In Michigan, a large percentage of households face energy poverty. From energy inefficiencies raising bills to the high cost of living, there are a number of causes and impacts.

Unfortunately, energy poverty leads to families having to make difficult decisions. Deciding between whether to keep your family warm or feed them is an issue too many face. Learn more about energy poverty, its causes and impacts and how you can help our neighbors in need by reading below.

What is Energy Poverty?

As the term itself describes, energy poverty refers to a household’s lack of access to dependable energy services to maintain a healthy standard of living, as Habitat for Humanity describes in their article, What is Energy Poverty?. They go on to describe the energy services needed for living: “adequate heating, hot water, cooling, lighting and the energy to power appliances.” Having access to these energy services is vital to households’ health and well-being.

A household’s energy burden also contributes to whether or not they experience energy poverty. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, energy burden is “the percentage of gross household income spent on energy costs.” This percentage can be found by “dividing the average housing energy cost by the average annual household income.” Having a 6% or greater energy burden classifies households as having a high energy burden, as the U.S Department of Energy describes.

Each household has different experiences with energy poverty. However, there are common causes that lead to high energy burden. Plus, with costs continuing to rise, households face numerous challenges to afford the energy they need to live and thrive.

Energy Poverty Causes

Energy poverty has a number of causes. Having a high energy burden is one of the most common causes as there are a number of factors that can contribute. From homes being energy inefficient to socioeconomic challenges, there are multiple ways a household’s energy burden can increase.

Inefficiencies that Create a High Energy Burden

Homes with energy inefficiencies will have a higher energy burden than those that do not. Older homes that have poor insulation or old heating and cooling systems will use more energy than necessary because of these issues.

Inefficient appliances can also contribute to a high energy burden. These appliances need more energy to function than efficient ones. Unfortunately, low-income households typically cannot afford the most efficient appliances. Having efficient appliances being inaccessible to those who need them most contributes to the high energy burdens seen in Michigan.

Socioeconomic Challenges

Social and economic challenges can also create a high energy burden. According to Ariel Drehobl, Lauren Ross and Roxana Ayala in their article, How High Are Household Energy Burdens? An Assessment of National and Metropolitan Energy Burden across the United States, low-income households typically spend a higher percentage of their income on energy bills than high-income households. This is due to low-income households having to use the appliances they can afford. Unfortunately, these tend to be inefficient and use large amounts of energy. In contrast, while high-income households typically use large amounts of energy, they have more efficient appliances and won’t spend as high of a percentage of their income on energy bills. Energy burdens like this are more common for rural households, older adults and families with children as Drehobl, Ross and Ayala note in their article.

High-cost fuels such as propane, which is commonly used in rural areas, can also contribute to a high energy burden. For low-income households, having this high cost to keep their family safe and warm can create difficult decisions. No one should have to decide whether to keep their lights on or fix a car to be able to get to work. Unfortunately, this happens all too often.

Renter Challenges

Renters face unique energy challenges as well. According to the Michigan Statewide Housing Needs Assessment by the University of Michigan and Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), a large percentage of renters in 2022 had a high housing cost burden. Findings from the study show that “51% of renters were housing cost-burdened (spending more than 30% of income on housing) and 26% were severely housing cost-burdened (spending more than half of income on housing).” When renters are already spending more of their income on housing, that leaves less for other necessities such as food and energy. Plus, landlords ultimately decide on rental updates and need to have buy-in to make their units more energy efficient. This is another barrier for low-income renters as potential savings on energy bills are unavailable because they cannot make those energy efficiency upgrades themselves, as the U.S. Department of Energy describes.

Rural Challenges

Rural Michigan communities face additional energy challenges. As seen above, home energy inefficiencies are a major cause of a high energy burden. Unfortunately, this is prominent in rural areas. People live in places such as mobile homes and old farmhouses that are not equipped for healthy living. But, because these are the places they can afford, they suffer higher energy costs because of these energy inefficiencies.

