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Macomb County approves partnership with Gleaners to process reclaimed food; stipend and budget amendment authorized
Summary
The committee approved a partnership with Gleaners Food Bank that will allow Gleaners to process reclaimed Kroger items at the county’s food warehouse in exchange for a stipend; the county expects additional shelf‑stable product and nonfood essentials to flow to pantry partners.
A county health‑department representative told the Health and Human Services Committee on Dec. 3 that Macomb County is entering a partnership with Gleaners Food Bank that will allow Gleaners to use space in the county food warehouse to inspect, scan and process reclaimed products from Kroger stores.
Under the arrangement, Gleaners will provide the county a monthly stipend of $1,300; the budget amendments presented cover December 2024 and $15,600 per year through 2029 to account for that stipend. The presenter said the arrangement would increase the county’s intake of shelf‑stable food and essential nonfood items for distribution to pantry partners.
Why it matters: The county’s food‑distribution network already distributes large quantities of food to pantry partners; the Gleaners partnership is intended to increase available product while using county warehouse space more efficiently.
Details discussed at the meeting: - Stipend and budgeting: The county will accept $1,300 for December 2024 and budget $15,600 annually thereafter through 2029 to account for Gleaners’ use of warehouse space and services. - Expected additional product: The presenter described an increase in available product and used a figure that the transcript records as “anywhere between 40,080,000 additional pounds.” During discussion a commissioner characterized the estimate as “40 to 80,000” pounds; the meeting record contains both phrasings. The department said it currently distributes roughly 1.8 million pounds of food annually through the pantry network and that additional product will be allocated to pantry partners based on need. - Types of product: The Kroger‑reclaimed items are described as primarily shelf‑stable food and nonfood essentials such as toothpaste and soap, not fresh produce. - Distribution and logistics: Pantries generally pick up product at pantry day twice a month; the county will deliver to a small number of sites that lack transportation.
Action taken: The committee recommended the budget amendment and partnership to the full board and approved the motion to proceed; the vote was unanimous.
