Two communities made the news this fall for their exploration of the Food Club model.
In Saginaw, the development effort is led by the nonprofit Saginaw Community Food Club and Kitchen. Expected to open in 2026 in a downtown location, the Food Club will include demonstration kitchens for cooking classes. The location was chosen after study of the community’s “food deserts,” defined as limited access to affordable and nutritious food. The developments were reported by WNEM.
A collaborative effort in Muskegon County has included Access Health, The Salvation Army, Feeding America West Michigan, Muskegon Community College and more; it led to a comprehensive needs assessment that helped to target concentrations of food insecurity. Organizers are looking to the success of Food Clubs operated by network members in Mason County, Grand Rapids, and Holland as potential models to adopt and adapt for their community. MLive reported on progress and shared statistics gathered as part of the needs analysis.