Overall, there are a number of factors that contribute to a high energy burden that often leads to energy poverty. Keep reading to learn more about the impacts energy poverty has on our neighbors in Michigan.

Impacts

Energy poverty impacts the well-being of those experiencing it. From physical health detriments to poor mental health, there are numerous effects.

Physical Health Effects

A high percentage of households experiencing energy poverty live in unhealthy housing as Drehobl, Ross and Ayala discuss in their article. They go on to describe how “inefficient housing is associated with other health impacts, such as carbon monoxide poisoning, lead exposure, thermal discomfort, and respiratory problems such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); it is also associated with the potential for hypothermia and/or heat stress resulting from leaky and/or unrepaired heating and cooling equipment.” While these health effects are not all directly caused by energy poverty, many who have high energy burdens also may experience these health risks as well, ultimately contributing to their poor well-being.

Energy coping strategies can also contribute to negative health risks. Using additional heating sources such as stoves, ovens and space heaters can create safety risks and make residents uncomfortable as Drehobl, Ross and Ayala describe in their article. These coping strategies do not help lessen bills, so while they can help keep residents warm, their bills will remain unmanageable without the right support. No one should have to rely on these measures to keep warm, and because of these experiences, many suffer from poor mental health.

Mental Health Effects

Chronic stress, anxiety and depression can result from energy poverty. Drehobl, Ross and Ayala discuss in their article how the fear and uncertainty of not having dependable, affordable energy can negatively impact mental health. Navigating assistance programs can also be challenging, especially when people are still trying to keep their lights on, take care of their family and get the help they need. Thankfully, there are resources to help those experiencing energy poverty that will also guide people throughout the process, so they can receive the help they need to move forward.

Energy Poverty Assistance

There are a number of ways to help households become energy secure. While each situation is different, there are resources available to help those facing various challenges.

Programs like TrueNorth’s emPower program and assistance programs such as LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), WAP (Weatherization Assistance Program) and MEAP (Michigan Energy Assistance Program) are available to assist people experiencing energy poverty and high energy burdens. Take a look at the Coalition to Keep Michigan Warm’s fact sheet on energy assistance to learn more about the available resources.

Legislation impacts the amount of assistance available to those experiencing energy poverty. There are three Senate bills that propose updates to MEAP, as the Coalition to Keep Michigan Warm outlines their potential impacts:

• Senate Bill 353: This bill proposes to “expand eligibility and streamline operations.” SB 353 would expand the income qualifications to assist more households and bring structural improvements that will lessen administrative burdens.
• Senate Bill 880: This bill proposes to “increase annual funding and promote statewide reach.” SB 880 would allow the Michigan Public Service Commission to “increase the amount of assistance funding collected on an annual basis,” helping more households and providing more flexibility for “all electric providers to participate in the delivery of assistance funding through MEAP.”
• Senate Bill 881: This bill proposes to “ensure equitable access to funding.” SB 881 would require that the assistance funds would be used in the area where they were collected, ensuring everyone has access to energy assistance.

Being aware of these proposed policy reforms is one of the ways you can help those experiencing energy poverty in Michigan. For more information on these bills and assistance programs, go to the Coalition to Keep Michigan Warm’s website.

How to Help End Energy Poverty in Michigan

TrueNorth Community Services strives to keep Michigan communities safe and warm while guiding our neighbors on their paths to self-sufficiency. You can ensure our neighbors are equipped to remain energy secure. There are numerous ways you can get involved and make a lasting impact.

TrueNorth’s Initiatives

At TrueNorth, we meet our neighbors where they are. No one should have to decide whether to keep their family warm or afford another necessity.

TrueNorth’s emPower Division Director, Marissa Boerman, describes the realities of participants who experience energy poverty: “The unfortunate reality is that many of our neighbors are unsure if they will have electric or heat when they get home because there is just not enough money to pay all the bills. Our neighbors are having to make decisions with significant health and safety impacts–pay the heat bill or fix their car so they can continue to go to work to earn an income or put food on their table. This is energy poverty–unaffordable bills, the risk of electric and heat shut off or inability to obtain deliverable fuels, and having to cut significant comfort and safety corners in an effort to afford or maintain utility service.”

