Gleaners Food Bank begins new partnership with Oakland County Farmers Market

OAKLAND COUNTY — Gleaners Community Food Bank will begin a new biweekly food giveaway in collaboration with the Oakland County Farmers Market beginning Wednesday, Oct. 19.

The distribution events will give out healthy and preservable food items to anyone who needs a hand with their regular groceries.

“We’ve worked with them for a couple of years,” said Brad Wethy, the marketing manager for the Oakland County Farmers Market. “They reached out to us to utilize our facilities. We have that big massive parking lot, and people are coming here for food anyway, so it makes sense to work together here.”

The giveaways will take place 9-11 a.m. every other Wednesday. No registration is required, and food is given out on a first-come, first-served basis. The farmers market is located at 2350 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford Township.

“We’ve been working with the Oakland Farmers Market for a while now,” said Kristin Sokul, the senior director of communications for Gleaners. “At our community mobiles, we offered balanced nutrition such as vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, milk, shelf-stable items and fresh produce. No appointment is necessary, so people can stop if they are passing by and they have a need.”

Wealthy said that Gleaners is an ideal partner for everything that the farmers market tries to be.

“We are a producer-only market,” he remarked. “Everything here is grown, raised and sold by the growers themselves.”

It will be one of several free food distribution events regularly held throughout the metro Detroit area.

“Our community mobiles are run by us around various locations around the area. These mobiles go from Monday through Friday on single days throughout the metro Detroit area. Some are biweekly, such as the one at the farmers market,” said Sokul. “All of our mobile community distribution events can be found at pantrynet.org, and all of our free distribution events are listed there. Anyone can get more information on the farmers market event or other local free food resources there.”

Those wishing for more information can call (248) 858-5495 or email OCmarket@oakgov.com. No information or identification is required to receive food, although Gleaners does ask for voluntary information from time to time to better serve those in the community.

“There’s no appointment or registration,” said Sokul. “Anyone can come through the line. We may take some information from you to understand our community better, but it is not required.”

The food is placed directly in the vehicles of those receiving it, which Sokul said can be a great help to parents who have trouble shopping.

“A woman had a child with special needs, so shopping was difficult for her, and she found it very convenient to just be able to stop on her own time and have the groceries placed directly in her vehicle,” she said. “This kind of service can be important to people.”

Wealthy said that those interested in the Gleaners program also should keep an eye open for other opportunities offered by the Oakland County Farmers Market.

“Not only do we have Gleaners Food Bank coming, but we have other options for those looking for food aid,” he said. “We accept those with Bridge cards or have WIC, so they can also check out what the farmers market itself has to offer. … Also, keep an eye out for our special events. Other events include our community art show on Oct. 16.”

The Oakland County Farmers Market is open 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. January-April market days are only on Saturdays.

Sokul hopes that members of the public in need of food assistance will take advantage of the new option at the Oakland County Farmers Market as she has seen far too many families and individuals wait longer than they should to seek aid.

“One of the things we know about our community members is that oftentimes they wait too long to come and see us,” she said. “They wait until the stress is overwhelming and feel they have nowhere to turn. You don’t need to wait that long. We are here to help take those worries off the table, so anyone who thinks this little bit of extra help (would be beneficial) can come in and get it.”