About

About

Saginaw County has critical gaps in our local food system.

• Several of our neighborhoods are considered food deserts with no nearby access to full-service grocery stores offering fresh produce.
• Too many families rely on highly processed foods offered at neighborhood convenience stores within walking distance of home.
• Nearly 50% of Saginaw families are considered ALICE population — working but still struggling to meet basic needs like affordable, healthy food.
• 80% of each month’s food assistance dollars are used within two weeks, leaving another two weeks where meals are uncertain for too many families.
• Particularly hard hit are those without reliable transportation to get to full-service grocery stores like Meijer, Kroger, and Aldi.

The Saginaw Community Food Club is designed to address Saginaw’s food access issues, which significantly impact the overall health of the community:

• 44% — Saginaw residents worry about running out of food
• 33% — Saginaw children are on food assistance
• 75% — Saginaw residents are overweight or obese Increasing risk for chronic and costly diseases like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancer and more
• 76th — Saginaw ranks 76th out of 83 counties for health outcomes – 80th for healthy behaviors

Evidence shows that nonprofit grocery stores like the Saginaw Community Food Club:

• Reduce reliance on food pantries and other emergency food resources.
• Significantly improve household stability for other important things like housing, healthcare, and childcare.
• Improve health outcomes across a community — and health is directly tied to economic prosperity.

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BUILT ON SUCCESS

Saginaw Community Food Club is inspired and informed by an effective model that started in Grand Rapids in 2015 as Community Food Club. After proving the concept worked, Community Food Club became a nonprofit organization in 2018 and regularly collaborates with people and organizations with shared goals for thriving communities. Saginaw’s food club will be part of a statewide network – and the first on the east side of the state.

KITCHEN

The Saginaw Community Food Club will feature demonstration kitchen stations, thanks to the generous sponsorships of BWell Saginaw partner organizations and Junior League of the Great Lakes Bay Region. Here, members can learn to prepare and cook healthy foods they may not be familiar with or learn more about the benefits of healthy eating and doing so on a budget.

TOP PRIORITIES

Being part of the Community Food Club network requires the following priorities:

• Creating an experience for member shopping that offers the selection, service, convenience, and dignity of a quality grocery store. Members use points to buy food items that fit their needs – and product point value create an incentive for healthy choices.

• Sharing a commitment to empowering and involving members, strengthening community relationships, improving equity and well-being, and evaluating outcomes for real and continuous improvement.

• Working in collaboration, not competition, with one another, as well as emergency food resources in home communities.

2026 UPDATES

Planning to open fall 2026

A new space for food, community, and connection, coming Fall 2026.

Annual Event: September 24

Join us on September 24 for our annual community gathering. Tickets will be available soon.