DETROIT, MI – Dec. 22, 2025 – As federal food assistance faces unprecedented cuts, United Way for Southeastern Michigan has announced that it has raised $670,000 to provide much-needed relief from its Every Family Fed Fund. This critical local response will provide grants to 21 community-based food security partners working to serve over 600,000 people in Southeast Michigan who are considered food insecure.
United Way leaders established the fund as households across the region face a perfect storm of high prices, economic volatility and disappearing safety-net resources. Since January, significant cuts and freezes to federal programs including SNAP benefits, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) grants, and funds used to purchase food from local farmers, have hindered community organizations’ ability to support local families in their time of need. Actions at the federal level have resulted in a nationwide reduction of 94 million pounds of food aid since January 2025, with the USDA officially canceling $4.3 million in food deliveries to Michigan food banks.
“This moment demands action, and our community is answering the call. With significant reductions in federal food aid, the safety net has been pulled out from under so many of our neighbors at the worst possible time,” said Dr. Darienne Hudson, President & CEO of United Way for Southeastern Michigan. “The Every Family Fed Fund is a means for our partners and donors to respond—combining our efforts to do everything we can to aid as many people as we can by helping our local food banks and pantries fill the gap.”
For working families, the cumulative loss of SNAP and other food aid creates an impossible financial burden. United Way will award the funds to a pre-selected group of partners with a proven record of meeting community needs:
- Major Food Aggregators supplying hundreds of local pantries.
- Top 2-1-1 Referral Partners.
- Culturally Specific Providers serving immigrant and refugee communities.
- Pantries Providing Specialty Foods for medical or cultural diets.
“The cuts and freezes to federally funded programs have dramatically affected our ability to keep our shelves stocked just as demand soars,” said Stephanie McNees, CEO of Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry. “This United Way grant isn’t just funding; it is a lifeline for our pantry to continue to provide hope. It allows us to purchase nutritious food immediately, stabilizing our food supply for the 248,849 SNAP-reliant households and countless ALICE families in our service area.”
For smaller pantries, the funding is a direct counter to the loss of EFSP and other grants.
“We’ve seen every source of food become less reliable this year,” said Eileen Spring, President/CEO, Food Gatherers, a. “This flexible support from United Way lets us pivot and purchase what our community needs most, providing certainty to families who are facing empty shelves and anxious futures.”
This tremendous community effort was made possible with the support and leadership of many of United Way’s philanthropic partners and individual donors, including:
- Ballmer Group
- DTE Foundation
- Jewish Federation of Detroit
- The Kresge Foundation
- Knight Foundation
- The Skillman Foundation
- Stellantis
- Toyota
“Food insecurity remains one of the most urgent challenges facing families in our region. The Emergency Food Relief Fund will significantly increase the supply and expand distribution of emergency food through trusted food aggregators and providers,” says Wendy Lewis Jackson, managing director of The Kresge Foundation. “By strengthening the 211 network and ensuring expanded capacity, this initiative will help thousands of households access the food they need. We believe it is critical to anchor this effort with a strong commitment that supports the infrastructure required to meet this growing demand.”
United Way for Southeastern Michigan will issue grant payments within two weeks to ensure immediate impact.
About United Way for Southeastern Michigan
United Way for Southeastern Michigan, a member of the United Way Worldwide network and an independently governed 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to helping households achieve stability and ensuring that children have the resources they need to thrive. For over 100 years, United Way has been a leader in creating positive, measurable, and sustainable change in communities throughout Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties The organization collaborates with donors, agencies, corporations, and municipal partners to support essential services such as housing, food security, healthcare, and education. To give, advocate, volunteer, or learn more, visit UnitedWaySEM.org.
Media Contact:
Jerome Espy
Senior Director, Media Relations and Communications
United Way for Southeastern Michigan
(248)417-9567
Jerome.Espy@LiveUnitedSEM.org