Here's How You Can Help Support ALL Food Pantries in Rochester

Summer is a slow time for food pantries.

The demand doesn't change. But the volume of donations does.

That's one of the reasons why a new community group has chosen local food pantries as the recipients of its first big service event.

A Red Alert Food Drive starts Friday at Busch's in Rochester Hills. The 10-day event is the creation of the Rochester Regional Service Collaboration, a group of business and community leaders working together. 

Group leader Maggie Bobitz said the event is the result of several nonprofit agencies coming together to collaborate. There are several food panties in the area, and all of them are in need; rather than pick one agency to receive donations, this Rochester service group will give to all of them.

“I look forward to seeing the community involvement that we create with this event,” Bobitz said. 

Here's how the food drive will work.

• Stop at , located on the corner of Adams and Walton, to donate.
• You can give money. Or, you can give a can of food, a package of diapers or any item that a food pantry would need.
• In addition, grocery bags will be prepared and available for purchase for $10 to deliver to community nonprofit agencies.
• Busch’s will highlight the event from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday with a day of family-friendly activities including a cook-out and can drive.

The food drive kick starts a community-wide challenge,” states Brady Rumble, Busch’s Rochester Hills store director. “We need to assist the nonprofits in the area who are serving our neighbors, family and friends.”

All donations, grocery bags, can drive proceeds and fundraising will be distributed to Rochester Area Neighborhood House, Rochester Neighborhood House Food Pantry; Rochester Community House-Community Kitchen; Blessings in a Backpack-Rochester; Older Persons' Commission; and Salvation Army Oakland County. 

Between 2007 and 2011, the number of food orders filled by the Rochester Area Neighborhood House Food Pantry doubled from 750 to 1,500 to serve more than 3,400 individuals in need in the Rochester area. 

Community partners for the Red Alert Food Drive include Rochester Hills Public Library; Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce; Downtown Rochester Farmer's Market; Cornerstone Community Financial; Lowes; Maggie Bobitz, Rochester Laundry Service; Andrea Walker, Crittenton Home Care; Colin McConnell, BizMatchConnect.