To meet this need, TrueNorth’s emPower program provides heat and energy assistance for the entire state of Michigan. We help provide direct-assistance payments and enroll participants in affordable payment plans to help people get back on their feet. Participants can receive assistance with electric, natural gas, propane, wood, pellets, fuel oil, coal and other fuels.

emPower also emphasizes self-sufficiency as we walk alongside those in need and guide them on their paths to resilience. The purpose of emPower’s Self-Sufficiency Program is to help participants and their families improve their financial health and quality of life. TrueNorth Self-Sufficiency advisors will meet with their participants to set goals in areas such as improving credit scores, budgeting, enrolling in educational programs, finding employment among numerous others. In doing so, we can equip participants to move forward after they complete the program.

emPower Impacts

In the past grant year, running from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024, we have served 8,350 households by direct assistance. See more impacts below:

How You Can Make a Difference

You can secure the well-being of our community. Whether you donate, volunteer or advocate for those in need, you can be confident you are building vibrant communities throughout Michigan. Together, we can keep our neighbors in need healthy, safe and warm as they further themselves on their paths to resilience.

Since 2000, TrueNorth Community Services has held its signature Hunger Prevention fundraiser, Empty Bowls, to fight food insecurity and hunger in our community. This year’s fundraiser is the 25th annual Empty Bowls event we have held to help our neighbors in need.

Keep reading to learn more about the event, its history and how you can get involved to make a difference.

What is Empty Bowls?

Empty Bowls brings together compassionate community members for a simple lunch of soup and bread. Those who attend the event will also take home a hand-painted bowl as a reminder of all of the empty bowls in our community. This fundraiser works to raise funds to support TrueNorth’s Hunger Prevention programs while also building awareness of food insecurity in our community.

Unfortunately, there is a high percentage of food insecure individuals and families in Newaygo County and West Michigan in general. This is why the event is built around the symbolism of the empty bowl. By focusing on the needs of our neighbors and seeing that need represented in a hand-painted bowl, we can build awareness and support for those experiencing hunger and food insecurity.

At TrueNorth, we have volunteers, local students and artists paint the bowls which we distribute at the event. Having the community involved in the entire process of the event has helped further the reach of Empty Bowls to make each years’ event a success.

History of Empty Bowls

So, where did Empty Bowls originate from? This international grassroots movement began at Lahser High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. In 1990, John Hartom, a high school art teacher, co-founded Empty Bowls with his wife, Lisa Blackburn. They worked together to create the event to support their local food drive after learning there was a need in their district. Hartom’s students created 120 ceramic bowls to use at a simple soup luncheon fundraiser at the high school. Staff members from the school came and selected a hand-made bowl. Hartom’s students also assisted with the event.

Hartom remarks on how he and his wife closed out the first event, leading to the project’s remarkable growth:

“Lisa and I said a few words as the event was closing. We shared some hunger statistics and information about how the donation would help the organization receiving the proceeds from the event and then surprised the guests by asking them ‘to keep the bowl they had selected as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world.’ The room went silent. People looked at one another, then at their bowl. Some lifted their bowl to their chest. Some people wept. Lisa and I shared a look, both stunned by the atmosphere. When we got home we declared to one another that ‘this cannot end here.’ The Empty Bowls Project was born.”

The funds raised at the dinner benefited a local food drive, but the impact of this movement has reached so many more. This Empty Bowls movement has spread across the country as hundreds of organizations hold their own events to fight food insecurity in their communities. According to Hartom, Empty Bowls events have taken place in all 50 states and in more than 20 other countries.

TrueNorth’s History

TrueNorth first started its own Empty Bowls event in 2000 by the recommendation of local art teachers who had heard about the movement. The event has grown over the years. From having celebrity bowl auctions in the early 2000’s to adding a “Stuff the Carts” donation option in 2011, where people could purchase needed items for our Food Center, the event has evolved to meet the growing needs of our community. Even during the pandemic, we continued the tradition to meet the increased need for food by having a drive-thru Empty Bowls event in 2021.

