Looking for a community food pantry close to you? In this post, we’ve compiled a list of top food banks in Oakland County. Read on to learn about them!
1. Novi Emergency Food Program
In 1981, the Novi Ministers’ Association founded the Novi Emergency Food Program in Novi, MI, to provide much needed food assistance to those living in Novi, Wixom, and New Hudson. Residents of these areas suffering from low income and food insecurity can visit the Faith Community Presbyterian Church every other Monday morning to collect emergency food provisions consisting of shelf stable items, pantry staples, and dried goods.
Food donations, especially of those needed items, are accepted anytime in the donation bin at the front of the church. Monetary donations via PayPal are also accepted. If you’d like to volunteer or have any other questions, contact the food bank directly using the form at the bottom of the page.
2. Northville Civic Concern
The Northville Civic Concern was founded in 1983 in Northville, MI, to help alleviate the rising number of struggling, low-income families in the Northville and Northville Township communities. Members of these community can collect food boxes of canned and dried foods (along with whatever fresh meat or produce available) every other Friday.
There are lots of ways to support the Northville Civic Concern mission to eliminate hunger as much as possible in the Northville area. Food and item donations are always accepted during open hours, and monetary donations can be made by check or PayPal. Volunteers are welcome during food distribution hours. For any other information, contact the Northville Civic Concern here.
3. CARES of Farmington Hills
The Community, Action, Resources, and Empowerment Services (CARES) of Farmington Hills provides canned and dried foods to families in Farmington Hills suffering from food insecurity. Eligible families can make an appointment on Tuesdays or Wednesdays to collect enough emergency food provisions to tide them over until their next grocery shop.
To support the CARES food pantry, you can volunteer to stock or distribute food by completing this online form. You can also shop at the Busch’s CARES market, where all proceeds support the food pantry and other services CARES offers. Visit this page to find out how to donate money or food items, or contact them here for any other questions.
4. Aasraa Food Pantry
Opened in 2015 at the Sikh Gurdwara in Rochester, the Aasraa Food Pantry provides hot meals and food bags of nonperishable foods every other Wednesday to low-income families in the Rochester area. When available, bags also include fresh produce and meats.
You can support the food pantry by donating money online. Contact the pantry directly if you’d like to volunteer or donate food.
5. God’s Helping Hands of Michigan
Founded in 1998 by Brian and Lisa Cain in Rochester, God’s Helping Hands aims to help struggling families in the Oakland, Macomb, and Lapeer counties. Food assistance is provided by appointment only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
You can help God’s Helping Hands by donating items any day of the week; you can read the guidelines for food and item donation here. You can also donate money online or volunteer to help sort and distribute food throughout the year. Contact the pantry directly to become a volunteer or find out more information.
6. Clawson Food Pantry
The Clawson Food Pantry was opened in 2008 by the Grace Apostolic Church in Clawson, MI, to help feed those Clawson residents in need. Every third Monday evening, volunteers distribute shelf- stable food provisions to any and all who attend.
Volunteers are always welcome at the Clawson Food Pantry, as are donations of food and funds. You can donate funds through the church’s online giving service; to volunteer or arrange a food donation, contact them using the form found here.
7. Good Measure Food Pantry
In Farmington Hills, the Grace Chapel food pantry, known as the Good Measure Food Pantry, is open during lunch time every second Wednesday of each month. Those living in Farmington Hills and suffering from food insecurity can visit the pantry to receive food boxes containing canned and dried foods, as well as pantry staples such as peanut butter and oatmeal.
You can donate to Good Measure Food Pantry by collecting from their shopping list and leaving the donations in the box outside the pantry doors. You can also give money to run the pantry through their e-giving service. To find out how to volunteer, or for any other questions, contact them using the information found at the bottom of this page.
8. Lighthouse MI
Since 2019, Lighthouse MI has provided emergency food boxes three days a week on Dixie Hwy in Clarkston and Woodward Ave in Pontiac. These boxes of non-perishable food items are intended to last a family for 3-4 days until the next grocery shop.
To support Lighthouse MI’s food pantry, you can purchase or collect food donations following the guidelines here. You can also register to volunteer or donate money to help run the pantry. For any other questions, contact them here.
9.TICOG Gives
In Troy, the Troy International Church of God runs a drive-up food pantry on Sunday afternoons. Visitors receive prepackaged food bags of shelf-stable foods and common pantry items placed in their vehicle for them; walk-up visitors can collect a bag to carry away. Toiletries and household items are also available if needed.
As a community outreach ministry, volunteers and donations are always accepted at TICOG Gives. To find out how to get involved, contact the Troy International Church of God using their online form here.
10. Matchan Nutrition Center
Since 1984, the Matchan Nutrition Center has provided hot meals to those living in Pontiac and surrounding areas suffering from job losses and low-income connected to the closing of motor vehicle plants in the area. What started as a soup kitchen has evolved into a full pantry service, now providing not only hot meals during lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but also separate handouts of breads, fresh produce, and larger food boxes.
Matchan exists purely because of the volunteers that take the time to support the kitchen and pantry; to become a kitchen worker or driver, use the links found on this page. Donations are also widely accepted; you can do so using the information on this page. Contact Matchan for more information.
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