Region IV Area Agency on Aging (AAA) receives many inquiries about food availability. Below are some resources for those needing food and those seeking fresh fruit and vegetables this summer.
For emergency food assistance, regardless of age, call 2-1-1 to find food pantries near you. Feeding America West Michigan is another good resource for emergency food pantries and facilitates the Mobile Food Pantry which has distribution days throughout the year in various locations around Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties.
Many mobile food pantry sites will allow you to pick up food as a proxy (stand-in) for another household that cannot physically attend. You will need to be prepared to provide the name, address and household size of any other family you are picking up for. Most mobile pantry sites have a limit on how many households you can pick up for and should tell you that limit if you ask. Following are some upcoming distribution days and locations, subject to change, so be sure to check with Feeding America West Michigan or the local site. Most of the sites are drive-through pick up, unless otherwise noted:
- Berrien Springs; 11 a.m., June 12; Neighbor to Neighbor, 9147 Old U.S. 31
- Benton Harbor: 4 p.m., June 12; Kinexus, 499 W Main St.
- South Haven: 11 a.m., June 13; First Congregational Church, 651 Phoenix St.
- Bloomingdale: 11 a.m., June 14; Senior Services of Van Buren County, 208 E Pine St.
- Sawyer: 3:30 p.m., June 15; Harbert Community Church, 6444 Harbert Road
- Niles: 3 p.m., June 20; Hope Community Church, 2390 Lake St.
- Paw Paw: 11 a.m., June 21; Seventh Day Adventist Church, 60409 S. M-40
- Stevensville: 4 p.m., June 21; United Methodist Church, 5506 Ridge Road
- St. Joseph: 12:30 p.m., June 22; Trinity Lutheran Church Ministry Center, 619 Main St.
- Niles: 3 p.m., June 23; First Baptist Church, 1446 E. Main St.
- Galien: 4 p.m., June 26; American Legion, 402 N. Main St.
- Cassopolis: 4 p.m., June 27; Cass County Council on Aging, 60525 Decatur Road
- Coloma: 4 p.m., June 28; North Berrien Fire Dept, 170 Washington St.
- Benton Harbor: 11 a.m., June 29; Second Baptist Church, 600 Donald Atkins Drive
- Bridgman: 4:30 p.m., July 15; Woodland Shores Baptist Church, 3555 Shawnee Road
For more information about Feeding America West Michigan’s programs, you can go to www.feedwm.org or call the Benton Harbor site at 269926-2646.
Another fresh food source during the summer are farmers markets, many of which allow for people to use their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. When you use your Bridge Card, Double Up matches your fruit and vegetable purchases dollar for dollar, up to $20 a day. The Michigan Farm Market Association reports there are more than 150 farm markets across Michigan that are certifi ed to accept SNAP benefits such as the Bridge Card, Double Up, WIC and Senior Project FRESH vouchers.
Some of the larger, weekly markets are as follows:
- Benton Harbor: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesdays through September, 127 Pipestone Road
- St. Joseph: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays through October, Lake Bluff Park on Lake Boulevard
- Cassopolis: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturdays through November, 105 N. Broadway St.
- Dowagiac: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays and Wednesdays, through October, 201 E Division St.
- Lawrence: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturdays, July through September, 230 E. Saint Joseph St.
- South Haven: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays, through Oct. 8, and Wednesdays through Aug. 31, and an evening market 4-7 p.m., Thursdays, June 2–July 7, and Aug. 4, at the Huron Street Pavilion, 546 Phoenix St.
To find other locations, you can go to www.mifma. org/findafarmersmarket. It is always a good idea to check a market’s social media/website or call directly to confirm hours.
As always, Region IV AAA is also available to answer questions and connect individuals with resources through our Info Line for Aging and Disability at 800-654-2810.
Sara Duris is community information liaison of Region IV Area Agency on Aging in Southwest Michigan. Questions on age or independence services? Call the Info-Line for Aging & Disability at 800-654-2810 or visit areaagencyonaging.org. The Generations column appears each weekend in The Herald-Palladium.