TrueNorth staff and volunteers distributing soup lunches and bowls at the 2021 Empty Bowls event.

This year, we are excited to hold two Empty Bowls events, one in Fremont and the other in Newaygo. We are also engaging with local schools for the second year by delivering soup to teachers and staff so they have an opportunity to get involved.

TrueNorth staff and volunteers packaging soup to be delivered to participating teachers and staff.

Why TrueNorth Continues the Tradition

We continue to hold our Empty Bowls soup luncheon fundraiser to meet the growing needs of our community. Food insecurity continues to be a local issue as costs rise and incomes remain the same. Take a look at the infographic below to see how we served our community in 2023 by meeting the needs of our neighbors.

How You Can Fill Our Neighbors’ Empty Bowls

You can move our neighbors forward by attending Empty Bowls. Held in early October each year, this soup luncheon fundraiser brings together community supporters to help end hunger in our community.

Event participant receiving soup from Newaygo County Law Enforcement Officers volunteering.

Tickets and sponsorships are still available to support the 2024 Empty Bowls event. All of the funds raised will support our Hunger Prevention programs, such as: on-site Food Center, Mobile Food Pantry, Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon, Senior Harvest Baskets, Weekend PowerPacks and more.

You can give our neighbors in need a hand up. Not only will your attendance help feed the hungry, but it will also give peace of mind to those who otherwise would not know where their next meal is coming from. Join us on either Thursday, October 3 at the TrueNorth Service Center in Fremont or on Friday, October 4 at the VFW Post 4249 in Newaygo. Register today to help us fight hunger, one bowl at a time.

Child Hunger Causes and Impacts

There are high percentages of children who face hunger in rural West Michigan. Common causes of child hunger include poverty, the rising cost of essential goods and limited food access, all of which have lasting negative physical and psychological effects on children.

With one out of eight children in Michigan being food insecure, according to Kelly Reitsma’s article The State of Childhood Hunger in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, child hunger is a reality many face. Read more to learn about the causes and impacts of child hunger and see how you can create brighter futures for food insecure children and their families.

Causes of Child Hunger in Rural West Michigan

Hunger is a physical effect that results from food insecurity. Children who are food insecure do not have continual access to enough food for a healthy lifestyle, as the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA ERS) describes.

There are a number of factors that contribute to child hunger and food insecurity. Causes can range from poverty, low household income and unforeseen expenses to unaffordable housing and a lack of adequate food storage, as Reitsma describes in her article.

Economic Causes

Low family income increases the risk of child hunger. When families must choose between paying bills or buying food, they face an impossible situation. Food is often the first essential need that families reduce during hardship due to its flexibility. As the cost of living and groceries has risen, the quantity and quality of food families can afford has decreased.

Below are two charts that show the living wage calculation and costs of typical expenses for Newaygo County. This data has been gathered by The Living Wage Calculator and was last updated in February 2024. Additionally, there is similar data available via the link for other West Michigan counties. Take a look at the charts below for a snapshot of what expenses low income Newaygo County residents experience.

Living Wage Calculation for Newaygo County

Typical Expenses for Newaygo County

As seen in the chart above, high housing costs are often a significant burden for low income families. When families do not have access to affordable housing, a higher percentage of their income goes toward housing costs, and less is available for other necessities, such as food.

Situational Causes

Food waste can also impact child hunger as it can be challenging for low income families to properly store their food. Families may have limited space to store food properly, lack electricity or water or have limited access to a refrigerator or freezer. Having the capabilities to store food safely can help families preserve and prepare the food they purchase.

Impacts of Child Hunger

Child hunger has a number of negative effects on those who experience it. From influencing child development to negatively impacting physical and mental health, there can be many impacts.

Impacts on Child Development

Children who face hunger develop differently than those who do not. As Reitsma discusses in her article, hunger can impact how children’s brains and bodies develop, changing how they think, learn and behave.

