SpartanNash Foundation Presents $4,000 Grant to Kalkaska Area Interfaith Resources

KALKASKA, Mich. — The SpartanNash Foundation today presented a $4,000 grant to Kalkaska Area Interfaith Resources. The donation — which took place on June 30 at the Kalkaska Family Fare, located at 784 S. Cedar – will go toward the purchase of a commercial freezer, which will allow KAIR to keep more food products on site for families in the Kalkaska area experiencing food insecurity.

Kalkaska Area Interfaith Resources (KAIR) is an interfaith, community-based volunteer program that provides practical assistance to the qualified elderly, frail, isolated and needy of Kalkaska County. Services include a food pantry, utility assistance and a resale store. KAIR provides food to approximately 700-900 people each month in the Kalkaska area.

Currently, families receive food monthly from the food pantry. With the purchase of a commercial freezer, KAIR’s goal is to provide food twice monthly to these families.

Presenting the $4,000 grant to KAIR Executive Director Cathy Somes on behalf of the SpartanNash Foundation were Family Fare Supermarket Store Directors Chris Wilson (Kalkaska), Rocky Welch (Traverse City) and AJ Swander (Manistee), as well as Kalkaska Family Fare Assistant Store Director Jason Elsey and SpartanNash District Manager Kevin Clark.

SpartanNash owns and operates the Family Fare Supermarkets, with the SpartanNash Foundation serving as the company’s charitable giving arm.

The Foundation was created in 2015 to support community nonprofit organizations that provide hunger relief, secure shelter and support our military heroes. For more information on the Foundation, visit spartannash.com/corp-responsibility.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with Kalkaska Area Interfaith Resources to provide these vital services to the communities we serve together,” said Meredith Gremel, executive director of the SpartanNash Foundation and vice president of corporate affairs and communications for SpartanNash. “Through this grant, we can continue to support organizations that are doing amazing things in the communities we serve.”