandemic.
Finally, as personal protective equipment (PPE) remains an important component in the fight against coronavirus, Bank of America is also donating more than 100,000 face masks, 60,000 gloves and 50 bottles of bottled hand sanitizer to support the work of both nonprofits. organizations.