According to No Kid Hungry in their article, Effects of Hunger on Children’s Development, hunger and health are closely linked. There can also be long-term effects, even for children with brief experiences with hunger. Cognitive development in children is greatly impacted by lack of proper nutrition. For example, infants and toddlers with iron deficiencies often experience developmental delays. For school-age children, a lack of nutrition brings difficulties with children’s abilities to think clearly, recall information and reason well, as No Kid Hungry explains.

Unfortunately, children who experience hunger are at a higher risk to have physical and mental health issues later in life.

Impacts on Physical Health

Child hunger also impacts physical health. Heather Hartline-Grafton and Sandra G. Hassink outline a number of health concerns for children experiencing food insecurity and hunger in their article, Food Insecurity and Health: Practices and Policies to Address Food Insecurity among Children. They list a number of negative health effects, such as: “low birth weight,” “iron deficiency anemia,” “cardiometabolic risk factors,” “high blood pressure,” “more frequent colds and stomach aches,” “asthma” and risks for poor mental health.

Because food insecurity is linked to poverty and low-income, these health concerns can often worsen because families can’t afford the medicine needed to treat illness. No family should have to make decisions about whether to buy medicine, put food on the table or pay other bills. All of these factors combined can multiply the effects of food insecurity and hunger as there is no simple solution for families in these situations.

Impacts on Mental Health and Behavior

Children’s mental health and behavior are affected by food insecurity and hunger as well. Hartline-Grafton and Hassink go on to explain how food insecurity impacts children’s mental health causing depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. Childhood hunger can sometimes even lead to substance abuse disorders as No Kid Hungry describes. These issues can stem from children forming unhealthy attachments with parents and caregivers and from the lack of stability in their lives. Lack of proper nutrients to support brain development, combined with the stress of food insecurity, presents numerous challenges for children both during periods of hunger and later in life.

Impacts on Education

As seen in the sections above, there are a number of negative effects that result from childhood hunger. All of these factors can contribute to children struggling in school. Without proper nutrition and food security, children will come to school unable to focus and often cope with these challenges in unhealthy ways.

In No Kid Hungry’s article, How Does Hunger Affect Learning?, they dive into how food insecurity and hunger impact school performance. Educators see effects such as difficulties concentrating, poor academic performance, increased behavioral issues and more frequent illness, as No Kid Hungry describes. These challenges cause hungry children to fall behind their peers academically, leading to additional obstacles later in life.

Amount of Children Affected by Hunger in Rural West Michigan

Unfortunately, there is a high percentage of children who face hunger in rural West Michigan. The table below, created by Kids Count Data Center which is funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, illustrates how the amount of children who experience food insecurity has increased from 2021 to 2022.

Children with Food Insecurity in Michigan, Ages Birth to 17

These counties do not represent the entirety of rural West Michigan but were chosen for this article because they are five counties where TrueNorth has a significant presence.

With the complexity of food insecurity, there are multiple factors that contribute to this increase. For a broader look at food insecurity and its causes that contribute to child hunger, check out our blog post, “The Realities of Food Insecurity in Rural West Michigan.”

How to Help End Child Hunger in Rural West Michigan

You can step in and help children in need. In order to help end child hunger, everyone needs to work together.

How TrueNorth is Helping End Child Hunger

At TrueNorth Community Services, we have a number of resources to assist food insecure children and their families. We work to meet people where they are through comprehensive programs to ultimately move families further on their paths to self-sufficiency.

TrueNorth offers an onsite Food Center and Mobile Food Pantry where families can receive nutritional food. We also partner with Feeding America for their food rescue initiative. Through this initiative, we work with local businesses to take food they would otherwise dispose of, that is still safe to eat, and have available in our Food Center. This helps us provide more fresh fruits and vegetables to those in need. Additionally, we offer programs that reduce poverty and food waste, guide collaborative food security efforts and bring food and nutrition-related resources to those in need as well.

