Michigan Is Hungry.

Here’s What We Said We Would Do

On March 6, Nonprofit Network convened more than 50 nonprofit leaders, county human services professionals, food pantry operators, policy experts, and researchers for a morning focused on solutions. Sponsored by Dawn Foods Corporate Giving, the summit produced a clear, urgent roadmap — and a call to act together.

BY THE NUMBERS

41% of Michigan households live below the ALICE threshold

1 in 8 Michiganders rely on SNAP; 72% work full or part-time

1.4M+ people served by Michigan's food assistance systems

Why This Summit Happened Now

Michigan’s food access sector is facing converging pressures: federal funding is shrinking, community need is rising, and the systems designed to respond are often reactive rather than preventive. Summit participants made clear that without coordinated action, food providers — especially in rural communities — will not be able to meet demand.

The summit organized its conversations around a single strategic question: “Where should we invest our advocacy power?” The answers were specific, practical, and grounded in what’s already working.

Hunger in Michigan is closely tied to underpaid, unstable work — not a lack of willingness. The structural drivers require community and systems-level responses, not only emergency relief.

What the Data Tells Us

The numbers from the summit report paint a stark picture. In Jackson County alone, 22,309 residents — 8.3% of the population — received food assistance. Statewide, 1 out of 7 people in some communities miss five or more meals per week. Perhaps most concerning: federal monitoring of food insecurity has been scaled back at precisely the moment robust data is needed most.

The structural drivers — low wages, transportation gaps, benefits cliffs — mean emergency food relief alone cannot solve the problem. The summit was clear: this requires a coordinated, cross-sector response.

Community-Driven Solutions Surfaced

Participants didn’t just identify the problem — they brought solutions already showing results:

◆      SNAP outreach and double-up incentives to increase purchasing power for fresh produce while supporting local farmers
◆      Mobile markets and subsidized rural delivery routes targeting corridors where physical access is the primary barrier
◆      Quarterly pantry network coordination to align supply, reduce duplication, and expand hours and locations based on actual need
◆      Community food-club pilots and asset-mapping to build local ownership, lower costs, and increase agency
◆      A statewide community resource guide with 211 integrations for consistent, discoverable information and warm handoffs between services

CALLS TO ACTION

What Needs to Happen — and When

NOW · 0–3 Months → Formalize quarterly pantry coordination meetings → Launch shared volunteer pool across networks → Begin asset-mapping in priority rural corridors	SOON · 3–12 Months → Establish a pooled fund with a rapid-grant process → Pilot mobile market routes in underserved areas → Launch SNAP double-up incentive programs
LONG-TERM · 12+ Months → Build cross-organization data sharing agreements and shared reporting templates → Integrate community resource guide into 211 systems statewide → Advocate for policy changes addressing wage floors, transportation, and benefits cliffs

What Comes Next

The Michigan Food Access Summit was a beginning, not an endpoint. Nonprofit Network is committed to holding the cross-sector collaboration this moment demands — connecting organizations, facilitating resource sharing, and amplifying community-led models that are already working.

The full summit report, including detailed action timelines and success metrics, is available here, Food Summit Report 2026.pdf

If you need more information or would like to speak to one of our consultants about similar work, or would like assistance, please contact us here.