Saginaw’s ARPA plan for anti-poverty federal funds includes $2 million to address the lack of a major grocery market, often described as a “food desert.”
The result could be something even better than Sam’s, Meijer, Wal-Mart or Kroger.
This was in the works even before the American Rescue Plan Act arrived two years ago, with a $52 million share for the City Council to begin a recovery from COVID-19.
Tina Swanton spoke to a June 2021 meeting of neighborhood group leaders. She is known for her time with the Saginaw YMCA and now serves as program manager with the 16-year-old Michigan Health Improvement Alliance (MiHIA), leading the initiative “Access and Quality of Food.”
Her pathway toward this current project began five years ago, when she joined the Food Access Collaboration Team of Saginaw (FACTS), a group of 25 partners.
Tina states, “When FACTS started, the main purpose was to have regular conversations to help reduce duplications of services. FACTS believes that no one should suffer from lack of food and that we can work together as a community to ensure this.”
The concept is similar to old-time food co-ops but with far lower prices. Model programs already are in place in multiple areas across the state, allowing Saginaw to replicate a successful model. “Grand Rapids Food Club” often pops up first on a Google search.
Low to moderate-income households would pay “sliding scale” fees in the range of $11 to $15 a month in exchange for “points” determined by the number in the household. Patrons would select their own items, rather than receiving pre-packed boxes.
For example, this year’s federal poverty line for a family of four is $26,500, and in Saginaw County, 17 percent are below the standard. But when the max is set at double, or 200 percent, nearly half of families qualify.
This means a family of four earning $53,000 would pay $13 a month for 60 points, or $120 worth of food, with more food by comparison going to a lower-income household. Clearly, this would reduce the need for the frequent giveaways that we see nowadays.
Meanwhile, the community kitchen would help partners to expand programs, such as cooking or canning classes. The kitchen would allow for samples to be prepped, for people to try a variety of produce before selecting.
Among FACTS partners listed on the Food Club brochure are the Saginaw Community Foundation, United Way of Saginaw County, Ascension St. Mary’s-Center of HOPE, Great Lakes Bay Health Centers, the Saginaw Intermediate School District, Saginaw Valley State University, and Tina’s own former roots, the YMCA of Saginaw.
Familiar leaders on the 29-member board are Christina Dillard, Buena Vista Township supervisor; Sandra Lindsay, County Mental Health CEO; Monica Reyes, director of the Great Lakes Bay Hispanic Leadership Institute; and Pastor Craig Tatum of New Life Baptist Ministries, leader of Mission in the City.
Contributions may be offered via saginawfoundation.thankyou4caring.org, selecting Saginaw Community Food Club. The startup fund-raising goal is $5 million, which means the ARPA share would be nearly half.