During the school year, we also help families feed their children on the weekends through our Weekend PowerPacks initiative. TrueNorth fills bags with non-perishable food items and delivers the bags to students in need at school. This initiative ensures children have enough to eat over the weekend when they don’t have access to school meals.

Summer is a difficult time for children and families because children are no longer receiving meals at school. To help meet this need, TrueNorth partnered with Holton Public Schools for the second summer. Together, we distributed over 46,000 meals this year to area youth as part of the Meet Up and Eat Up initiative.

You can take steps to end child hunger by getting involved with TrueNorth.

How You Can Help End Child Hunger

You can give our children in need a hand up. We have many opportunities at TrueNorth for you to make an impact on area youth and families. From volunteering in the Food Center and packing Weekend PowerPacks to donating money and food items to our Hunger Prevention programs, you can make a real difference.

You can also help end child hunger by participating in our signature Hunger Prevention fundraiser, Empty Bowls, in October. Combining soup, art and love, Empty Bowls brings together kindhearted individuals like you to fight hunger and food insecurity in our community. Come and enjoy a simple lunch of soup and bread. You will also take home a hand-painted bowl as a reminder of all the empty bowls in our community.

Join our fight to end child hunger today and know you are building brighter futures.

Realities of Food Insecurity in Rural West Michigan

Unfortunately in rural Michigan, there is a high percentage of families and individuals who experience food insecurity. But, what does that look like? Food insecurity has many facets–making it challenging to paint a clear picture of what individuals experience because it rarely is an isolated issue.

The complexity of the issue doesn’t mean we can’t discuss the realities of food insecurity in rural West Michigan. This is just a reminder that food insecurity looks different for those who experience it. But, there are still common factors and repercussions that are important to understand in the fight to end food insecurity and hunger in West Michigan communities.

Keep reading to learn more about the realities of food insecurity and how you can step in and make a difference.

Difference between Food Insecurity and Hunger

In order to look at the realities of food insecurity in West Michigan, we need to define what it means to be food secure, be food insecure and experience hunger. Many use food insecurity and hunger interchangeably, but there are real differences between the two terms.

According to the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA ERS), a food secure household means that every member in that household has continual access to enough food for a healthy lifestyle.

A food insecure household would not have dependable access to the nutritious food necessary to lead a healthy life. They also may need to resort to emergency measures to have enough to eat.

So, food insecurity is related to not having quality food access whereas hunger is the poor physical effect resulting from a lack of food.

Causes of Food Insecurity in Rural West Michigan

While every individual who experiences food insecurity has their own story, there are a few common contributing factors.

Poverty and the cost of living are two of the largest causes of food insecurity and hunger. These two issues have a number of contributing factors from lack of affordable housing and unemployment to unforeseen emergencies and health concerns. Unfortunately, sometimes all it can take is an unplanned major expense such as needing to replace a car, unexpected surgery or a parent losing a job that can lead to a household becoming food insecure.

Below is a snapshot of the number of West Michigan residents that experience a few of these factors. For the purposes of this article, we are looking at the following counties that TrueNorth serves: Lake, Mason, Muskegon, Newaygo and Oceana. This is just a portion of West Michigan and is not representative of its entirety. The data and charts were gathered by Kids Count Data Center, funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation:

2022 Poverty of All Ages: Measured in People

2022 Families with High-Housing Cost Burden: Measured in Households

2023 Unemployment: Measured in the Average Annual Number of Unemployed Workers

ALICE Households (Asset limited, income constrained, employed): Measured in People who are in Qualifying Households

Transportation is another barrier to food security. Most rural communities do not have public transportation. While urban cities are more walkable and have public transportation, those who live in rural areas can live miles away from the nearest grocery store. So if someone loses access to a car or cannot afford one, it can be extremely challenging for them to access the nutritional food they need.

There are a number of ways individuals and families can become food insecure. Looking at these causes creates a better understanding of what individuals and families experience and how this impacts their lives.

