On Thursday, June 11, the Michigan Senate voted to cut funding for the MASS.  MASS is a partnership between Michigan food banks, the agricultural community and the Michigan Department of Agriculture that provides a means for collecting and distributing surplus Michigan-grown agricultural produce.  Annually, nearly six million pounds of food are distributed to local pantries, soup kitchens and shelters that would otherwise go to waste or end up in a landfill.

A House version of the appropriations bill will be voted on in the upcoming weeks.  Anyone interested in preserving this program should contact his or her State Representative by Tuesday, June 30, 2009 and ask them to restore funding for MASS.  To email Representatives and the Governor, please click on the link below and follow the instructions. https://secure2.convio.net/fbcm/site/Advocacy?id=115&pagename=homepage