“A lot of times I feel forgotten. The best part about receiving this basket is being able to connect with someone and know that there are people looking out for me,” Elaine, a Detroit senior who received a bounty of fresh foods during the Healthy Living and Life Skills’ Annual Fresh Basket Program.
Thanksgiving is a time for families to gather together and share a meal, but for many in the Metro-Detroit community, access to healthy, affordable options is an ongoing hardship and the holidays come as an added cost, not a reason to celebrate. Many families in our communities of Detroit and Pontiac find themselves living amidst a food desert, where it is easy to find a convenience store, but nearly impossible to find a spot that sells fresh produce. Financial hardship, alongside accessibility and lack of transportation, provide insurmountable limitations to families in the community that desire the same opportunity to provide a nourishing Thanksgiving for their loved ones. The Healthy Living and Life Skills YMCA has endeavored to diminish those hardships for area families through their Fresh Basket Program.
In its 6th year, the Fresh Basket Program works with area businesses and food access agencies to provide locally sourced, nutritious items for a Thanksgiving spread. Through working with these agencies, and the generosity of donors throughout Metro-Detroit, we have impacted nearly 2,000 individuals with the Fresh Basket Project and provided meaningful volunteer opportunities for hundreds of children and adults across the association.
This year, volunteers will meet at the Boll Family Y on Saturday, November 23rd to assemble baskets and deliver them to the homes of recipients. The Boll Y is located at 1401 Broadway St, Detroit MI 48226.
To register to volunteer, please visit: Fresh Basket Volunteer Registration 2019.
To donate, please visit:
https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/2019-thanksgiving-fresh-basket
