**Originally posted on: Macomb Daily
Lighthouse Food Bank, in Roseville, MI, received a $50,000 grant Thursday that will help a nonprofit group expand its mission to feed more than 3,000 people and families a year.
The grant for Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries came from Walmart and the Walmart Foundation during a meeting at the group’s new food bank known as the Lighthouse Food Bank in Roseville.
“As an organization, we are committed to helping those in need — especially children,” Dr. Chad Audi, president and CEO of Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries said in a news release.
“This is one of the many reasons why we decided to expand our services into Macomb County. Here, there is such a high need for children to receive good, nutritious food. Our goal is to make sure not one child goes hungry, while helping to alleviate the stress a parent has when having to decide to feed their family or pay the rent.”
The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries was founded in 1909 and has more than 10 residential facilities in Detroit and Highland Park. It acquired the Lighthouse Food Bank in June, 2014. Since then, the group has worked to expand services to aid local families.
The Lighthouse Food Bank is located at 28571 Gratiot Ave. and provides emergency food and food boxes to more than 2,500 families a year. Thursday’s additional funding will help the facility reach more than 3,000 families a year.
According to Feeding America, 14.4 percent of Macomb County families — or about 130,000 people — were considered food insecure in 2013. In Macomb County, about 12.5 percent of the population is at or below the line of poverty, with nearly 45 percent of children qualifying for free or reduced lunch, according to the release.
Robert Aquilina, store manager for the Sterling Heights Walmart on Van Dyke Avenue, said the company and its foundation are committed to giving back to the communities through its State Giving program.
“In addition to the thousands of community service hours our associates perform and the in-kind donations that are spread throughout the communities we serve, the State Giving grants allow us to aid nonprofit organizations as they fulfill their mission and provide support to Michigan communities,” Aquilina said in the release.