At MHC, we believe access to healthy food is a basic human right.

From our low-barrier, client-choice food pantry, to access to cooking tools and classes; from free seeds and plants and a community garden in which to grow to examining root causes of food insecurity over a shared meal, everything at MHC centers around food. MHC works daily to build a community where food is accessible, equitable, and just, because access to healthy food is a basic human right.

And yet, food is becoming harder to access.

The high and rising cost of living puts too many individuals and families in the impossible position of having to choose which basic needs to meet, and which to neglect. Too often, food is de-prioritized in the face of these other essential, non-negotiable expenses, including housing, healthcare, childcare, utilities, and transportation.

And the need continues to grow. 

On October 25th, 2023 the USDA published a report detailing the largest one-year increase in food insecurity since 2008. In 2022, 44 million individuals resided in food insecure households, a 31% increase from 2021 – the highest rate and number of food insecure individuals since 2014. This equates to 1 in 7 individuals in the US.

In our community, 1 in 6 do not have reliable access to the food they need.

In Monroe County, 16% of our neighbors experience food insecurity , a rate higher than the state and national average (10% and 12% respectively). Through our low-barrier, client-choice food pantry, MHC works to meet the immediate need for food in our community - but that need is growing.

We need your help.

From January - October of this year, MHC has supported a 20% increase in the use of our services relative to the same timeframe last year; that's 99,072 pantry visits so far this year compared to 82,353 last year. As the rate of food insecurity continues to rise, so does the need for our services.

Donate today and double your impact.

A generous, anonymous donor will match all donations to MHC from now through the end of November, up to $10,000. Your donation, and your impact, will automatically be doubled. Can you help MHC increase access to healthy food for all?