One in seven people across Washtenaw County can’t feed themselves consistently this Holiday Season. That is according to Food Gatherers, the non-profit that helps the neediest neighbors amongst us keep their heads above water, and it is why Ann Arbor’s 107ONE is hosting its Rockin’ for the Hungry food drive for the thirty-sixth year running.
“We’ll be “Freezin’ for a Reason,” broadcasting live from outside the Maple Road Kroger store. Your donations of funds or non-perishable food will help us reach our ambitious goal of raising 1.5 million meals for those facing food insecurity in Washtenaw County,” the home page of 107ONE reads right now. “When you donate in person or online, your contribution will be matched thanks to the generosity of community donors. Every dollar counts, and together, we can make a significant difference.”
They are partnering once again with 107ONE from Dec. 2-6 to raise as much money and food donations as possible at the Maple Road Kroger on the west side of town. They will be DJing next to the front door and a mix of 107ONE and Food Gatherers staff will be accepting non-perishable food options from 7am-5pm.
Food prices have gone up even higher than inflation has according to the Economic Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture. They estimate “food prices in August 2025 were 3.2 percent higher than in August 2024.” Within Washtenaw County, Food Gatherers estimated that they will need to raise 1.5 million meals—a 50% jump from their 1 million goal last year.
Food Gatherers Communications and Public Relations Manager Danielle Wyman said, “That increase translates to more than 51,000 neighbors in our community experiencing food insecurity, or the lack of reliable access to enough nutritious foods to sustain an active and healthy life.”
RELATED: Meet Food Gatherers Executive Director: Eileen Spring
Washtenaw County is now in line with Feeding America’s estimate that 14.3 percent of Americans are food insecure. Across Michigan, Feeding America’s best estimate is that 15.4% of people in the Mitten State can’t consistently know where their next meal is coming from.
“Rockin for the Hungry is a critical fundraiser for Food Gatherers and the Washtenaw County community,” Food Gatherers president and CEO Eileen Spring said in a press release. “It’s an opportunity to highlight and combat the issue of hunger, something that far too many people face every day.”
The federal food stamps program—SNAP—is still recovering after the Trump Administration cut it off during the federal shutdown. But even with SNAP fully functioning, Feeding America reckons that only 55% of food insecure Washtenaw County residents have low enough income to qualify for food stamps—the other 45% are food insecure, but technically making too much money to qualify for the food stamps, despite actually needing them. Those people fall back on Food Gatherers—either directly or throughout the various food charities that rely on them.
To donate online, call 734.761.2796, or mail a check to Food Gatherers’ at 1 Carrot Way, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105 with the memo line “Rockin’ for the Hungry” to support the cause.
“It’s inspiring to see how many people step up to help their neighbors during the holidays. At Food Gatherers, we are grateful for our community’s support all year long. Hunger is a prevalent issue year-round, so it is always helpful to have community members get involved in the fight against hunger,” said Wyman. “We have many options for getting involved at foodgatherers.org. The most efficient way to help is through monetary donations, as we can use our bulk purchasing ability to buy more food than someone could get at a grocery store. One option for those interested in consistently supporting Food Gatherers throughout the year is through our Full Plate Partner program.”
Drew Saunders is a freelance business and environmental journalist who grew up just outside of Ann Arbor. He covers local business developments, embraces his foodie side with reviews restaurants, obsesses over Michigan's environmental state, loves movies, and feels spoiled by the music he gets to review for Ann Arbor!
