Meijer receives award from food pantry

Meijer Store Director Bruce VanMaele holds up a plaque from St. Paul of Tarsus Church Food Pantry for donations the Hall Road store made. To the left of him is Meijer human resources representative Melody Read. Marc Rybinski, deacon at St. Paul of Tarsus, is in the center with Florence Hogan, far right, and food pantry coordinator Joyce Yaklin.

UTICA — The Mejier store on Hall Road in Utica recently received an award from the St. Paul of Tarsus Church Food Pantry for donations through the store’s Simply Give program over the last 10 years.

“You’ve helped us feed over 18,000 families over the 10 years,” said Marc Rybinski, deacon at St. Paul of Tarsus.

Rybinski presented Meijer Store Director Bruce VanMaele and human resources representative Melody Read with the award April 16. He said that Meijer was the biggest donor to the pantry.

According to a press release from the pantry, it served 2,406 families last year. In 2022, it served 2,675 families, and in 2021, it served 1,349. The release states that all donations go toward those in need.

The pantry, located at 41300 Romeo Plank Road in Clinton Township, serves Clinton Township, Mount Clemens, Harrison Township and Fraser.

For more information about the pantry’s hours and requirements, call (586) 228-1094.