Amid the holiday season, the southwest Michigan community is preparing to continue its tradition of providing food for the holidays to residents in need. The Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency (SMCAA) announced its sixth-annual Holiday Food Sharing Program sponsored by the City of Benton Harbor, the PGA of America and Whirlpool Corporation.
The Holiday Food Sharing Program collects and distributes approximately 400 turkeys and food boxes to local area residents and families in need of assistance from Benton Harbor, Benton Charter Township and St. Joseph, Michigan.
BH Mayor Marcus Muhammad
“Giving back to those in need remains a priority in Benton Harbor during the holiday season,” said Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad. “SMCCA has provided outreach to community members thanks to the generosity of local area supporters for six years now, and we look forward to continuing this tradition for many years to come.”
All interested residents must apply for the Holiday Food Sharing Program to be considered. Registration runs through Friday, Dec. 17 at 12:00 p.m. ET. Applications are available at the following locations:
Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency: 185 East Main St, S303, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
United Way: 2015 Lakeview Ave, Saint Joseph, MI 49085
The Department of Health and Human Services: 401 8th St, Benton Harbor, MI. 49023
Benton Harbor City Hall: 200 E. Wall St, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
City of St, Joseph: 700 Broad St, St. Joseph, MI 49085
Benton Charter Township: 1725 Territorial Rd Benton Harbor, MI 49022
Mosaic: 510 W. Main St, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
Michigan Works: 401 8th St, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
The Emergency Shelter Services: 645 Pipestone St, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
The Salvation Army: 233 Michigan St, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
Benton Harbor/Benton Township Senior Services, Inc: 225 Colfax Ave, Benton Harbor, MI 49022
Distribution of the turkeys and food boxes will occur on Monday, Dec. 20 from 2 pm – 4:30 pm. Applications need to be turned in at the SMCAA office to receive immediate notification and pick-up instructions. All others will be notified by mail. The food Share Program will be done in a drive-thru format again this year.
Jeff Noel, Whirlpool Corporation
“It is a longstanding holiday tradition at Whirlpool to support local area residents in need,” said Jeff Noel, vice president of communications and public affairs at Whirlpool Corporation. “We know this has been a difficult time for the community and we hope that in some small way our contributions can help to make the holiday season a little bit brighter for our Benton Harbor friends and neighbors.”
Since the program’s founding in 2015, the SMCAA has helped more than 2,400 families in and around Benton Harbor and St. Joseph.
“The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship would not be the incredible event that it is without the support of the Benton Harbor community,” said Brandon Haney, championship director of the 2022 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. “Providing meals to the community is just a small thing we can do to spread holiday cheer to many residents.”
For further information about the Holiday Sharing Program, please visit www.smcaa.com or call (269)925-9077.
