Donations are needed so that healthy meals can continue to be delivered directly to Suttons Bay Public Schools families that have requested food assistance during the school closure.

Lois Bahle is a board member of the Suttons Bay and Bingham Fund, which was started by her father Owen Bahle in 1995. The fund has been a consistent donor to Suttons Bay Public Schools.

Bahle says, “We are in touch with Superintendent Casey Petz and became aware of the urgent need to assist with the increasing cost of food delivery.”

A team at Suttons Bay Public Schools delivers breakfast and lunch to homes of students in need in the district. They prepare 400 meals daily, Monday through Friday. Food costs are covered by federal funds. But to continue this program to the end of the school year and into the summer, money is needed to pay for staff and delivery costs.

Says Superintendent Casey Petz, “We miss our students tremendously and are doing everything we can in Suttons Bay to support their basic needs while also preparing weekly lesson plans that are engaging and fun for all students. Our foodservice and support staff have stepped up to make sure that no student in need will go without access to healthy food, and I couldn’t be more proud of the efforts to get through this, together.”

The goal is to raise $8,500. The Suttons Bay and Bingham Fund of the Grand Traverse Community Foundation is offering a dollar for dollar match.

The total of $17,000 amounts to $.55 per meal and keeps six people who prepare and deliver the food in the community employed, according to Bahle.

Checks should be made out to Suttons Bay Public Schools with “Food Service Donation” written in the memo line. Mail to Suttons Bay/Bingham Fund, 4955 S W Bay Shore Drive, Suttons Bay, MI 49682. Donations are requested by April 30.