Impacts of Food Insecurity

Food insecure individuals face a number of poor effects from not having access to nutritious food. Poor health is one of the biggest consequences. Feeding America describes how food insecurity can negatively impact both physical and mental health.

Physical health is one of the most observable effects of hunger. Malnutrition and chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes are more likely to occur for people who lack food security, as Feeding America describes. Not having healthy, nutritious food to eat also hinders development in children and can lead to unhealthy relationships to food later in life.

Mental health is also negatively impacted. Not knowing where your next meal is coming from increases stress and anxiety, even leading to depression. This can lead to eating disorders and unhealthy relationships with food as well.

Overall, food insecurity leads to instability for those who experience it. Having to decide between buying food, paying rent or other needed expenses should not be a decision people have to make.

Who is Affected

Food insecurity can affect anyone. From individuals and families to seniors, all it takes is one financial or emergency setback to become food insecure. Rural communities like those in West Michigan face unique challenges to those in urban areas. Between lack of transportation, high poverty rates and limited access to nutritional food overall, many individuals and families struggle to put food on their tables.

According to Feeding America’s “A Report on County and Congressional District Food Insecurity and County,” the average percentage of food insecure individuals across all counties and districts in the United States was around 13% in 2022. Looking at the selected rural communities in West Michigan specifically, there is a definite increase of food insecure individuals from the national average. We highlighted these counties because they are a part of TrueNorth’s service areas. Below are a few of the percentages of food insecure individuals by county from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap calculator:

• Lake County: 19.8%
• Mason County: 15.9%
• Muskegon County: 14.1%
• Newaygo County: 16.2%
• Oceana County: 16.4%

This is just a brief snapshot of those who experience food insecurity in our communities. But, these numbers don’t illustrate how not having enough to eat actually affects individuals in their day-to-day lives.

A Look at Real People who Experience Food Insecurity

Seniors in particular have been struggling because the cost of living has surpassed what their fixed income may be. One TrueNorth Food Center participant, Ethel, struggled to make ends meet because her and her husband’s fixed income was not sustainable. She says, “I’m just thankful for the help that we do get…for senior citizens, they can’t work. This is a tremendous support for them.”

Ethel shopping in the Food Center.

Large households also struggle with food insecurity. Jackie, a TrueNorth Hunger Prevention program participant, has a multigenerational, 11-person household. She participates in a number of TrueNorth programs to ensure her family has enough food to lead healthy lives: “It’s got to the point here lately, if it wasn’t for you guys [TrueNorth], I don’t know what I’d do…TrueNorth has been a lifesaver for me.”

Jackie receiving food for her family at TrueNorth.

These are a few personal examples of what food insecurity looks like in rural West Michigan. There are hundreds of stories of people just like Ethel and Jackie who face hunger and need caring people like you to give them a hand up in their moment of need.

How to Help Reduce Food Insecurity

Food insecurity is a reality for many in rural West Michigan. TrueNorth Hunger Prevention and Children’s Services Director, Mike Voyt, says, “According to recent reports, 44% of families in our area struggle to afford basic necessities including food. Food is usually the first thing families cut back on during hardship. Offering food assistance isn’t just about feeding bodies; it’s about nourishing hope, fostering resilience and empowering individuals to build better futures. We need your support to ensure that everyone in our community has dependable access to enough food to live active, healthy, lives.”

At TrueNorth Community Services, we provide comprehensive Hunger Prevention programs that meet people where they are. Not only are our initiatives person-centered, but they also involve the community–ensuring everyone thrives. We work with local farmers and receive donations from individuals to provide fresh produce in our on-site Food Center. Through our food rescue, we collect food that would otherwise go to waste from large businesses in the community. Our goal is to improve the health and well-being of our neighbors to help them move forward.

We have lots of opportunities at TrueNorth for you to get involved and make a difference. Whether you donate, volunteer or advocate for those in need, you can join the fight against food insecurity. You can also show your support by attending our signature Hunger Prevention fundraiser, Empty Bowls, in October. Get involved today and be confident you are personally helping our neighbors in need.