Ford Dealers Kick off Southeast Michigan Food Drive To Help Fight Local Hunger

Car dealers at Ford sites across southeast Michigan started a food drive this month. The 10-day push aims to collect 20,000 pounds of food for families who need help. Every Ford site in the area joined the work as part of the company's caring month.

"There's a lot of need in our community, a lot of people that are food insecure, so our hope is that our customers and other people in the community will stop by and drop off dried goods that we can use to support those in need," said Brian Godfrey, chairman of Southeast Michigan Ford Dealers, per WXYZ.

Working with Forgotten Harvest, the drive sends food to homes across Detroit. New data shows a stark truth - over 500,000 people near Detroit don't know if they'll have enough to eat tomorrow.

At Forgotten Harvest, Kelly Kaschimer points to rising problems. "The need for food is great across the nation right now. Our food lines are getting longer, and our donations are quite honestly getting smaller. We are running out of food at many of our pantries," Kaschimer said.

The group runs 200-plus food banks in metro Detroit. At Samuel Gompers School, where Brightmoor Alliance runs a food bank, lines stretch down streets when food comes in.

"The people you see who are here who are helping their neighbors all live in this community," said Larry Simmons, Executive Director of the Brightmoor Alliance. "This is the hope of America, us, pulling together to solve a problem."

Jane Englehart spoke about the work's growth. "We're proud to be part of a movement that brings dealers together around the world for a common cause," she said per WXYZ.

Want to help? Bring food that's not in glass and hasn't gone bad to any Ford site through September 25. Bring ten items or more and get a Lions poster with Jared Goff.

This work fits into a bigger plan with 9,000 Ford sites worldwide. To find where to drop off food, check Ford's site map online.