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Harvest with Heart Deer Donation Program feeds Empire Food Pantry

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A collaboration between Buntings Cedar Market, local deer hunters, the Empire Area Community Center (EACC), and the Empire Area Community Food Pantry is supplying high-quality protein to families experiencing food insecurity during this hunting season, which runs the second half of November. A total of 14 deer (and counting) have been donated by local hunters to the Harvest with Heart Deer Donation Program, just a couple day into this year’s rifle hunting season. The initiative is financially supported locally by donations through EACC and its new Basic Needs Initiative Fund, which launched during the federal government shutdown and pause in SNAP benefits. Venison processed at Buntings will be donated to the Empire Food Pantry, which is run out of the Glen Lake Church in Burdickville.

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Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District hosts fifth annual Strolling Lights Festival

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The Strolling Lights Festival within The Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District has become an annual tradition for both families, groups or individuals to join together to decorate a holiday tree in honor of a worthy cause, or to get visitors in the holiday spirit when they light up The District in Glen Arbor. Proceeds from the 2025 Strolling Lights Festival will support the Empire Area Food Pantry which serves all of Leelanau County. This once-a-week Food Pantry, which is hosted at Glen Lake Community Reformed Church on Tuesdays year-round, serves an enormous need in our community to help support those who are struggling to put food on their tables.

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Leland Library hosts series on Community Food Support

Leland Township Public Library is hosting a special two-part series to address food access challenges in our community, as part of the Leland Library Summinars. These events will explore some local efforts that are being made to ensure everyone has reliable access to healthy, nutritious meals. Session 1 features “From the Heart – 5Loaves2Fish” on Tuesday, July 23, at 10 am.

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Glen Arbor Sun wins seven awards from Michigan Press Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Contest

The Glen Arbor Sun won seven awards in four different categories from the Michigan Press Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Contest among local news media for stories published between August 1, 2022, and July 31, 2023. The Sun won two awards in Best Opinion, three awards in Business/Agriculture News, and one award each in Feature Story and Spot News. Winners included Abby Chatfield, Katie Dunn, Alexandra Dailey, Jacob Wheeler and Julie Zapoli.

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Fighting food insecurity

For 43% of Leelanau County’s 22,000 residents, Thanksgiving does not necessarily feel like a time of abundance and cheer. It is like most other days of the year when the stress of food insecurity is a nagging reality. Bill and Michelle White, residents of Leland and founders of 5Loaves2FishNMI, would like people to know is that it is okay to ask for help. According to Bill, “There is a stigma behind being food insecure, and pride stops people from asking.” 5L2F is an outreach group that promotes social justice by providing nourishing meals, infused with love, to those experiencing food insecurity and homelessness. The Whites founded the nonprofit to serve people in need around Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties.

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