"In 2020 and 2021, the Bridge saw an average of 936 families come through the store each year, Stamas said. In 2022, that number skyrocketed to 2,285, with about 800 of them being new customers.
“The need is crazy,” Stamas said. “(With) inflation the way it is, and fuel prices, which have come down a little bit, but that is really taxing these people's budget.”
Stamas said the project will be a costly one at about $1 million, of which the store has raised about $417,350. Some of the larger funding sources for the project are:
Charles J. Strosacker Foundation
Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation
Midland Area Community Foundation
HSC Care Grant
The Midland 100 Club
The Big Give
Corteva Agriculture
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
Mary C. Currie Foundation
The store is still fundraising for the new location, having yet to buy new equipment and make renovations on the building. Stamas said she has ordered a new refrigeration unit, but that will not arrive until some time later in the year due to supply chain issues.
Stamas is certain that food insecurity will persist through the coming year."
Read the full story by Andrew Mullin at Midland Daily News here