November 25, 2025, 9:15am MST
One of the first 250 truckloads of food from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to food banks nationwide arrived last week at the Fish of Grand Blanc Food Bank in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
Fish of Grand Blanc President Barb Smith called the donation “a godsend.”
“Because in some areas of the food that we’re getting, there’s a shortage,” Smith said.
Fish of Grand Blanc currently serves 500 families a week, Smith said.
The donation is part of the church’s collaboration with the America 250 Initiative, which commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Grand Blanc was chosen as one of the first cities to receive donated items in recognition of community members’ support for church members after a shooting and fire broke out at a Latter-day Saint chapel in September.
Smith said the community “lost its purity that day.”
“But God also used it to help us become a stronger community and realize that politics and religion aside, neighbor helping neighbor,” she said. “And that’s the way it should be.”
In a news release on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, church leaders also highlighted the compassion shown by neighbors, first responders and others after the shooting.
“The people of Grand Blanc and the surrounding area showed what it means to come together and help others,” said Grand Blanc Michigan Stake President Marcelino Sanchez. “This delivery is our small way to show our gratitude, help a neighbor in need, and give back to this wonderful community.”
The 40,000 pounds of food, donated directly from the Episcopal Central Depot in Salt Lake City, Utah, included a variety of fruits, vegetables, meats, pasta, flour, pancake mix, and dried milk.
The products are produced by the church and funded by donations from church members.
Other food banks in Oregon, Arkansas, Texas and Missouri also received donations this week. Other truckloads of donations will be distributed throughout 2026.
The truck is wrapped with JustServe.org and America250 logos.
JustServe is also collaborating with the America250 initiative to make 2026 a record year for volunteerism.
The JustServe platform is a free website and app where community organizations can list their service needs and volunteers can find service opportunities around them.
