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Sep 22, 2023

First United Food Pantry looks to build community greenhouse through NASCAR giveathon

First United Food Pantry and Clothing Closet is partnering with the NASCAR

First United Food Pantry and Clothing Closet is partnering with the NASCAR Foundation to raise money for a community greenhouse in Flint. The greenhouse would be an additional source of fresh food to those in need. (J. Scott Park | Mlive.com)MLive Media Group

FLINT, MI — First United Church Food Pantry and Clothing Closet is partnering with the NASCAR Foundation to represent Flint in the inaugural online NASCAR Days Giveathon.

The giveathon begins at 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 16 and runs until 8 p.m. Friday, May 19.

The pantry hopes to raise $10,000 to build a garden greenhouse that would provide an additional source of food to the community and extend the growing season for fresh fruit and vegetables.

"Having a greenhouse will help us to grow and sustain healthy fresh food," Tammie Visnaw, food pantry director said in a press release. "It will help our clients to have access to fresh produce, which many do not have access to or are unable to afford fresh healthy food."

Anyone can donate by visiting the First United Food Pantry page. Visnaw said there are different levels of contributions, but every dollar helps feed the community.

Donors also have the chance to win prizes courtesy of the NASCAR Foundation, including memorabilia.

"They can receive free t-shirts, there's helmets, there's parts of the vehicles they can win," Visnaw said.

On National NASCAR Day, May 19, NASCAR and Speedway Motorsports will randomly award one $750 bonus grant every hour of the giveathon. To be eligible, charities must receive at least a $25 donation during the hour.

Donations made on Friday are eligible for matching gifts as well.

"At certain times … when you go in, a $25 donation can go up to $750, which is huge," Visnaw said. "So, it's a great cause."

If built, produce from the greenhouse will supplement non-perishable goods and increase fresh food availability, Visnaw said.

First United Church Food Pantry and Clothing Closet provides Flint families in need with necessities.

The pantry serves approximately 20,000 people each year, operating solely on volunteer support, donations, grants and contributions from the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan.

Depending on what's available, the food pantry gives away canned and fresh food products, including meat, dairy, bread and produce, on the first and third Saturdays of each month.

Meanwhile, the clothing closet provides all sizes of clothes and accessories to children and adults on the first and third Wednesdays of the month.

"We see about 500 families through on a week, and we find that we run out of a lot of the fresh stuff that we buy from the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan," Visnaw said. "If we could start earlier in the season, we can produce more crops that way. If we have a greenhouse to continue and start earlier to make sure that the plants are in the ground, and we can feed people throughout the winter even."

Visnaw said the greenhouse will be built onsite near the pantry at 1116 W. Hill Road.

"We have a 4,000 square foot garden," Visnaw said. "We’re doing whatever we can to continue to feed our community fresh foods."

Read more at The Flint Journal:

Kildee, area chiefs back bill to boost funding for smaller police departments

Michigan man accused of offering cryptocurrency in murder-for-hire plot to face trial

23 local businesses receive grant funding through Moving Flint Forward program

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