CARES in Farmington Hills Awarded $500,000 by Michigan Legislature

Photo Courtesy of CARES Food Pantry

CARES in Farmington Hills, a Nonprofit Food Pantry, Awarded $500,000 by Michigan’s Legislature to Help Reduce Food Insecurity and Strengthen Community Support Services.

CARES in Farmington Hills, a nonprofit food pantry serving over 650 families monthly, has been awarded $500,000 by Michigan’s Legislature, spearheaded by State Senator Mary Cavanagh (D), of Michigan’s Senate District 6, as part of a historic state budget for Fiscal Year 2024, which begins October 1, 2023.

The allocated funds are a significant stabilizing investment in CARES in Farmington Hills

as it expands its infrastructure to meet rising food insecurity in metro Detroit and increases its social support services to the communities it serves. CARES is an acronym for Community. Action. Resources. Empowerment. Services.

“In the past five and a half years we have witnessed how food insecurity and other social needs affect countless lives,” said Todd Lipa, executive director of CARES in Farmington Hills. “We know these needs are not going away. We have seen firsthand how extraordinary things happen when our communities work together to address multiple social needs so that we can all grow together.”

With humble beginnings in July 2017,

CARES in Farmington Hills halted the closure of a vital food pantry housed in St. Alexander’s Church, a 10.5 acre parish closed by the Archdiocese of Detroit four years prior and purchased the property to continue to serve the needs of the community.

The organization is dedicated to creating a robust, inclusive “Campus of Hope”

by providing comprehensive support services for those in need of food and many other social services. When founded, CARES in Farmington Hills fed 127 families every month, and now the number of families has increased to over 650 families served. The pandemic dramatically showed the needs of individuals and families seeking relief and assistance.

“As State Senator, and Chair for Labor and Economic Development, it was a tremendous honor to have fought for and secured $500,000 for CARES in Farmington Hills,” said Cavanaugh. “With this funding, CARES will be able to reach even more families to provide essential assistance and foster a stronger, and more resilient community. This investment will make a meaningful difference in the lives of countless people, and I am proud to have played a part in making that happen.”

CARES in Farmington Hills has shared its vision with individuals, community leaders, large and small businesses, and corporate sponsors as a model of care for many social needs. To learn more, www.caresfh.org.