Emergency food supplies needed for Oakland County families at Pontiac Lighthouse

detroit – Emergency food supplies for families in Oakland County are dangerously low.

The Lighthouse of Pontiac distributes nonperishable food to families and food pantries across the county. Now, they’re asking the community to help restock their shelves.

“This is really concerning. This is definitely an emergency,” said Angela Gill, Lighthouse’s food program manager.

The Lighthouse is the place people who live or work in Oakland County go when they have nowhere else to turn.

“In between prescriptions, you make decisions like, ‘Can I afford my health insurance this week? Can I eat?’ That’s why we’re here,” says Russell, Lighthouse food program director.・Mr. Estill said.

We feed 5,000 families each month from our emergency food warehouse.

“Gleaner’s is one of our biggest partners, Forgotten Harvest. They supply us with a lot of fresh produce, but they also have a lot of non-perishable food, food that people actually use as the center of their meals. As for the essentials in the warehouse, they have been purchased and donated,” Gill said.

Supplies of these items were so low that families had to limit themselves to one box of food per month instead of two.

Program leaders believe the decline in supply is due to multiple factors.

“Right now, with the lack of funds and the high price of groceries, we are receiving more of what we were able to purchase before,” Gill said.

She also noted the lack of post-holiday donations.

“The numbers are still increasing, but unfortunately the food is not increasing,” Estill said. “For example, on average he sees 190 to 200 new families wanting to join the program.”

Now they are relying on the generosity of the community to limit the impact on the families who depend on them.

“We really hope and pray that we don’t end up in a situation where we can’t serve our recipients,” Estill said.

Click here to donate or bring in food.

Below is a list of required items.

• macaroni and cheese

• grain

• canned fruit

• canned corn and beans

• peanut butter

• jelly

• canned soup

• canned chili/stew

• Canned meat – tuna, chicken, etc.

• canned ravioli or spaghetti

• boxed potatoes

• pasta sauce

• dried pasta

• rice

• granola bar

• Various snack foods

• powdered milk or condensed milk

• bento side dishes