Michigan Business Beat | Ken Estelle, Feeding America West Michigan, Food Bank Awareness

Chris Holman welcomes Ken Estelle, CEO, Feeding America West Michigan, Kentwood, MI. This episode of Michigan Business Beat features an interview with Ken Estelle, CEO of Feeding America West Michigan, a food bank headquartered in Kentwood that serves 40 of Michigan's 83 counties — primarily rural areas on the west side of the Lower Peninsula and the entire Upper Peninsula. Estelle reports that the organization is currently seeing more people seeking food assistance more frequently than at any point in its 40-year history, a trend he attributes largely to inflation driving up the costs of food, rent, utilities, and medications while incomes have not kept pace. Retail partners like Meijer remain among the organization's largest donors by weight, though supply chain fluctuations have at times reduced incoming donations, forcing the food bank to purchase more food than ever before. Estelle encouraged the business community to get involved by raising awareness among employees, volunteering at food bank facilities, and making financial contributions to help sustain operations. » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN’s YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/